Council Highlights June 16, 2025

Under Councillor Announcements:

• Councillor Hider acknowledged the recent Alberta Chamber of Commerce AGM event hosted by the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce and congratulated the chamber team on 125 years of service to the community. She also reminded the community of the renaming of a portion of 6 Avenue SE to Commerce Way as a way to commemorate this occasion.

• Councillor Van Dyke extended congratulations to local students Fatema Riaz and Echo Moreton, who both achieved success at the Canada Wide Science Fair in Frederickton, New Brunswick.

City Council received the following items into the corporate record: 

• Development and Infrastructure Open Committee Meeting Minutes of June 5, 2025

City Council received the following items for information: 

• 2024 Procurement Spend Report

• Medicine Hat Police Commission Meeting Minutes of April 16, 2025

• Development and Infrastructure Open Committee Meeting Action Items of June 5, 2025

John Popoff, City Planner and Director of Development Services, and Ted Nestor, Senior Planner, provided a presentation on Bylaw 4852 to amend the Tri-Area Intermunicipal Development Plan, which was followed by a public hearing. At the close of the public hearing, City Council passed Bylaw 4852. The amendments focus largely on protecting specific areas for long term urban expansion and industrial growth while providing greater flexibility in rural areas for multi-lot country residential developments.

Under Unfinished Business, City Council:

• Delayed the reimbursement of legal fees incurred by Mayor Clark until Council has had an opportunity to speak with external legal counsel to establish the best course of legal action.

• Passed a motion Council directing Administration to provide the following statistical information where there are greater than five data points for a reporting period within the tri-annual report:

  • a cumulative summary of severance payments;
  • a cumulative summary of bonuses paid provided that such information would not be an unreasonable invasion of privacy pursuant to relevant legislation as determined by the FOIP Head.
  • total number of head count (with current definition supplied by People Services)

provided that such information would not be an unreasonable invasion of privacy pursuant to relevant legislation as determined by the FOIP Head.

• Passed a motion directing Administration to make available on a quarterly basis on the City website the following statistical information where there are greater than five data points for a reporting period:

  • Turnover;
  • Age Demographics;
  • Percentage of Union Employees vs. Non-Union/Without Union Employees;
  • Total Payroll – year-to-date vs. budget;
  • Total Recordable Injury Frequency (TRIF);
  • Number of WCB claims initiated and number of WCB claims closed;
  • Retirement rate - number of retirements;
  • Number of new hires;
  • Gender demographics;
  • Number of formal respectful workplace complaints completed;
  • Vacancy rate – number of roles being recruited;
  • Number of employees taking part in the Remote Work Program; and
  • Total number of employees;

provided that such information would not be an unreasonable invasion of privacy pursuant to relevant legislation as determined by the FOIP Head.

• Passed Bylaw 4851, to provide for partial exemptions from taxation under Part 10, Division 2 of the MGA, pursuant to section 364.2 of the MGA. The bylaw is meant to encourage the development or redevelopment of multiple unit residential housing.

Under New Business, City Council:

• Approved the City Centre Vibrancy Program to run until the end of Q4 2026. The purpose of the City Centre Vibrancy Program is to support businesses and property owners in the City Centre to take on improvement projects to help increase vibrancy and activity within the area.

• Approved a one-time budget amendment of $125K to allow People Services to accept and utilize a recently awarded provincial emergency management grant.

Under Committee Business, City Council:

• Passed the following motion:

Trail Connectivity Between Heron Crossing and Desert Blume

The letter shall:

• Request a collaborative review of the feasibility, estimated costs, and potential funding sources for the trail connection.
• Be signed by the Mayor and include a copy of this resolution.
• Be submitted in time for inclusion on the agenda of the first Cypress County Council meeting in July 2025.

Further, that a summary of findings and a proposed solution be presented to both Councils no later than August 18, 2025, unless it can be completed sooner.

Notice of motion:

Councillor Dumanowski gave notice of the following motion:

Please be advised that at the next scheduled meeting of City Council on July 7, 2025, I will bring forward the following motion for consideration:

WHEREAS the subject property, legally described as Lot 26; Block 1; Plan 7058JK and municipally addressed as 1064 First Street SW, be proposed to have future development restricted to single family/residential use only;

AND WHEREAS the maximum allowable development on the site shall be limited to a maximum of two storeys or a maximum building height of 10.5 metres from grade level, whichever is less;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that these restrictions be implemented through either: A) a condition of sale included in the Real Estate Purchase Contract (REPC); or B) an amendment to the Land Use Bylaw.