Airdrie Minute: Emergency Management, Naming Rights, and the Fair Access Program

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

This Week In Airdrie:

• On Tuesday, at 9:00 am, there will be a meeting of the Standing Committee on Community Safety and Social Services. The Committee will be presented with the Airdrie Family & Community Support Services Association 2026-2028 Funding Strategy, as well as amendments to the Emergency Management Bylaw. For the latter item, the proposed amendments include setting a quorum of two people for the Emergency Advisory Committee to declare, renew, or terminate a State of Local Emergency. It also clarifies how these meetings are called and held, and specifies that meetings during a State of Local Emergency will not be streamed or recorded. The Committee will end the meeting in a closed session to review the Municipal Emergency Management Plan.
  
  
• Also on Tuesday, at 1:00 pm, there will be a meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Community Infrastructure and Strategic Growth. The Committee will receive a presentation from the Calgary Airport Authority on the 2025 runway rehabilitation project and the possible impact on flight pattern changes over Airdrie. Also on the agenda are a couple of development permit applications.
  
  
• The Policing Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:00 am. Committee members will take the Oath of Office, be asked to appoint one member as Chair, and receive a high-level overview of the Municipal Policing Service Agreement.

Last Week In Airdrie:

• The City of Airdrie has launched its 2025 Resident Satisfaction Survey, which will run until April 18th. The survey, formerly known as the Citizen Satisfaction Survey, will gather feedback from 400 randomly selected residents via phone, with an option for online participation. The data collected will help the City evaluate its performance in areas like quality of life, municipal services, and community issues, assisting in strategic planning and budgeting. The results from the 2023 survey showed that 73% of residents rated their quality of life as high, with a slight improvement from 2022. Following data collection, the results will be analyzed, and a final report will be presented to City Council by the end of May.
  
  
• Council considered a proposal to grant South Airdrie Smiles the naming rights to the East Atrium of the Inspire Facility, but Councillors expressed concerns over various aspects of the deal. The proposed sponsorship of $100,000 for a ten-year term was questioned, with some Councillors feeling that the valuation was too low, especially given the high potential value of the space. There was also concern about the lack of a public call for sponsorship opportunities, as only one proposal had been submitted. Additionally, issues were raised about the City's financial responsibility for signage costs and the impact of giving up revenue from renting the space. As a result, the motion was tabled, and Administration was asked to bring forward policy amendments to address concerns.
  
  
• Airdrie’s Fair Access low-income subsidy program saw significant growth in 2024, with enrollment increasing by 68%. By the end of the year, 1,099 households and 2,720 residents participated, up from 653 households and 1,735 residents in 2023. The program, which offers subsidies for various City services, saw the largest increase in subsidized Genesis Place memberships, as well as a rise in Airdrie Transit and Bert Church Live Theatre usage. Projected costs for 2025 have surpassed the original budget by $263,000.