Council Highlights April 15 2019

Royal United Services Institute of Medicine Hat president Matt Klimaszewski, along with Judge Dietrich Brand and Kitt Brand, presented City Council a painting of Medicine Hat’s First World War Monument done by Theresa Eisenbarth.

Dennis Egert, General Manager of Finance for the City of Medicine Hat, presented on the 2019 Municipal Services Mill Rate Establishment Bylaw #4578.

Following a public hearing sponsored by the Municipal Planning Commission, City Council passed second and third reading of Bylaw #4503, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #4168, the Land Use Bylaw. The former Riverside School site (legally described as Plan 762M, Block 3, Lots 1, 11,31, 33, 35, 37) was designated as Community Service, and will now be re-designated to Direct Control (DC). The site has been sold to a private developer, and rezoning to Direct Control is recommended due to a change in the land use, the scale of potential development, and the desire for public input. The amendment is in alignment with the policies identified within the Riverside Area Redevelopment Plan.

City Council adopted through Administrative Committee the sale of 603 First Street SE to Spero Hydrocarbons Ltd. for the purchase price of $364,500. The transaction will close on September 30, 2019. The purchaser seeks to build a boutique hotel on the property, with the potential for a second phase that would see development of a residential building with parkade.

Through Administrative Committee, City Council received for information the tender recommendation EU19-18 Water and Sanitary Sewer Replacements on Elm Street, Spencer Street and 10 Street SE. It was awarded to the best evaluated bid meeting specification: MJB Enterprises Ltd. in the amount of $3,854,452.00.

Through Audit Committee, City Council approved the 2018 City of Medicine Hat Financial Statements, as well as the reappointment of KPMG as External Auditors for 2019. The Audit Contract was awarded to KPMG LLP in 2015 with an option to extend the contract annually for an additional four years, subject to City Council’s approval.

Also through Audit Committee, City Council received an information item on the 2018 Capital Project and Major Operating Expense Over Expended/Under Expended/ Cancelled Projects as at December 31, 2018. This fulfills the obligation to report to Council annually on capital spending and internal budget amendments.

City Council through Corporate Services Committee approved First Reading of Bylaw #4585 the Brownfield Tax Incentive Bylaw. Modifications to the Municipal Government Act (MGA), which took effect on January 1, 2018, permit the City to grant multi-year tax incentives on brownfield properties. A brownfield property is a commercial or industrial property that is contaminated (or possibly contaminated); vacant, derelict or underutilized; and suitable for development or redevelopment for the general benefit of the municipality. Two properties will be used as a pilot project, after which the effectiveness of the incentives will be assessed.

An emergency management update was received for information through Corporate Services Committee. The update provided information on the impact the Local Authority Emergency Regulation Plan (effective January 1, 2020) will have on our community. In order to comply with the regulation, the Emergency Management Bylaw will need to be updated to include formal meeting frequency for the Emergency Advisory Committee, and training will need to be provided to Council members regarding specific responsibilities during emergency situations. The update also indicated that a full-scale emergency exercise is planned for June 5, 2019 and will involve neighboring counties, emergency responders including HALO, as well as private agencies.

City Council through Administrative Committee approved entering into a two-year lease and license agreement with Enterprise Holdings, LLC. Enterprise Holdings, LLC (Enterprise) has requested to rent space in the Medicine Hat Regional Airport terminal and parking lot to operate a car rental concession.

City Council received for information through Administrative Committee the tender recommendation GP19-58 Reclamation Services for Natural Gas & Petroleum Services (NGPR). Contracts were awarded to the best evaluated bids meeting specification: Summit in the amount of $775,000; Trace in the amount of $650,000; Bowron in the amount of $625,000; and Ridgeline in the amount of $300,000.

City Council approved for second and third reading of Bylaw #4579, a Bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to authorize the preparation of Supplementary Assessments in the City of Medicine Hat during 2019.

City Council approved first, second and third reading of Bylaw #4578, the 2019 Municipal Services Mill Rate Establishment Bylaw, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to authorize Council to impose a property tax for the year 2019 and to exempt certain property from taxation for the year 2019.

City Council approved first, second and third reading of Bylaw #4580, the Supplementary Tax Bylaw, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to authorize the Council of the City to impose a 2019 Supplementary Property Tax.

City Council approved first, second and third reading of Bylaw #4581, The 2019 CCD Business Tax Rate Bylaw, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to provide for the rate of tax payable for the year 2019 in respect to the City Centre Development Area.

City Council approved first reading of Bylaw #4585, The Brownfield Tax Incentive Bylaw, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to provide for full or partial exemptions from taxation, or deferral of the collection of taxed, under Part 10, Division 2, of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), pursuant to Section 364.1 of the Municipal Government Act.

Under New Business, City Council approved the ratification of both the Medicine Hat Police Association and Medicine Hat Police Senior Officers Association collective agreements. The previous agreements expired on December 31, 2016. The new agreements are for a four-year term from January 1, 2017 until December 31, 2020. General wage increases include 0% effective January 1, 2017; 2% effective January 1, 2018; 2.5% effective December 31, 2018; 2% effective December 31, 2019; and 1.5% effective July 1, 2020.