Airdrie Minute: Systems Navigation, Entrepreneurship Program, and Tax Increase Approved

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

This Week In Airdrie:

• There will be a Community and Corporate Services Meeting on Tuesday at 9:00 am. The agenda includes the Inspire Multi-Use Facility Service Delivery Plan, and a progress update on work being done to streamline the rental process and remove barriers for Town and Country Centre users.
  
  
• Also on Tuesday, at 1:00 pm, there will be a ​​meeting of the Community Infrastructure and Strategic Growth Standing Committee. The Committee will discuss amending the Municipal Development Plan Bylaw to align it with the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board Growth and Servicing Plans.
  
  
• Airdrie will pilot a systems navigation role in early 2025 to support vulnerable residents facing housing insecurity. This program is one of the key initiatives outlined in the City’s Houselessness Highlights report, presented to council on November 19th. The new role will focus on housing-related issues, tracking how residents access services, and providing intervention supports like housing referrals and crisis management. While some Councillors expressed concerns about the absence of additional services like wellness checks, others worried about overlapping with services already provided by other groups. The City says it plans to work with organizations like Community Links to avoid duplication. The Houselessness Estimation Study revealed that 530 residents in Airdrie are currently facing housing insecurity, with key contributing factors including high housing costs, health challenges, and low vacancy rates.

Last Week In Airdrie:

• Council approved a 4.74% tax increase for the 2025 budget, which includes a $228.8 million operating budget and a $174.7 million capital budget. The tax hike was reduced by over $2.2 million during budget deliberations, thanks to surplus funding and adjustments to staffing and other costs. Council also made changes to several funding requests, including the library grant and transit expansions, while adding to the Affordable Housing Reserve to avoid further tax impacts. Despite reductions, some Councillors expressed concerns about rising costs and the need for long-term planning as Airdrie continues to grow.
  
  
• The City of Airdrie, in partnership with Airdrie Entrepreneur Common, announced the launch of "The Cashflow Canvas" to support local entrepreneurs. This pilot program, starting on January 22nd, 2025, will offer a three-hour bootcamp to help business owners improve their financial literacy and budgeting skills. With 71% of business failures linked to poor financial management, the program will teach entrepreneurs how to create a one-page financial plan and use easy-to-understand tools for budgeting. Designed to boost financial resiliency, the initiative is funded by the Northern and Regional Economic Development program and will feature certified trainers from local CPAs and business coaches. Entrepreneurs can sign up for the program online.
  
  
• As winter weather sets in, the Airdrie Fire Department has urged residents to be cautious around ice-covered bodies of water. Fire Chief Mike Pirie emphasized that ice can be unpredictable, and natural water features like ponds, Nose Creek Park, and canals are not safe for skating. The department responds to numerous calls each year, often involving animals or people falling through the ice, particularly in storm and retention ponds.