Winnipeg Minute: Issue 65

Winnipeg Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Winnipeg politics

📅 This Week In Winnipeg: 📅

• On Thursday, at 9:30 am, there will be a City Council meeting. Council will discuss the City’s 2024 Annual Financial Report. The report highlights a $271.6 million consolidated surplus, despite rising expenses and lower-than-expected government capital funding. Revenues increased slightly over 2023, mainly from water sales and taxation, but still fell short of budget projections. The report also noted that Council advanced its 2023-2026 Strategic Priorities, with major investments in downtown revitalization, housing, safety initiatives, and green infrastructure projects like the North End Water Pollution Control Centre upgrades. Efforts to improve customer service included a faster 311 response, expanded AI tools, and permanent free menstrual product access in civic buildings. Financially, the City added $689.5 million in tangible capital assets and saw net financial liabilities reach $1.27 billion. Challenges remain, including an $8 billion infrastructure deficit, which the City says it is addressing through long-term planning and multi-level funding strategies. Winnipeg’s population rose to 843,640, with a 5.5% unemployment rate and GDP surpassing $50 billion.
  
  
• Council will also receive the results of the Unsafe Conditions Response Team (UCRT) pilot. The City launched the project in November 2024 to address hazardous and derelict properties caused by fire, neglect, or unpermitted construction. During the pilot, the UCRT conducted over 300 inspections at new fire-affected or unsafe properties and 131 visits to existing unsafe condition files. The team issued 20 Fire Damage Reports/Bylaw Violation Notices and 9 Orders to property owners to remediate unsafe conditions. Additionally, 79 properties were referred to Municipal Accommodations for City-led remediation, with 37 completed and 30 in progress. The program improved response times, engaging property owners within two business days, a significant reduction from previous timelines that could stretch to weeks or months. To continue the program, the City recommends funding three temporary full-time positions at a cost of $130,482 for the remainder of 2025, with permanent staffing projected to cost $267,001 in 2026 and increasing annually thereafter.
  
  
• The Appeals Committee has denied an appeal aimed at halting the construction of a nine-unit apartment building at 202 Duffield Street, allowing the project to proceed. The development, located across from Deer Lodge Centre, has faced strong opposition from local residents concerned about traffic, parking shortages, and compatibility with the single-family character of the neighbourhood. The project includes zoning variances such as reduced lot size and building setbacks, as well as a height of 12.2 metres. Opponents argued the approval process lacked adequate public consultation and failed to account for parking pressures already caused by the nearby healthcare facility. Despite these objections, the City has approved the development, which includes two affordable housing units and improvements to an adjacent public lane. Conditions for approval include final landscaping and building plans, along with a light-proof fence by the parking area. The decision is seen by critics as a precedent for further densification in traditionally low-density areas. The developer must begin construction within two years, or the variances will expire.
  
  
• Winnipeg has selected Joseph Dunford, currently the provincial deputy minister of public service delivery, as its next chief administrative officer (CAO). His nomination was confirmed by the City's Executive Policy Committee and awaits final approval by Council next week. If approved, Dunford will officially take over the role on August 4th. Mayor Scott Gillingham praised Dunford’s leadership experience, noting his strong background in infrastructure, service delivery, and managing large teams and budgets. The appointment comes at a pivotal time as the city undergoes growth and change. Dunford is expected to bring renewed focus and results-driven leadership to City Hall. His nomination follows the resignation of former CAO Michael Jack after an internal audit raised concerns about staff performance and service delivery.
  
  
• Residents are being warned to keep their grass trimmed to under 15 centimetres, or face fines under the City’s Neighbourhood Liveability Bylaw. So far this year, over 600 warnings have been issued following more than 2,000 complaints, with 55 cases enforced by City staff. Councillor Janice Lukes said many residents may not be aware of the rule, especially if they are new homeowners, so the City begins with an educational approach. Residents are given 7 to 10 days after a warning to cut their grass or risk a fine, which is based on the City’s cleanup costs and added to the property tax bill. Some residents, like those in Waverley West, support the bylaw but question why the City doesn’t always maintain its own boulevards. Others argue the rule is unnecessary and promotes conflict among neighbours. Councillor Cindy Gilroy suggested the bylaw should be reviewed, noting many residents prefer natural yards for biodiversity and that the City should prioritize more pressing issues like garbage and derelict properties.
  
  
• The City has launched "Neighbourhood Action Teams," six-person crews dedicated to addressing common maintenance issues like potholes, broken signs, and hazardous trees. These teams will rotate through all 15 wards from June to October, spending about a month in each area. The initiative, promised by Mayor Scott Gillingham during his 2022 campaign, aims to streamline City services and reduce the need for repeated 311 requests. By bundling multiple repair tasks into one coordinated visit, the program is designed to be faster and more efficient than the traditional piecemeal approach. Officials describe the effort as a major shift in how frontline services are delivered. The teams began working earlier this year, helping with winter tasks such as snow removal at transit stops. The program also encourages better communication between residents and City crews. City officials hope the effort will improve both infrastructure and community pride across Winnipeg.
  
  
• After years of decline marked by business closures, rising crime, and the effects of the pandemic, Osborne Village is showing strong signs of revitalization. Over the past 18 months, more than 20 new businesses have opened, with several more expected soon. Investments in both commercial activity and property development are reshaping the area’s future. Crime remains a concern, but recent efforts - including theft prevention initiatives and the return of beat police officers - have helped reduce violent incidents. Popular new additions like a golf simulator, a cat café, and trendy restaurants are drawing increased foot traffic. Residents say the area feels safer and more vibrant, restoring its appeal as a desirable place to visit and live. A new event, the Village Music Fest, is also planned for the end of June, adding to the neighbourhood’s momentum. Local leaders see these developments as a promising step in rebuilding Osborne’s identity as a cultural and social hub.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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Maybe it was a frustrating battle to set up a business, a long wait to get a permit, or a confusing experience trying to pay a parking ticket. 

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