Airdrie Minute: Trustee Requirements, Utility Fees, and a Traffic Safety Audit

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

This Week In Airdrie:

• There will be a Council Meeting on Tuesday at 1:00 pm. The agenda begins with a Public Hearing to get feedback on allowing for a future 5-storey mixed-use development at 905 Edmonton Trail SE, amendments to the Accessory Suites Regulation, and removal of the reserve designation from some City-owned land. Council will also receive a report on Councillor compensation and hours of work - the report was put together by a consultant and cost around $90,000.
  
  
• Airdrie is conducting a traffic safety audit to address concerns at twelve key intersections, with a focus on areas with high collision rates. The audit will assess collision patterns and safety measures, and provide cost estimates for potential improvements. Data collected from June 2021 to July 2024 revealed that most collisions occurred during winter months on clear days, particularly at the end of the day. The review will also consider issues like aggressive driving, traffic congestion, and visibility of signage. A draft report on the findings is expected by February, with a final report to follow later in the spring.
  
  
• Nominations close tonight at 11:59 pm for the second annual Mr. Airdrie Memorial Award, created in memory of Keith Wilkinson, a dedicated community volunteer who passed away last year. The award honours volunteers who embody Wilkinson's spirit of giving, like his involvement with 100 Airdrie Men Who Give a Damn and his long-standing membership in the Lions Club. Last year, Mike Reist received the award for continuing Wilkinson's legacy, particularly by portraying Santa for the community. The award will be presented at a City of Airdrie council meeting in January. You can make your nomination online.

Last Week In Airdrie:

• Following the closure of the Airdrie and District Victims Assistance Society (ADVAS), the Southern Alberta Regional Victim Serving Society (SARVSS) introduced its services to a City Committee. SARVSS, which operates in partnership with the RCMP, is restructuring victim services in southern Alberta by consolidating 64 individual units into four regional societies. Although the organization no longer provides certain services like dog therapy, it continues to collaborate with other agencies to offer these resources. SARVSS is working on expanding its volunteer base for after-hours support. The organization is focused on providing consistent support, with ongoing efforts to improve availability and meet the community's needs.
  
  
• Council passed three readings of the 2025 Water, Sewer, Waste, and Recycling Rate Bylaws, which were discussed during the annual budget deliberations. The proposed changes will reduce utility bills by approximately $2.10 per month, or $2.27 for those on the budget plan. Sewer and water rates will see slight reductions in both fixed and variable charges, with the combined sewer fee decreasing from $72.12 to $71.93 and the combined water fee dropping from $43.32 to $42.23 for the average household. Waste management fees will also decrease, with the daily waste collection fee dropping from $0.87 to $0.85 and the environmental services fee reducing from $0.21 to $0.20. Congratulations to Council for actually reducing costs!
  
  
• Rocky View Schools has introduced new requirements for Trustee candidates ahead of the 2025 election. Trustee nominees will now need to pay a $100 deposit and gather 20 signatures from eligible electors, up from the previous 10. Trustee Melyssa Bowen strongly opposed these changes, arguing that the deposit and increased signature requirement posed barriers for potential candidates, especially for newcomers. However, other Trustees, including Judi Hunter, supported the changes, believing candidates should be able to gather 20 signatures if they are serious about running for office. The next election is scheduled for October 20th, 2025.