Council Debriefs

Community Development Committee September 2, 2026

Traffic Safety and AI

• Summary – New Mobility program using Artificial Intelligence to expedite data analysis to identify the top 50 highest-risk locations city-wide for pedestrian safety.
• What does it all mean? – We received an update on the results of this new initiative for improving the process for addressing high-risk pedestrian safety areas around Calgary. This was particularly important for Ward 8 as 12/50 of the sites are in our communities. The next step is funding the program in the 2027-2030 Budget Cycle. Full funding would mean all the Ward 8 locations would qualify for curb extensions, crosswalk improvements, traffic studies, traffic signals, and other countermeasures or studies.
• Result – Passed 10-0 and passed on Consent Agenda at Council.
• My Vote – In Favour. Full explanation in item below.

Calgary Safer Mobility Plan – Vision Zero Roadmap

• Summary – Vision Zero is an international road safety strategy with the goal of eliminating traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. Elements of this were adopted into our own Safer Mobility Plan 2024-2028 and presented to committee as the Vision Zero 2027-2030 Action Plan.
• What does it all mean? This item is a response to Council’s direction to Administration to expedite and clarify the outcomes of our strategies in preparation for the 2027-2030 budget cycle. It was also the final step for my Notice of Motion that immediately adds $6 million of additional funding for these outcomes which was confirmed as follows:
  • $2.5 million to address the highest-risk locations identified in the Traffic Safety and AI data discussed above; and
  • $3.5 million for neighbourhood-level improvements resulting in $250 thousand for each ward to use to address problem areas based on constituent concerns.
• Result – Passed 10-0 following an amendment to include $20 million of additional capital investment to accelerate improvements in high-risk locations. Passed on Consent Agenda at Council.
• My Vote – I voted in favour to both items because the rise in serious traffic-related death and injury requires immediate action. That is why I tabled my Notice of Motion for an immediate funding increase of $6 million. That will help us take immediate action, and supporting the continuation of our overall strategy signals our intention to fund traffic safety initiatives on the upcoming budget so this action continues over the next four years.
• Voting Record - Read more on the Voting Record page

Home is Here Refresh

• Summary – Updated the priority areas of Home is Here, the City’s housing strategy managed primarily by the Chief Housing Office and approved in September 2023. The Strategy was implemented with 98 actions and Council directed Administration to streamline these actions in May 2026. This is a result of that direction and was informed by engagement with the housing sector, analysis of related provincial and federal policies, assessment of the 2025 and 2026 City surveys of Calgarians, and the input of Calgarians on non-market housing and affordability at Council and Committee hearings.
• What does it all mean? The actions decreased from 98 to 10, mainly focusing on non-market housing through City programs, leveraging funding from other levels of government, and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and housing partners.
• Result – Passed 5-2 at committee and passed 9-6 at Council with no changes.
• My Vote – I voted in favour of this even though I did not entirely agree with this new approach. I believe we must continue to address housing affordability and non-market housing with as many tools as we have at our disposal, and reducing them to this level doesn’t accomplish this. Housing is a core need for every Calgarian, and none of us can lead safe, successful lives without a place to live. By limiting our priorities, we limit our chances to address the diverse range of housing needs across our city. Ultimately, it was important to have strong agreement on Council with the direction of the Housing Strategy leading up to our crucial decisions on the four-year budget, and I chose to support the refreshed plan to ensure it has the best chance to succeed over the next four years.
• Voting Record - Read more on the Voting Record page

