City Pledges $1 Million Yearly to Fix Crumbling Community Leagues
Council voted to bring a proposal funding $1 million annually to the Edmonton Community League Foundation to address over $100 million in repair needs across 47 buildings.
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Edmonton's 130-plus community league buildings need more than $100 million in repairs, with a minimum of $18.6 million required immediately to prevent potentially life-threatening infrastructure failures. City council voted 8-5 Wednesday to bring a proposal to the next four-year budget deliberations.
If approved, the city will provide $1 million per year to the Edmonton Community League Foundation, which can use that funding as leverage to secure federal grants. The implementation will also review the funding model to ensure community leagues are supported based on financial need.
According to a building condition assessment, 47 community league buildings are in poor or very poor condition—more than one-third of all facilities. Buildings surveyed have numerous life-threatening deficiencies: 59 have electrical and wiring issues, many lack proper backflow prevention for sewage, proper exit and emergency lighting, handrails for mobility, or secured exterior doors. Fire code violations range from faulty alarm systems to faulty suppression systems, improper interior doors, at-risk kitchens, and structural problems.
The last increase in community league funding came in 2012. The city currently provides $2.8 million annually for the community league infrastructure program and $4.5 million for the operating grant. Foundation infrastructure adviser Shaun Good said the plan is to tackle major problems city-wide within four years through 11 targeted programs, using bulk purchasing and coordinating volunteers to reduce burden on leagues.
More than 9,300 volunteers work upwards of 321,000 hours each year keeping community leagues running.