Airdrie Minute: Airdrie Day, Municipal Enforcement, and a Tax Increase Proposed

Airdrie Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Airdrie politics

This Week In Airdrie:

• There will be meetings of City Council on Monday and Tuesday, at 9:00 am each day, for Council to debate the budget. Administration is proposing a 7.5% tax increase. We think this is unacceptable. Council should be cutting taxes, not raising them, and they could absolutely afford to do so if they got wasteful spending under control.
  
  
• Mayor Peter Brown says that this year's budget will face intense scrutiny due to the ongoing economic hardship felt by families. The proposed budget includes a $228.7 million operating budget and a $175.1 million capital budget. Some proposed items include adding an RCMP officer, staffing adjustments, and increased contributions to utility reserves.
  
  
• Airdrie Municipal Enforcement (AME) says they are experiencing an increase in demand. The department has recently implemented a new dispatch service to improve service tracking, which will help determine if additional resources are needed. The team has issued more tickets compared to last year, with a notable rise in commercial vehicle inspections and noise complaints. No formal request has been made to expand the team.

Last Week In Airdrie:

• The City of Airdrie recently showcased its achievements and priorities at the Alberta Legislature during the annual Airdrie Day festivities. Mayor Peter Brown highlighted the event as an opportunity to advocate for the city's needs, particularly funding for water and sewer infrastructure, while building relationships with MLAs and Ministers. Despite competing events reducing attendance, the City engaged in discussions, including with Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen, weeks before the event. For Ministers who missed the event, follow-up meetings in Edmonton are planned. As budget deliberations continue, the City will decide if Airdrie Day will return next year.
  
  
• The Airdrie United Church, a historic building that has served the community for over 100 years, held its final sermon on Sunday. The church, which had long struggled with significant structural issues and a deteriorating foundation, was sold to make way for a supportive housing project, with the property rezoned by City Council. Although a petition was launched in 2023 to save the church, the City determined the building's condition was too poor to preserve. The church's congregation will temporarily hold services at the Balzac United Church while exploring new locations.
  
  
• Around 800 Airdronians benefited from free food distributed by the Calgary Guru Nanak Free Kitchen and the local Sikh community. Residents were able to collect fresh produce, meat, baked goods, and more, with volunteers helping to hand out the items. The initiative, which has been running for several months, offers food without questions or shame, addressing the rising food insecurity in Airdrie. The demand for such events has increased, with over 1,200 people receiving food at the last event. Airdrie's food bank has also seen a 55% increase in demand. The kitchen plans to host another food distribution event in December.