Freezeway debate leaves mayor re-examining how Edmonton credits citizens for ideas

The city needs to investigate how it accepts and implements "city-building" ideas such as the Freezeway and how it gives credit for them, says Mayor Don Iveson.

"I think it's worth seeking clarification about how we ought to deal with the intake of these city-building ideas, how we give credit for them and how we properly involve these individuals if their ideas are implemented," he said in a Facebook post Thursday night.

• Creator of Freezeway idea feels frozen out by city
• 'This is just the start of something,' says designer

Matt Gibbs, the designer of the Freezeway skating path in Victoria Park, is upset with how he was been treated by the city, saying it no longer want his help and is unwilling to compensate him for his time and expenses.

This year the city scaled back his proposal, changing the name to the IceWay.

Iveson initially rejected Gibbs claims, saying he received plenty of credit and recognition for his work.

"I think the city took that suggestion in good faith and implemented it in a more practical way," he said earlier this week.

But Iveson said the recent public discussion about the Freezeway concept has given him cause to look further into how the city gathers ideas and gives credit for them.

"We hear dozens of [ideas] every week, from pedestrian-safety improvements, to improving the services we provide to businesses, to ways we can make Edmonton a more inclusive city."

He wants to see a report done by administration outlining the process for how the city manages the submission and selection of ideas; when and how the public is given credit for ideas; how to involve individuals as their ideas are implemented; and how the city differentiates between ideas offered by citizens as opposed to offers to do 'proprietary' business with the city.