Council Highlights June 2, 2025

Under Councillor Announcements:

• Mayor Clark and Councillor Dumanowski recognized the Medicine Hat Tigers for their performance at the Memorial Cup and for winning the WHL Championship, and shared pride and gratitude in how the players represented our City with sportsmanship, and for the excitement and joy they brought to the community.
• Councillor Dumanowski acknowledged and congratulated City Manager Ann Mitchell for being recognized by the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators with a 20-year Long Service Award.
• Councillor Hider acknowledged and thanked staff for planning and executing the Medicine Hat Tigers watch party at Co-op Place for the Memorial Cup final.

City Council received the following items into the corporate record: 

• Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of May 12, 2025
• Administrative and Legislative Review Committee Meeting Minutes of May 13, 2025
• Council Committee of the Whole Committee Meeting Minutes of May 15, 2025
• Corporate Services Committee Meeting Minutes of May 22, 2025
• Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of May 26, 2025
• Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes of May 26, 2025

City Council received the following items for information: 

• Working Groups 2024 Annual Reports
• Financial Reserves Overview
• Land and Real Estate Strategy
• 2025 Economic Development Report
• Medicine Hat Public Library 2024 Annual Report
• Public Services Committee Meeting Action Items of May 12, 2025
• Corporate Services Committee Meeting Action Items of May 22, 2025
• Public Services Committee Meeting Action Items of May 26, 2025

Under Unfinished Business, City Council:

• Delayed the reimbursement of legal fees incurred by Mayor Clark to allow time to address a request for further detail from City Council. The item will come forward to the June 16, 2025 meeting of City Council.

Under New Business, City Council:

• Received a presentation on the Unison Annual Report and Veiner Centre 50 Anniversary from Cori Fischer, Director of Unison at the Veiner Centre and Gord Nott, Medicine Hat Director on the Unison Board of Directors. Larry Mathieson, CEO and President of Unison Society was also present.
• Approved the appointment of Tarolyn Aaserud, the City Clerk, as the Returning Officer (s.13 (1) of the Local Authorities Election Act and s.45 of the Administrative Organization Bylaw) and the appointment of Andres Cardona Arias, the Chief Electoral Officer, as the Substitute Returning Officer (s.13 (2.1) of the Local Authorities Election Act).
• Approved
  • holding an advanced vote, as mandated by the Local Authorities Election Act (Local Authorities Election Act, s.73 (2) and (3));
  • the provision assistance to electors who are unable to attend at a voting station due to disability as permitted by the Local Authorities Election Act (Local Authorities Election Act, s.79);
  • an authorization of the Returning Officer to designate the location of one or more institutional voting stations as permitted by the Local Authorities Election Act. (Local Authorities Election Act s. 80); and
  • the provision of special ballots and provide that the application for special ballots may be made by any one or more of the following methods as permitted by the Local Authorities Election Act:
    • In person
    • By e-mail
    • In writing

• Gave first reading to Bylaw 4851 Residential Tax Exemption Bylaw. The Residential Tax Exemption Bylaw is meant to encourage the development or redevelopment of multiple unit residential housing.

Under Committee Business, City Council:

• Approved a capital grant application from the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter in support of the Phoenix Safe House emergency shelter expansion project in the amount of $1.85 million.
• Received a presentation on the Destination Marketing Organization Annual Report 2024 from Jace Anderson, Executive Director.
• Approved a motion to refund municipal taxes in the amount of $1,992.18 for Unit #4, 32 Les Little Way SW representing the 2024 property tax exemption used for school purposes.
• Received a presentation on Special Transit Review from Gord Dykstra, Manager of Transit Services.
• Approved a motion to refer Letter of Support Policy 0186 to the June 10 Administration and Legislative Review Committee to enhance clarity. The proposed policy is meant to establish clear eligibility criteria and a consistent approach for evaluating and responding to requests for letters of support to ensure a transparent, equitable, and timely process.