Airdrie Minute: Issue 60

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

📅 This Week In Airdrie: 📅

• On Tuesday, at 10:00 am, there will be a City Council Meeting. The meeting begins with a closed session, wherein Council will discuss an investment opportunity, an infrastructure update, and a program legal update. The meeting will open up to the public at 1:00 pm, when Council will conduct a public input session on the proposed dissolution of Airdrie Mainstreet Square Real Estate Inc. (AMSQ). The AMSQ Board, made up of Councillors and members of the public, unanimously supported dissolving the corporation in October 2024, followed by a special resolution from the full Council. AMSQ was originally created in 2003 to limit the City's liability as a landlord, but current laws no longer necessitate maintaining a separate entity, and AMSQ’s $5.99 million loan from the City has been repaid. The dissolution is expected to reduce administrative and audit costs and integrate AMSQ’s operations into the City without increasing expenses. A liquidation plan has been approved, and pending public input, the City will proceed with filing the required documents to formally dissolve AMSQ by late 2025.
  
  
• Council is being asked to approve amendments to the Downtown Incentives Policy to better align the program with its goal of spurring meaningful redevelopment in Airdrie's downtown core. Since its launch, the program has committed $480,000 in municipal funds, leveraging over $1.5 million in private investment, but concerns were raised that many projects focused on minor improvements rather than transformational redevelopment. In response, the proposed changes include waiving application fees for redevelopment projects, excluding operational and maintenance expenses from eligibility, consolidating aesthetic supports, and requiring cost-sharing for activation initiatives. These amendments aim to simplify the program, increase its impact, and improve return on investment. Since late 2022, downtown’s assessed value has increased by $62 million, generating over $1.1 million in revenue through the Community Revitalization Levy. Administration recommends that Council adopt the revised policy without delay to keep momentum in revitalization efforts.
  
  
• Councillor Heather Spearman will bring forth a Notice of Motion proposing a pilot regional transit route connecting Airdrie directly to Calgary's post-secondary institutions. The motion cites Airdrie's growing population - now over 85,000 - and the increasing number of students commuting to campuses like the University of Calgary, SAIT, and Mount Royal. The motion says that current transit options are costly, time-consuming, and inefficient, with daily travel costs exceeding $15 and commute times often over 90 minutes each way. The pilot would aim to offer a more affordable and direct service during the academic year, benefiting students and any resident wishing to use it. The motion calls for an analysis of costs, demand, and funding opportunities, including grants, as well as recommendations for future transit upgrades and regional collaboration.
  
  
• The City is encouraging eligible residents to register to vote ahead of the 2025 Municipal Election, which runs from October 8th to 20th. Residents can register online until September 14th, though in-person registration will still be available during the voting period. This election will be more complex than past ones due to changes under Bill 20, which now requires a voters’ list and manual ballot counting. The election will determine the city’s Mayor, Councillors, and Ward 3 Trustees for the Rocky View School Board. Early registration is recommended to save time at the polls, and the city plans to hire more election workers to manage the increased workload. Advance voting will be offered on various dates at City Hall and the Town and Country Centre. We’ll bring you more information in the lead-up to the election.
  
  
• Airdrie realtor David Dempsey has entered the Council race for the 2025 municipal election, citing frustration over rising taxes, slow infrastructure progress, and a lack of clear communication from Council. He emphasized the need for stronger advocacy on issues like delayed healthcare facilities and called for better transparency around spending. Dempsey also criticized the long timeline for a new recreation centre and pushed for more flexible pricing at Genesis Place, suggesting swim-only passes to improve affordability. With housing affordability a key concern, he pledged to prioritize support for both young families and seniors. Drawing on his background in real estate and caregiving for a special needs child, Dempsey said his flexible schedule allows him to stay involved in the community. He has also proposed creating a mobile app for real-time City updates to improve public communication.
   

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Common Sense Airdrie is gearing up for the upcoming municipal election. 

We plan to survey all of the candidates for Mayor and Council. What questions do you think we should ask? Hit reply to this email and let us know your top priorities!

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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