Your City: The Owner's Manual
Structure Council Game Branches

Your City: The Owner's Manual

Welcome, neighbour. You see the trucks, hear the sirens, and pay the bills! - but do you know how it works? Use this guide to explore the roles, responsibilities, and structure of your local government.

Municipal Structure

Who actually runs things? Understanding who reports to whom is the first step in getting to know your local government. Tap a box to see the powers and flow of work.

Council
Elected by You
Role: The Board of Directors

While not a corporate board, Council serves a similar governance role: they set the vision, policy, and budget, but do not manage day-to-day operations or staff.

Within Purview
  • Set Tax Rates & Budget
  • Pass Bylaws (Laws)
  • Set Strategic Plan
  • Hire City Manager
NOT in Purview
  • Directing City Staff
  • Issuing Permits
  • Deciding Enforcement
  • Day-to-day Operations
City Manager
Leads Administration
The C.E.O. of the City
Council has one employee: The City Manager. Council directs the Manager, and the Manager directs the 14,000+ staff.
Example: Building a New Rec Centre
1
Council votes to approve the budget & concept.
2
City Manager assigns it to the relevant Departments.
3
Key Departments Involved (Examples):
  • Integrated Infrastructure Services (Builds it)
  • Community Services (Plans programs)
  • Financial & Corporate Services (Funding/Legal)
  • Urban Planning & Economy (Permits)
4
Frontline Staff (Examples include):
  • Construction Project Managers
  • Safety Codes Officers
  • Accountants & Buyers
  • Lifeguards & Facility Staff
Independent
City Auditor
Reports to Council
The Watchdog
They investigate programs to ensure efficiency and honesty.
Powers
  • Investigate ANY Dept
  • Access all Records
  • Report directly to Public
Limits
  • Cannot fire staff
  • Cannot fix the problem
  • Only recommends

Whose Job Is It?

Knowing which door to knock on is your first tool of empowerment. Play the game to test your knowledge.

How many questions?

A fun way to test your knowledge!

Municipal (City)

Tax Share: ~8%

    Provincial (Alberta)

    Tax Share: ~42%

      Federal (Canada)

      Tax Share: ~50%
        Tap on any section to learn more!

        Inside Council Chambers

        The municipal corporation operates on an egalitarian "one member, one vote" system. Every member of the assembly holds equal voting weight.

        The Assembly: 13 Elected Representatives
        The Mayor (Chief Elected Official)
        • Elected at large by the whole city.
        • Presides over all full Council meetings.
        • Serves as the primary diplomatic representative.
        • Builds consensus (has no unilateral veto).
        12 City Councillors
        • Elected to represent distinct geographic wards.
        • Balance localized demands vs. city-wide needs.
        • Approve multi-billion-dollar budgets.
        • Participate in specialized standing committees.
        How Decisions Are Made
        1
        Types of Meetings:
        • Regular Council Meetings: Where final, legally binding decisions and bylaws are enacted.
        • Standing Committees: Subsets of Council that review specific portfolios (e.g., Urban Planning, Utility) and make recommendations.
        • Statutory Public Hearings: Allow citizens to present arguments directly to Council on major land-use and zoning changes.
        2
        Voting & Quorum:
        • Quorum: At least 7 of the 13 members must be present to conduct binding business.
        • Simple Majority: Most bylaws and budgets pass with over 50% of present members in favour.
        Meet Your Representatives (2025-2029)

        Mayor Andrew Knack + 12 Ward Councillors. Tap a ward to see its meaning.

        Committees, Agencies, Boards & Commissions

        Council relies on specialized committees, civic corporations, and independent civilian boards to govern effectively.

        1. City Council Committees
        • Audit Committee: Oversees financials and the City Auditor.
        • Community & Public Services: Social programs, fire, transit.
        • Executive Committee: Governance and financial strategy.
        • Urban Planning: Land use, zoning, and development.
        • Utility Committee: Waste, water, and drainage.
        • Infrastructure Committee: Capital projects and roads.
        • Agenda Review Committee: Coordinates reports to Council.
        • Emergency Advisory Committee: Activates during major crises.
        • Council Services Committee
        • City Manager & Auditor Performance Evaluation Committee
        2. Agencies, Boards, and Commissions (ABCs)
        Statutory & Governance Boards
        • Edmonton Police Commission
        • Edmonton Public Library Board
        • Edmonton Combative Sports Commission
        • Assessment Review Board (ARB)
        • Subdivision & Development Appeal Board
        Civic Corporations
        • EPCOR Utilities Inc.
        • Explore Edmonton
        • Edmonton Unlimited
        • HomeEd
        Advisory Committees
        • Accessibility Advisory Committee
        • Anti-Racism Advisory Committee
        • Energy Transition & Climate Resilience
        • Edmonton Design Committee
        • Edmonton Youth Council
        • Women’s Advisory Voice of Edmonton (WAVE)
        • Naming Committee
        Inter-jurisdictional & Regional
        • Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board (EMRB)
        • Edmonton Global
        • River Valley Alliance (RVA)
        • Alberta Industrial Heartland Association
        • Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
        • Alberta Municipalities (ABMunis)
        • 13 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)