Council motions to revise 2027 patio program, ditch encroachment fees

Mayor Andrew Knack motioned Wednesday to direct city administration to overhaul Edmonton's patio program for 2027, scrapping encroachment fees that have bristled bar and restaurant owners this year.

Knack said he initially misunderstood the cost structure. What he thought would be a single patio fee turned out to layer on multiple charges — some establishments facing bills up to $70,000 in permitting and operational costs, plus a $7,000 encroachment fee for using city sidewalk or parking space.

"I think we need to stop being so rigid as a city when we're looking at activation of our streets," Knack said. "The loss of a city parking stall but the addition of a patio could be very valuable overall for the city."

The motion directs staff to find alternatives to encroachment fees and to cover program costs. The original funding came from photo radar revenue — a stream the province eliminated, leaving the city to absorb the expense. It doesn't change fees for this year, but signals a shift in how council views streetscape activation.

Kayode Southwood, senior policy analyst for the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, welcomed the move. "This is definitely a step in the right direction," he said. "It really signals the city is listening to small businesses."

The motion suggests council is trying to balance fiscal pressure with the need to keep Edmonton's downtown and neighborhood streets vibrant.