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From time to time the City of Lethbridge Archives donates material to the City of Edmonton Archives which is relevant to this city's history.
The Town Planning Commission was established in 1929 by the passing of Bylaw No. 46. Under this bylaw, the Town Planning Commission was charged with preparing an official Town Plan and a zoning bylaw. They were also to serve in an advisory capacity in matters pertaining to town planning. The Commission was composed of members of the community, as well as elected officials and members of administration. The Town Planning Commission was folded in 1950 when it was decided that matters of town planning were better handled within civic administration.
A Town Planning Commission was established in 1929 to advise Council on matters pertaining to town planning. The Town Planning Department was established in 1949. The responsibility of the Planning Department was articulated in a 1952 organizational chart, which stated that the Town Planning Department was responsible for long and short term planning of the use and layout of the city, the preparation of layout plans for subdivisions and other specific projects, the approval of buildings plans for zoning and type of structure, and providing advice to City management on town planning matters.
In a 1983 brief to new City Councillors, Planning's function was stated as being "concerned with the way the city grows. It studies and provides advice on city development, especially the social, economic and environmental effects of growth and change. Planning considers how much land will be needed for housing, shops, industries, parks and transportation. It considers where each type of development should be located."
In 2015 the Sustainable Development website puts it the simplest terms possible. "The work of this department concentrates on planning and executing for the development needs of today and the future."
In June of 1950 a Personnel Officer was appointed by the City. In 1952 an increased workload resulted in a Personnel Assistant being hired. The Personnel Officer was responsible for running the job evaluation program, maintaining records of union agreements, assisting Commissioners to develop data for union agreements, and directing the Civic Employment Bureau whose own responsibilities included interviewing job applicants, completing initial personnel records, and screening personnel as requested by hiring departments.
The new Personnel Department was formally established in 1954, at which time it oversaw five sections: Personnel, Labour Relations, Public Relations, Organizational, and the City Police. Functions included: recording and coordinating the organization of City units, maintaining data on City personnel, appointing and terminating positions, tracking employee training and performance, supervising office discipline, and advising on union negotiations.
On July 1, 1967 the Safety Department was also made a division of Personnel. Further staff were acquired as the duties of the department expanded.
In 1975 the department’s mandate was to develop personnel policies to acquire, develop and retain qualified staff for the effective operation of the City of Edmonton. There were six branches: Labour Relations, Wage and Salary Arbitration, Employee Services, Employment, Staff Development, and Administration. The Personnel Department was also responsible for safety, and provided counselling and communication services. By 1994 this had been simplified to Personnel Services, Occupational Health and Safety, Employee Relations, and Employment and Compensation.
In 1997 the department was again reconfigured and became the Human Resources Department. In 2000 Human Resources was further absorbed into the Corporate Services Department along with other sections that provided specialized administrative support for all departments such as Law, Finance, Communications and Information Technology.
The Parks and Recreation Department was established on January 1, 1962 through the amalgamation of the Parks Department and the Recreation Department. The newly formed department was responsible for all City-owned recreational facilities and parklands. This included all parks, arenas, and pools, as well as facilities such as Fort Edmonton Park, the Storyland Valley Zoo, the Planetarium, John Walter Museum, golf courses, City leisure centres, and municipal cemeteries. The department also provided recreation opportunities to citizens. These changed over time, but included athletics, dramatics, crafts, daycare, play school, camping, clubs, and dance.
The Parks and Recreation Department was led by a Superintendent from 1962 until the early 1970s, at which time the position was reclassified as a General Manager. The head of the department reported to the City Commissioners until 1983, when the Commissioners’ positions were dissolved and replaced a the City Manager.
There were a number of advisory boards that provided advice to City Council regarding a number of issues relating to the work of the Parks and Recreation Department. Over time these included the Zoo Advisory Board, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Edmonton Historical Board, and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Advisory Board.
When the Parks and Recreation Department was established there was an administrative division, a research and planning division, a programme division (which included pools, the planetarium [later the Space Sciences Centre], and playgrounds), a construction division, and a maintenance division. The Storyland Valley Zoo was part of the Parks and Recreation Department but operated independently from the larger divisions.
The division names changed slightly over the next few years but the functions remained the same until 1966, when the Historical section, including the Historical Exhibits Building and John Walter Museum, was assigned to the department. This relieved the Historical Board of its administrative duties and allowed it to focus on an advisory role. Also this year operation of municipal cemeteries (including Beechmount, Edmonton and Mount Pleasant) was transferred to the General Maintenance Division of Parks and Recreation.
In 1967 the department underwent a significant restructuring meant to create a more logically aligned and balanced organization. The new divisions included Administration, Development (including planning, design, engineering, construction, forestry), Program Resources (formerly the Programs Division), Community Programs (divided by district), Revenue Programs (such as aquatics, arenas, zoo, planetarium, concessions, and golf courses), Maintenance (including forestry, horticulture and cemeteries), and Historical Development. This structure lasted until at least 1971.
In 1978 the Edmonton Space Sciences Foundation was established to plan for the creation and operation of a Space Sciences Centre. When this dream was finally realized in 1984 the Planetarium was closed.
