Jeff Gerestein

This document is a comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment for the City of Airdrie, utilizing data and research to identify current and future housing requirements. It serves to inform non-market housing policy, development, funding opportunities, and advocacy. Key findings highlight declining housing affordability for both homeowners and renters, a critical lack of diverse housing stock (particularly for families, young adults, and seniors), and persistent income inequalities contributing to a growing Core Housing Need. The assessment advocates for strategic interventions, including increased provincial rent supplements and a diversification of housing options, to address the deepening housing crisis and to update the Affordable Housing Principled Action Plan.

The town hall focused on local policing and community safety within Erdri. Key discussion topics included updates from the RCMP and municipal enforcement on operational priorities, road safety initiatives such as quadrant-based school patrols and commercial vehicle inspections, and the establishment of a new municipal animal services center. Additionally, the session covered the city's holistic approach to traffic safety and the ongoing development of a comprehensive community safety and well-being plan.

This bylaw amends the City of Airdrie Municipal Development Plan, specifically addressing policies for development in proximity to railway corridors. It mandates that all development applications within 1600 meters of railway property lines must comply with the City of Airdrie Rail Policy and Implementation Guide. The amendment incorporates best practices from The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Railway Association of Canada to ensure compatible land-use planning and mitigate risks associated with freight rail operations, particularly concerning the CPKC's Red Deer subdivision rail line.

This document outlines the multi-year funded programs supported by Airdrie Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) for the period 2026-2028. These programs align with FCSS strategies and provincial priorities, focusing on areas such as information and referrals, youth and child development, and building community capacity. Key initiatives include addressing food insecurity, providing youth mentorship, enhancing social-emotional well-being, promoting diverse youth engagement, offering sexual health education, and providing mental health support, aiming to strengthen community resilience and overall well-being.

Airdrie's 2024-2030 Affordable Housing Principled Action Plan outlines focus areas by illustrating a comprehensive 'Housing Spectrum'. This spectrum categorizes various housing options, from emergency shelters and transitional housing to supportive, community, and market housing, emphasizing that affordable housing can be integrated across all models. The plan implicitly suggests strategic consideration of these diverse models, noting the inverse relationship between housing cost and public funding across the spectrum.