With many local businesses struggling to survive amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Edmonton announced details Wednesday of its plan to help them.

The Ward Boundary Commission has produced an 80-page report to be presented to Edmonton city council on May 25. If adopted, the proposal will drastically alter the 12 wards in time for the October 2021 civic election.

City council unanimously approved Monday the creation of a separate innovation entity to support entrepreneurs and Edmonton's tech and knowledge economies.

Edmonton homeowners will see their property taxes go up while businesses will get a break on theirs as the result of a vote at a city council meeting on Wednesday.

"Administration was looking at the eventual wind down in five to 10 years... What I'm asking is: can this be accelerated?"

The City of Edmonton has expanded the state of emergency by another seven days and announced Wednesday that garage sales would be banned this summer.

Councillor Mike Nickel raised questions over the weekend about bike lanes which were intended to give people more room to social distance along crowded streets.

Through a lack of revenue and increased expenses, the city could be out $112.3 million if the current situation lasts until mid-September.

Coun. Mike Nickel said he wants to raise questions about financial shortfalls for groups that are associated with the city, but the info is not available.

Mayor Don Iveson announced late Friday afternoon that city council voted to declare a local state of emergency in response to the deepening COVID-19 crisis. Councillors also agreed to take steps to ease financial burdens many Edmontonians are facing because of the pandemic.