Your City Hall just had a private meeting, but don’t worry

It’s easy to miss the minutiae of City Hall, tucked away like a good secret fishing spot down in the River Valley. But even the small stuff adds up, especially when it concerns how decisions are made.

On March 24, 2026, the Agenda Review Committee met. What's interesting is how they moved from public to private. Councillor A. Stevenson moved to "meet in public," which carried 4-0. Then, immediately after, the *same* councillor moved to "meet in private pursuant to section 29 (advice from officials) of the *Access to Information Act* for the discussion of item 2.1." That also carried 4-0.

It’s a bit like inviting everyone over for coffee and then asking them to step outside so you can have a quick, private chat in the kitchen.

Here’s the breakdown from the voting record:

* **Public Meeting Motion:** Carried 4-0

* **Private Meeting Motion:** Carried 4-0

All four councillors present – A. Knack, A. Stevenson, E. Rutherford, and J. Wright – voted yes on both counts. This "private pursuant to section 29" usually means they're getting advice from city officials, which often deals with legal matters or sensitive negotiations. While not unusual, it's worth noting when the public agenda swiftly moves to a closed-door discussion. We'll have to see if item 2.1 surfaces in a public discussion later, or if it remains behind the curtain.

Honestly though, Edmonton doesn't need your approval. Never did.

Darren Fedoruk (@deepnorth_yeg)

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