Council Highlights March 6 2023

This summary provides a brief overview of City Council meetings and does not reflect all discussion and debate. For full details, download the agenda package or watch the full meeting on the City of Medicine Hat’s YouTube channel.

City Council adopted the minutes of the Audit Committee meeting of March 1, 2023 into the corporate record and approved Policy 0176, the Debt Management Policy, rescinding Policy 0121, the Capital Debt Management Policy. The new policy is intended to act as a comprehensive policy to reflect the City’s entire debt obligations and not only capital debt.

City Council adopted the minutes of the Corporate Services Committee meeting of February 23, 2023 into the corporate record.

City Council adopted the minutes of the Economic, Land and Strategic Planning and Development Committee meeting of February 28, 2023 into the corporate record.

City Council adopted the minutes of the Energy and Infrastructure Committee meeting of February 16, 2023 into the corporate record.

City Council passed Bylaw 4738, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to authorize debenture borrowing for 2023-2024 capital projects. Council gave first reading on February 6, 2023.

Under unfinished business, City Council passed Bylaw 4705, the Outdoor Smoking and Vaping Bylaw, as amended. The proposed bylaw is an amendment to Bylaw 4136, the Smoke Free Outdoor Public Spaces Bylaw. The proposed amendments include updating the bylaw name to “Outdoor Smoking and Vaping Bylaw”; expanding the existing definition of “outdoor public places/events” to include outdoor events, festivals, markets, grandstands, skating rinks and ponds, and basketball, tennis or pickleball courts; and a requirement for event organizers looking to host an outdoor event to secure and designate an area for smoking. First reading was given on February 6, 2023.

Under unfinished business, City Council approved Policy 0172, the Designated Smoke and or Vape Area Management Policy, as presented.

Under new business, City Council appointed Don Knutson to the chair position on the Local Assessment Review Board (LARB) for a term ending December 31, 2023. Knutson has been a member of the LARB since December 2020.