Last week, the City of Airdrie and Rocky View County (RVC) took a step toward enhancing inter-municipal collaboration between the two municipalities with the approval and signing of the Master Shared Services Agreement (MSSA).
The agreement, which earned unanimous support from RVC council at their February 27 meeting, was described by County officials as a voluntary agreement that will now serve as a framework for the two municipalities to work on further collaboration.
According to a press release on the City of Airdrie website, the agreement will guide both the City and the County in exploring opportunities for shared services and the multitude of benefits that will stem from continued collaboration.
“This groundbreaking agreement underscores the commitment to strengthening ties between our municipalities," said RVC Reeve Crystal Kissel. "It highlights the cooperative spirit and collaborative efforts of two neighbouring communities that share the common goal of providing efficient and effective services to our residents. The approval of the MSSA demonstrates the unity and proactive decision-making of both Councils.”
Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown said at the MSSA signing at the RVC building that the City was thrilled to be working with the County. “This agreement will facilitate a collaborative inter-municipal relationship, enhancing current and future shared services ensuring they are equitable and cost-effective for residents and businesses in Airdrie and Rocky View County.”
The agreement will "identify opportunities" for shared services, and according to the City, has the potential to deliver services that will be equitable, cost-effective, and will benefit residents and businesses in both communities.
The agreement will also provide “clarity” on municipal service delivery related to fire management, recreation, solid waste, and transportation. According to the council report presented to RVC, the agreement will “identify whether a service is delivered through a partnership between the two municipalities, separately or through cooperation with a third-party entity.”
The council report states that “ultimately, clarity on shared services and how they are delivered will result in the equitable, cost-efficient, and effective delivery of essential services that benefit residents and businesses of the City and County.”
Brown stated that the agreement will encourage open discussions and information sharing, and will help in the examination of potential efficiencies and cost-savings.
"Importantly, the agreement emphasizes that municipalities will only share services upon formal Council direction to do so, ensuring a thoughtful and strategic approach to collaboration,” said Brown.
Kissel said that "in essence, agreement fosters a positive environment for our Administrations to engage in direct dialogue, working collaboratively to find optimal solutions for the delivery of services. It reflects a forward-looking approach to municipal cooperation and sets the stage for a future marked by shared successes and mutual benefits."
According to the council shared service agreement council report, since both Airdrie and RVC are members of the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB), they are exempt from the legislated requirement for municipalities with shared boundaries to complete Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks, which govern shared services between municipalities.
However, both municipal governments determined that it became apparent that the CMRB Servicing Plan would not “meet the desire of the two municipalities to collaborate on services that benefit residents and businesses in both municipalities.”
In 2012, negotiations started between the two municipalities for the MSSA and in December 2023, it was approved in principle by both the City and the County.
At the February 27 meeting, council also directed County administration to examine other opportunities for additional shared service agreements with the City of Airdrie.
