Airdrie Minute: Issue 66

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

📅 This Week In Airdrie: 📅

• There will be a meeting of City Council on Wednesday at 1:00 pm. The City will reveal its 2025 population total at the meeting, following the recent completion of a municipal census conducted from April 1st to June 2nd. Last year, the population was recorded at 85,805, marking a 6.4% increase from 2023. According to a population forecast from April 2024, Airdrie could reach around 91,078 residents in 2025, continuing its trend as Alberta’s fastest-growing city. The census results will help guide planning decisions for schools, recreation, policing, and infrastructure. Detailed ward and community-level data will be shared after the Council meeting.
  
  
• There will also be a public input session during the Council meeting regarding proposed amendments to the Sewer Bylaw, specifically related to overstrength effluent limits and surcharge rates. The changes aim to protect sewer infrastructure and the environment by improving the Industrial Monitoring program, which tests commercial and industrial customers for pollutants like Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG), and Total Suspended Solids
  (TSS). Following a review prompted by business concerns, Administration proposed replacing discretionary discounts with a tiered surcharge system aligned with rates used by the City of Calgary. This system would charge fees based on the level of overstrength effluent.
  
  
• Also during the meeting, Administration will respond to a previous motion requesting exploration of pilot transit routes connecting Airdrie to Calgary post-secondary campuses. Much of this exploration is already included in the ongoing Transit Master Plan (TMP), which is expected to be completed by late 2025. The TMP involves public and stakeholder engagement and will analyze transit network changes, including potential university routes, ridership forecasts, costs, and funding opportunities. Administration recommends no change to the current TMP scope but noted that an enhanced, more detailed investigation of post-secondary transit options could be added for an additional cost of $10,310, requiring a budget adjustment. If Council opts to expand the TMP scope, service options would be developed for multiple Calgary campuses and associated costs would be assessed.
  
  
• Councillors Spearman and Petrow have submitted a Notice of Motion calling for the development of a formal policy to establish minimum standards for inclusive and accessible playgrounds in Airdrie. The motion highlights that, as Airdrie grows, there is increasing demand for public infrastructure that accommodates children with disabilities and sensory sensitivities, noting current playgrounds often have barriers like gravel surfaces and high curbs. While some inclusive features are encouraged in new parks, the City lacks a consistent policy to ensure accessibility across all playgrounds. The proposed policy would set clear design standards such as accessible surfacing, ramps, sensory elements, and inclusive equipment like accessible swings. It would also align with best practices seen in other municipalities.
  
  
• Council will be asked to endorse the City’s Indigenous Framework and Action Plan. The Plan is aimed at advancing reconciliation by responding to key Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), including adopting UNDRIP principles, educating public servants, supporting memorial projects, and enhancing cultural programming. Recommended next steps include sharing the draft with Indigenous partners, developing related policies such as a land acknowledgment policy and a grant funding policy, and implementing the plan with clear accountability and annual reviews. Budget details for proposed actions will be presented in the 2026 budget.
   

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

We don’t usually ask for donations in these Minute emails, but summer is a challenging time for non-profits like ours, and your support makes all the difference.

If you value the work we’re doing, now’s a great time to chip in and help us stay on track: