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As we move into summer, things have been really busy at City Hall and there are a number of initiatives I'd like to provide some updates on this month.
 Growing a Stronger Edmonton
 The first is that Council has given final approval to Edmonton's Municipal Development Plan. Called "The Way We Grow", the document sets the course for our planning decisions for the next 10 years and imagines Edmonton in 30 years as a much more compact, sustainable, and livable city.
So much of our forward direction is based on this sustainable vision, and we need to think about sustainability in all aspects - environmental, social and financial. Within this context, we must make smart decisions about the development and infrastructure that will support our rapidly growing city.
The biggest piece of this is going to be transit. Our new plan is closely tied to our LRT and plans for LRT expansion to all sectors of our city. Moving forward, how we plan our communities, and how we prioritize our spending will all factor into LRT.
"The Way We Grow" is a major document, one which has incorporated the ideas and aspirations of so many Edmontonians. Thank you to everyone who spent a great deal of their personal time helping to bring this plan to life.
The Motorcycle Noise Bylaw
Another decision made by City Council recently, an amendment to the Community Standards Bylaw prohibiting excessive noise by motorcycles, has generated a lot of buzz.
The amendment provides the Edmonton Police Service with more tools to enforce violations of excessive noise - something that has been a source of significant community complaint for years. Now by focusing on equipment that is often added to vehicles specifically to make them louder than they were designed to be, the new bylaw responds to these long-standing concerns. At this point, provincial legislation and current technology limit our enforcement to motorcycles, but City Council has asked for a report, due in the fall, on how we may be able to expand the bylaw to include excessive noise from other vehicles.
This is the first bylaw of its kind in Canada and I would be interested to hear your comments on whether we've got it right.
Reaching for a Safer Community
 Noise isn't the only thing disrupting the peace. We also need to be proactive in dealing with the challenge of violence in our communities. There is no question this is a very significant concern to most of us.
The truth is that we each have a role to play in making Edmonton a safer place, and by working together, we can inspire a culture of community safety.
Recently, the founding meeting of the REACH Edmonton Council for Safe Communities was held. The new Council comes out of the REACH Report on community safety which envisions a city that prevents crime before it happens.
To achieve this vision, REACH Edmonton's focus is engaging Edmontonians in the issue of community safety and investing in children, youth and families.
I encourage all Edmontonians to get involved in this effort to make Edmonton a place where everybody feels - and is - safe. Together, I believe we really can make a difference.
To learn more about REACH Edmonton, please visit the website at www.reachreport.ca.
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