Committee to take on concerns of Airdrie's bylaw department

Airdrie City council approved changes to the Police Committee during its annual organizational meeting, Oct. 22.

The name of the committee has been changed to the Municipal Policing Advisory Board (MPAB) and members will now discuss municipal enforcement (ME) issues in addition to policing concerns at regular meetings.

According to Darryl Poburan, Airdrie’s manager of ME, much of the committee’s membership, which includes five residents and two aldermen, is staying the same.

“It made more sense to go with the MPAB,” said Poburan, adding the board’s procedures are determined by Airdrie City council and will remain relatively unchanged despite the addition of discussion regarding ME.

Poburan said the change is positive because the Police Committee’s way of dealing with concerns created more work for RCMP members and City staff.

During the meetings, RCMP officers and City staff give presentations and provide reports to board members, such as the organization’s priorities and crime statistics, and make recommendations to council. The meetings are open to the public and attendees are welcome to bring up concerns or ask questions.

“The (the meetings) are very informative,” said Poburan. “You get to learn what is happening in the community. Random things can be brought up.”

Four-year MPAB board member and Alderman Glenda Alexander said the changes are positive.

“There will be more opportunity for reports and more opportunity for positive recommendations,” she said.

“The city is getting bigger and we have to start looking at things differently than we used to.”

Alexander said as part of the committee, she is provided with concerns from the RCMP detachment.

“There have been some awesome, awesome things that come out of the (police) committee,” she said, citing the RCMP’s traffic enforcement group, consisting of officers that work extra time to help control traffic in the city.

The first meeting of the newly formed MPAB will be held in November, a date has not yet been set. Members will discuss changes to the board and future priorities.

The meeting is open to the public and will be held in council chambers at City Hall, located at 400 Main Street SE.

For more information and a meeting date, contact the City’s legislative services department at 403-948-8816.