Airdrie Minute: Surplus Allocation, Fire Station, and Updated Flag Guidelines

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

This Week In Airdrie:

• The Standing Committee on Community and Corporate Services will meet on Tuesday at 9:00 am. The Committee will receive the 2024 Fourth Quarter Cash and Investment Report as well as discuss the results of the research and engagement phase of the Community Facility Needs Assessment.
  
  
• On Tuesday at 1:00 pm, the Standing Committee on Community Infrastructure and Strategic Growth will meet. The Committee will be presented with the Corporate Green Fleet Strategy and discuss a development permit application for 69 Townhouse Dwelling units, located at 915 Bayview Rise SW.
  
  
• Council will receive an update on the Highland Park Fire Station and Training Centre on April 15th. The project, approved in November 2023, has a design team in place and is progressing through the schematic and detailed design phases. Construction is set to begin in May 2025, with completion expected by November 18th, 2026. The facility will include a fire station, a training centre with a burn tower and classrooms, and an emergency operations centre. Designed for long-term use, it incorporates post-disaster construction standards and anticipates future staffing and training needs.

Last Week In Airdrie:

• Council approved a new Flag Policy, with a 5-2 vote, updating guidelines for flag handling at City Hall and other sites. Mayor Peter Brown and Councillor Heather Spearman opposed the motion, with Spearman questioning the intent behind the sub-sections stating that Council approval of a flag raising does not imply endorsement. Councillor Tina Petrow also raised concerns about the sub-section that restricts politically or religiously motivated flags, questioning its subjectivity. The policy affirms that flag raising is a privilege, not a right, and details flag display protocols, including provisions for external groups like the RCMP and the Legion.
  
  
• The City of Airdrie and the Airdrie Board of Youth Affairs have launched the Airdrie Youth Grant Program to support youth-led community projects. The program offers two $1,500 macro grants and three $300 microgrants, with applications open until April 14th. It is open to youth ages 12-18 and builds on the success of the Mayor for a Day program. Youth Central, a Calgary-based organization, will oversee the application process and fund distribution. The application can be found online.
  
  
• City Council approved the allocation of a $5.8-million operating surplus, directing $2 million to the General Operating Reserve and $3.78 million to the General Capital Reserve. The surplus stemmed from unexpected investment returns, increased development revenues, and an unanticipated government grant. While some residents called for tax relief, City officials explained that relying on investment-driven surpluses for tax reductions could create financial instability.