With the province moving into Phase 2 of its economic relaunch on Friday, the City of Edmonton said it is not yet prepared to reopen recreation centres.
“I know that Edmontonians are keen to see our fantastic recreation facilities and pools reopen, but we are still working through the plans to do so safely and given the financial limitations your city is still facing,” Mayor Don Iveson said Thursday.
“Our city still needs to see an injection of financial support and cash flow to be able to return to our more normal operations.”
Phase 2 of the province’s relaunch plans allows for the reopening of indoor recreation and fitness facilities, including gyms, arenas and pools. Detailed public health guidance has been provided for facility operators on the government’s Biz Connect website.
Phase 2 was announced by Premier Jason Kenney on Tuesday and comes into effect Friday — a week earlier than originally anticipated.
During the city’s emergency advisory committee meeting Thursday afternoon, interim city manager Adam Laughlin said planning work is underway to reopen a select number of city-operated rec centres, with a targeted opening date of early July.
“They will look and feel different. Not all facilities will reopen,” Laughlin said.
He said there are a lot of things to consider and figure out before facilities can reopen.
“It is a fairly detailed body of work to ensure that everything we are doing not only creates a safe environment for our public and our employees, but that we’ve got an operation plan in place to ensure that we can consider any issues that could materialize and that financially, we can provide that service,” Laughlin explained.
“What we need to do — and we do this with all of the services we look at re-initiating — we assess: Can we provide that service from a public health perspective? Can we afford to open that service? From a sustainability perspective, can we open that service? And then, if we do see a spike in cases, can we quickly close or restrict that service to minimize ongoing spread or exasperating spread?”
It’s not yet known which facilities would reopen first.
The city is still considering whether indoor pools at the rec centres will be open. City officials reiterated that outdoor pools will not be open at all this summer. The opening of outdoor public spray parks is also still under consideration.
The city said it needs to balance the relaunch with its current financial situation.
“I’ve heard loud and clear from parents on that one as well,” Iveson said about spray parks. “Hopefully that one is a low-cost item for us and that’s something we’ve heard loud and clear and will work on.”
Laughlin also provided several other updates, which include the reintroduction and reopening of the following services and facilities on June 15:
- Animal Care and Control will begin intake of cats
- Edmonton Transit Service fares resume
- Edmonton Valley Zoo reopens with limited capacity
- Funicular reopens from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Booking of city-owned sports fields, ball diamonds and staffed track and field facilities. Fewer fields and services will be available to rent and maintenance may be reduced due to lower staffing level
Masks to be offered to ETS riders
When transit fares resume on Monday, the city will also be handing out non-medical masks to riders. While masks are not mandatory, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health recommends people wear face masks when they’re in situations where two metres of physical distancing cannot be maintained.
The Alberta government provided ETS with 500,000 masks as part of its provincial mask distribution program, which also sees masks handed out at select Alberta drive-thrus.
“Wearing a mask on transit is an important measure to help keep our community safe, especially when maintaining a two-metre physical distance is not possible,” said Eddie Robar, ETS branch manager.
“As transit ridership is steadily increasing, we’re asking Edmontonians to wear a mask to help keep everyone safe.”
During the first week of June, transit ridership was at about 49 per cent of its regular capacity compared to this time last year.
Free masks will be handed out at four transit centres and three LRT stations daily between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. until all masks have been distributed. Masks will be distributed at the following transit locations:
- West Edmonton Mall Transit Centre
- Mill Woods Transit Centre
- Northgate Transit Centre
- Century Park Transit Centre
- Churchill LRT Station
- Clareview LRT Station
- Kingsway LRT Station
Masks will also be provided to DATS operators and transit peace officers for distribution to Edmontonians upon request.
Edmonton Public Libraries
The CEO of the Edmonton Public Library remotely attended Thursday’s meeting, where she said the city’s 21 libraries remain closed.
The EPL is looking at a phased reopening of its locations, but Pilar Martinez added the process is complex.
Martinez said library takeout services began at two branches on Monday and will be offered at two additional locations in the coming days.
The EPL will gradually work to reopen select in-person services and in-branch access, but a timeline for that is not yet known. Martinez noted 80 per cent of EPL staff are still temporarily laid off.
Martinez also announced that the EPL will no longer charge late fees.
Outdoor fitness classes
Beginning on June 22, modified, limited outdoor fitness programs run through the City of Edmonton will be available. Online registration will be available next week, Laughlin said.
Physical distancing must be followed and equipment use will be limited.
Big bin events
Big bin events will resume in Edmonton on Aug. 15, with five events planned through the fall of 2020. Laughlin noted August and September are the biggest months for these events.
Garage sales
City of Edmonton officials said garage sales are still not allowed in the city because of challenges to maintain two metres of physical distance in an enclosed, indoor space such as a garage. High-touch surfaces are also a concern.
Laughlin said garage sales are currently not under consideration.
“At this point in time we haven’t reevaluated that assessment,” Laughlin said.