Summary#

On October 20, 2026, Edmonton’s Urban Planning Committee carried a motion recommending that City Council approve the Edmonton Design Committee’s Terms of Reference and 2027–28 Two-Year Work Plan, and continue its Research and Practice Subcommittee. Council approval is still required, so these recommendations are not yet Council’s decision. City staff say the goal of the Governance Framework is clearer mandates, accountability and alignment with Council priorities.

• The Terms of Reference would set out the committee’s mandate, authority, membership, meetings and accountability requirements.
• The Research and Practice Subcommittee was previously approved for the 2025 Work Plan; the recommendation is to continue it to support the new plan.
• The plan covers January 2027 to December 2028 and sets out objectives, activities, timelines, deliverables and measures.
• The committee’s mandate is to recommend on development applications and advise on urban design policies and principles.

What it means for you#

• Council and the Edmonton Design Committee: City Council must still decide whether to approve the three recommendations. The committee’s motion was moved by M. Janz and carried 4–0.
• People involved in development applications: The committee’s stated role includes making recommendations on applications. The available material does not say this decision would change how applications are submitted or decided.
• Public: This committee decision does not itself approve the Terms of Reference, the subcommittee’s continuation or the work plan.

Money#

No cost information is in the available material.

• The report does not give a cost estimate or say how much staff time or other resources the plan or subcommittee would require.

What is unclear#

• The referenced Terms of Reference and Two-Year Work Plan are not included in the material provided, so their detailed rules, activities and deliverables cannot be checked.
• The material does not say when Council will consider the recommendations.
• It does not give details about the Research and Practice Subcommittee’s work, beyond referring to terms of reference in the missing attachment.

Case for#

• City staff say the Governance Framework requires Council committees to have Council-approved Terms of Reference and Two-Year Work Plans, and to report annually through standing committees. Approving these items would meet those requirements.
• City staff say the plan would connect the Design Committee’s mandate to objectives, activities, timelines, deliverables and measures for 2027–28.
• Continuing the Research and Practice Subcommittee would support delivery of that plan, according to the report.

Case against#

• The attachments containing the proposed terms and plan are not available here. That makes it difficult to assess the committee’s proposed authority, work and measures before Council decides.
• The report gives no cost or staffing estimate for the plan or the subcommittee. The resources needed to carry them out are therefore unclear.