Executive Committee September 8, 2026

Green Line

• Summary – This is our final decision on choosing the alignment for Phase 2 of the Green Line Downtown Segment, connecting to the Phase 1 SE Segment that is currently under construction. In June 2026, Council directed Administration to provide the final alternative options for the Phase 2 alignment based on feedback from a new round of public engagement while maintaining requirements for provincial and federal funding. We were presented with three options, two elevated and one surface as follows:
  • Option 1 - Current Baseline – 10 Avenue and 2 Street SW Elevated Alignment
  • Option 2 - 10 Avenue and 1 Street SE Elevated Alignment
  • Option 3 - 10 Avenue and 2 Street SW Surface Alignment   
• What does it all mean? Phase 2 of the Green Line has suffered from several delays that have increased costs and risks, and this vote was essentially our decision to continue with the Green Line. Without Phase 2, we would not reach ridership goals and lose an important connection into Downtown, putting the remainder of the project through the rest of downtown and up Centre Street North at risk. The original plan for a tunnel through Downtown was denied as an option by the Provincial Government which left us with the three choices listed above.
• Result – Option 3 - 10 Avenue and 2 Street SW Surface Alignment    Passed 12-1 at Committee and 12-2 at Council (no changes).
• My Vote – This was a difficult decision because our best option of a tunnel alignment was not on the table. This left us with three decisions that were not as favourable. My decision was based on strong opposition from affected residents, businesses, and stakeholders to an elevated option. However, Option 3 still raised legitimate and significant concerns from business owners and residents in the surrounding area related to construction, accessibility, and design. I heard these concerns and put forward the following amendment:
  • Develop a comprehensive public realm, streetscape, and mobility plan for 10 Avenue addressing the movement and integration of vehicles, parking, walking, and wheeling, and strengthening connections between the Green Line LRT, communities north of the CPKC corridor, and the Beltline. The plan shall respond to community needs and support the creation of a vibrant, well-connected, and integrated corridor and shall become part of the quarterly Green Line updates with a full scoping report to be delivered no later than Q1 2027. This amendment passed 9-4.
  • Several other Councillors put forward an amendment to provide interim improvements to transit in North Calgary and bring forward to the November 3 Executive Committee, capital cost estimates for the full build-out of the Max Green Bus Rapid Transit line from Keystone Hills to Downtown, including the associated transit assets required to sustain operations, together with the incremental costs associated with each phase of the build-out. Administration shall also report on the planning work required to define a downtown Bus Rapid Transit Loop/Station and develop future capital cost estimates.
• Voting Record - Read more on the Voting Record page

CAO Recruitment Update

• Summary – Regular update from the CAO Committee Chair Councillor Yule about the CAO recruitment process started earlier this year.
• What does it all mean? – These updates keep all of Council informed about the progress of the CAO Committee as they work towards a shortlist of candidates which will be presented to Council for a final vote.
• Result – Passed 7-0. Received for information only.
• My Vote – I voted in favour of the update which was informational only. All members of Council can attend the CAO Committee meetings and contribute to which candidates are chosen for the final shortlist. I am attending meetings to contribute my thoughts about the candidates and maintain a line of sight over the process.

Infrastructure and Planning Committee September 9, 2026

Concrete Quality

• Summary – Council previously directed Administration to develop service targets for concrete level of service (sidewalks, curbs, gutters etc) city-wide and to consider funding levels needed in the upcoming budget cycle to achieve this level of service. Final consideration of the cost comes after budget deliberations. This report recommended targets as follows:
  • 54% in good condition
  • 0% in in poor condition
  • Reduction of safety hazards by 72% by 2036
• What does it all mean? We have approximately $4 billion of sidewalk infrastructure spanning over 6,245 kilomteres with a current backlog of $246 million in repairs. Our current capital funding averages only $5 million per year, and without additional funding the backlog will rise to $265 million by 2036. Concrete is one of many areas where we have fallen behind in infrastructure maintenance over the past decade, a result of past instances of underfunding for existing infrastructure combined with rapid growth creating new infrastructure and the additional costs of maintenance.
• Result – Passed 7-0 and passed on the Consent Agenda at Council (no changes).
• My Vote – I voted in favour. Concrete quality is one of those issues that doesn’t often make headlines but affects our lives every day through the sidewalks you use, curbs that keep you safe, and other infrastructure that lets you move safely throughout the City. Falling behind on this type of basic infrastructure is something that often goes unnoticed until it becomes a problem, which is where we find ourselves now. Addressing these issues early also saves on long-term maintenance and inflation-related costs. I am committed to prioritizing funding for items like this one and others that form the foundation of functioning city.

