Airdrie Minute: Outdoor Rinks, Trustee Deposits, and Considering Reconsideration Votes

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

This Week In Airdrie:

• On Tuesday, at 1:00 pm, there will be a City Council meeting. Council will discuss providing a resolution of support for the City of Airdrie to apply for the Province’s Local Growth and Sustainability Grant. The grant would address the left-hand turn at Gateway and Veterans Boulevard NE, and if successful, would cover 50% of the cost. Council will also discuss endorsing the Town of Cochrane’s application for the Alberta Community Partnership-Intermunicipal Collaboration grant to fund a feasibility study for the development of a Waste to Energy Facility. Also on the agenda is the first reading of a Borrowing Bylaw to fund $89,990,011 of the Southwest Recreation Centre..
  
  
• Rocky View Schools (RVS) is considering a $100 deposit requirement for trustee nominees ahead of the 2025 election, along with a new rule requiring 20 signatures to support their candidacy. The changes, discussed at a recent board meeting, aim to increase the seriousness of the position, but some trustees argued the deposit could be a barrier for potential candidates, particularly those with fewer resources. While some trustees feel the deposit ensures commitment, others believe it may deter people from running. The bylaw will be voted on during a December 12th meeting.
  
  
• The Light Up Airdrie weekend, taking place from December 6th to 8th, will feature several major holiday events. The festivities kick off with Moonlight Madness, a city-wide shopping event offering discounts and door prizes. On December 7th, the Santa Claus Parade will take place, followed by a countdown to Santa with various activities in the downtown area. Other highlights include Mrs. Claus's Cookies and Cocoa storytime, a holiday market hosted by the Airdrie Boys and Girls Club, and a visit from Santa at the Airdrie Festival of Lights on December 8th. Full details, times, and locations are available on the City’s website.

Last Week In Airdrie:

• Council decided to work on improving accessibility for residents, and is planning to consult with grassroots organizations before determining next steps. Council discussed various options, such as creating an accessibility policy and conducting audits, but decided to take the conversation offline for further consultation. Councillor Heather Spearman highlighted issues like accessibility barriers at local businesses, particularly for individuals with mobility challenges, and suggested grants to incentivize improvements. Airdrie has already conducted accessibility audits at places like Genesis Place and Ron Ebbesen Arena, with planned improvements including automatic doors and better seating. Additionally, the City is working on projects like an accessible park and upgrades to pathways and crosswalks.
  
  
• Council discussed potentially amending its policy regarding the reconsideration of decisions after the approval of the black bin program. The program, initially defeated, was later approved after a Council member brought the item back on the table later in the meeting as a Notice of Motion to reconsider, then changed her vote, leading to the program’s approval. Mayor Peter Brown expressed concerns about the process, suggesting that reconsideration should only occur with new information or if an error in the initial vote was identified. The proposed change to the policy aims to prevent future reconsiderations without proper justification. Despite some opposition from residents and Councillors regarding the program’s impact on waste and costs, the black bin program was approved and is set to begin in 2026.
  
  
• Crews started work on prepping Airdrie’s outdoor rinks for the winter season. The City expects some rinks to be available for use by mid-December, depending on weather conditions. Airdrie offers both snowbank and boarded rinks across various locations, including Bayview Way Park and East Lake Regional Park. Additionally, the City plans to introduce a new skating loop around the regional park in the northeast. Airdrie has three natural ice surfaces, Nose Creek Pond, Waterstone, and Summerhill, but the ice depth has to be at least 10 to 12 inches before crews start working on those. A map of all outdoor rinks is available online.