By 1980 the Parks and Recreation Department had been reorganized into four units: Operations, Administrative Services, Planning and Development, and Major Facilities. Yet another reorganization occurred by 1988, by which time the organization of the department had become less centralized. The units at the time included Administrative Services, Marketing and Major Facilities Branch, Leisure Centres, Recreation and Culture Branch, Parks Maintenance Branch, Horticultural Services, and the Development Branch. The following year the Recreation and Culture Branch was renamed the Community Leisure Services Branch.
In 1992 the organization contracted to five units: Administrative Services, Community Leisure Services Branch, Major Facilities Branch, Parks Operations Branch, and Parks Development Branch. In 1993 Community Leisure Services Branch was renamed Community Recreation and Culture Services Branch. This organizational structure remained until 1997.
In 1997 the Parks and Recreation Department was reorganized as part of City ‘97, and became the Community Services Department. In 2016 the department was renamed Citizen Services.
The Office of the Auditor General was established in 1977 by Bylaw No. 4873: A Bylaw to Appoint a City Auditor General. An Auditor was appointed in late 1977 but did not start work until January 1, 1978. At the time, Edmonton was the only municipality in Canada to have an auditor general. When the Office was created, it absorbed the internal audit section which had previously been part of the Finance Department.
The Office of the Auditor General was envisioned as an independent financial overseer for the City. The position was appointed by City Council and was accountable directly to City Council unless otherwise directed. After a major internal reorganization in 1997, the Office of the Auditor General began receiving administrative support from the Office of the City Manager, but the two remained otherwise independent of one another.
When it was established in 1977, the role of the Office of the Auditor General was to examine the financial, administrative, and organizational affairs of the City of Edmonton. Analysis was done to ensure efficient, effective, and economical operations, and to promote accountability and continuous improvement. The work was done in a variety of ways. Cash audits determined whether cash resources were handled in a manner consistent with established City requirements and safeguards against loss. Comprehensive reviews determined whether a department, service, or program operated efficiently, effectively, and economically, and whether risks were minimized. Advisory services assisted in the development or enhancement of sound business practices and strategies. Governance activities determined whether corporate management practices met general ethical and performance standards, and complied with legal and regulatory requirements. Investigative services proved or refuted alleged fraudulent or inappropriate behaviour on the part of a City employee, Council member, or other party. Special projects included all audits, investigations, or studies not listed in the annual audit plan. Finally, system audits ensured that adequate controls were built into automated systems and determined whether they continued to operate effectively.
Management Services, under Superintendent H. B. Fraser, provided a wide range of technical and informational assistance to all other City Departments. Its sole purpose was to service the changing requirements of the City as evidenced in the particular demands of operating departments and other service functions.
Major functions of the department were organizational planning and analysis, equipment selection, office layout, forms design and control, a complete computing service which included systems design, operation and maintenance, records management, printing and reproductions. The department was divided into five main branches: Analytical Services, Computer Systems, Computer Operations, Microfilm and Records (Mail Services), and Printing and Reproductions.
Prior to the creation of the License Department, the task of issuing licenses and enforcing them was the responsibility of, Thomas McCallum was hired by the Police Department as a constable and license inspector in 1903. After the License Department was established McCallum became the City License Inspector.
The License Department was responsible for collecting licence fees established by City Bylaws, issuing licence certificates, and checking premises in the City to see that necessary licenses are obtained. The necessity of obtaining licenses was meant to bring the City additional revenue as well as to regulate, and control or prohibit certain activities. As example, in 1931 there were over 70 different types of licenses, ranging from $2 for a male dog, to $250 for a beer license north of the river and south of 118 Avenue.
There were close relationships between the License Department and other City departments due to the nature of the work. For example, license payments were collected by the Assessor's Department until 1924, then by the Comptroller's Office until 1927, and then by the Police Department. The Police Department was also involved in inspecting for licenses and enforcing the license bylaws.
Around 1932 the License Department was renamed the License and Collection Department.
The License Department was dissolved in 1954 after it was decided it should be . The amalgamation was Effective January 1, 1955, the License Department was absorbed by the Business Tax & License Section of the Assessor's Department.
The position of Town Solicitor was established in April 1892 by Bylaw 2, appointing certain officers of the Municipality. The position of City Solicitor was established in 1904 in An Ordinance to incorporate the City of Edmonton and passed in 1904 by the fifth legislative assembly of the North-West Territories.
The chief officer of the Legal Department was the Town Solicitor (1892-1904) and the City Solicitor (1904 onward). From 1892 to 1904 the Town Solicitor reported to Council. From 1904 until at least 1923 the City Solicitor reported directly to Council. Starting as early as 1952 the City Solicitor reported to the Chief Commissioner or the Commissioners Board until that body was dissolved in 1983. For three years, from 1983-1985, the City Solicitor reported directly to Council again. Beginning in 1986, the City Solicitor reported to the City Manager. In 2023 Employee and Legal Services formed as one team, as a result the City Solicitor became the Chief People Officer and City Solicitor, and Legal Services fell under a Deputy City Solicitor and Branch Manager.
The primary function of the legal department is to supply legal advice to the Mayor, Council and all City departments and to provide legal representation for the City in courts or other actions. Over time the office has expanded to include litigation services, bylaw enforcement and business licensing, risk management, the settlement of claims for and against the city, and corporate security.
Town/City Solicitors
The Information Technology Branch was created in 1997 as a result of a major corporate reorganization known as "City '97". IT was created by combining the Computing Resources Department with all of the computing functions across the City. The branch operated under the Corporate Services Department.