Urban Forestry

• Summary – Recommended levels of service for the removal and replacement of public trees at the end of their life cycle. Public trees are managed by the City Parks Department. Administration recommended a “good” level of service for funding levels in the upcoming budget cycle at $16.25 million/year. Final consideration of the cost comes after budget deliberations.
• What does it all mean? Urban trees are valued by all Calgarians and are in our parks, at the edge of properties, and almost every tree you can think of near a sidewalk or a road. Maintaining and replacing these trees is also a public safety and infrastructure issue because of the effect they can have with low hanging or falling branches, root damage, and other issues.
• Result – Passed 7-0 and passed on the Consent Agenda at Council (no changes).
• My Vote – I voted in favour of this recommendation. Like concrete levels of service and other core services, public trees are a fundamental part of a well-maintained city. Maintenance and replacement of public trees has fallen behind in our funding levels, again because of historical underfunding and rapid growth. Delaying further action will only increase costs in the future.

Regular Meeting of Council September 22, 2026

Making Intersections Safer

• Summary – Notice of Motion from Councillor Kelly to implement Leading Pedestrian Intervals at every appropriate signalized pedestrian crossing in Calgary within a two-year period, prioritizing locations based on safety risk and pedestrian need, including:
  • High-collision intersections;
  • School zones;
  • Transit-adjacent intersections;
  • Areas with high pedestrian volumes; and
  • Locations where accessibility needs have been identified.
• What does it all mean? A leading pedestrian interval means that the walk signal for pedestrians changes before a green light for vehicles. Starting the pedestrian signal early has been shown to decrease conflicts between drivers and pedestrians because the pedestrians are already in the intersection when the vehicle light turns to green.
• Result – Passed 14-1
• My Vote – I voted in favour of this motion. There has been a sharp rise in traffic safety incidents over the past two years and this will help pedestrian safety. Many of these intersections will be located in Ward 8.

Establishing a Fire Services Committee

• Summary – Final step in establishing a Council Committee through a new bylaw for matters relating to the Calgary Fire Department (CFD) with members from Council and the public.
• What does it all mean? CFD provides critical emergency services for all Calgarians and represents a significant part of our budget. Establishing this committee is intended to increase transparency and accountability through proactive advice related to service levels, long-range planning, and emerging issues. This mirrors the structure of Audit Committee.
• Result – Passed 14-0.
• My Vote – I voted in favour because of the potential for achieving better outcomes for the CFD and Calgarians. I raised some concerns about the costs associated with adding another committee and the pressure this will place on our legislative staff responsible for Council and Committee meetings. However, in weighing these issues against the importance of CFD for our city, I decided that establishing this committee was in the best interests of Calgarians.
• Voting Record - Read more on the Voting Record page

Calgary’s Place as a Vital Part of Alberta and Canada

• Summary – Urgent Notice of Motion from the Mayor to affirm Calgary’s place as a vital part of Alberta and Canada. This affirmation does not have direct policy implications.
• What does it all mean? The Mayor tabled this Notice of Motion prior to the Provincial Referendum on Oct. 19 to signal Council’s position on the Separation question. Although this is a provincial referendum, municipalities are significantly affected by our place in Canada and the country we call home.
• Result – Passed 14-1.
• My Vote – I voted in favour of this motion because I support Alberta remaining in Canada. The potential effects of separation for Calgary and all municipalities could create challenges with funding, maintaining, and regulating our municipal services like infrastructure, water utility, transportation, public safety, and more, not to mention the stability and growth of our economy. Certainty is one of the most valuable things a municipality can have, and the vote on separation is resulting in significant uncertainty.
• Voting Record - Read more on the Voting Record page