Council Highlights May 21 2019

Chris Christie, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta and Treena Klasssen, Executive Director of the Palliser Primary Care Network, presented a report on Vital Conversations, a community survey exploring community issues, opportunities and solutions.

City Council also heard a presentation regarding the Sales & Pricing Strategy for 352 Primrose Drive SE by Grant MacKay, Manager or Land and Business Support, and Jane Zwicker, Sales and Marketing Officer.

Through Administrative Committee, City Council approved the City of Medicine Hat’s 2018 Annual Report. The report can be viewed online at https://www.medicinehat.ca/annualreport.

Also through Administrative Committee, City Council received for information tender recommendation EU19-20 – WWTP MCC/Electric System Upgrade awarded to best evaluated bidder meeting specifications, Spider Electric, in the amount of $1,775,000.00.

A sales and pricing strategy for 352 Primrose Drive SE was adopted by City Council. The strategy includes pricing and outlines the intent to offer of the property to the market by way of an Expression of Interest (EOI) with accompanying design guidelines. City Council will approve the successful proponent of the EOI, as well as negotiations for the final purchase and development of the property. If not sold through the EOI, the property will be placed on the market on a “first come, first served” basis.

Through Public Services Committee, City Council received the Medicine Hat Public Library 2018 Annual Report for information.

Through Administrative Committee, City Council approved the recommendation to update the Corporate Trading Resolution, allowing for the addition of the Treasury and Claims Analyst Position to the list of authorized signatories. City of Medicine Hat deals with financial Institutions, some of which require a corporate trading resolution as part of the required documentation to add authorized signatories to instruct and approve the trading transactions. It was identified that City of Medicine Hat’s existing Corporate Trading Resolution requires updating to include the Treasury and Claims Analyst position. The Corporate Training Resolution designates the positions of Chief Administrative Officer; Commissioner of Corporate Services; General Manager of Finance; Manager of Treasury, Planning and Analysis; Treasury and Insurance Officer; and Treasury and Claims Analyst as authorized signatories; and authorizes the CAO to change the individuals named to those positions.

Also through Administrative Committee, City Council approved a five-year extension to the Cypress County Wastewater Gate Agreement including an amendment to reduce the maximum wastewater volumes at the Desert Blume gate to current volumes (including currently identified development.)

City Council, through Administrative Committee, received for information tender recommendation EU19-19-Water and Sanitary Main Replacements for Fifth Street, First Avenue, 10 Avenue SW & Division Avenue South to best evaluated bid meeting specifications; Hamm Construction Ltd. for the cost of $6,560,189.35.

City Council received for information the minutes of the Municipal Planning Commission Meeting from February 27, 2019.

City Council received for information the minutes of the Police Commission Meeting from April 18, 2019.

City Council approved first reading of the following bylaws to finalize a street name change (23rd Street NW to Rotary Centennial Drive NW) approved by City Council on November 19, 2018:

• Bylaw #4582, a Bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #2759, the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Bylaw;
• Bylaw #4583 a Bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #4171, to establish a transportation system;
• Bylaw #4584 a Bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #4346, the Public Roads Bylaw Sponsor.

City Council also approved first reading of Bylaw #4587, a Bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #4168, the Land Use Bylaw. The land described as Lot 1, Block 2, Plan 1311527 (1650 Boundary Road SW) is currently designated as Future Urban Development District (FUD). An application was submitted to predesignate the land as Low Density Residential District (R-LD).

Under new business, City Council approved a motion to move the June City Council meeting back to Monday, June 3, 2019. The meeting had previously been moved to Tuesday, June 4 to accommodate attendance at the national Federation of Municipalities conference in Quebec City. Council voted to not attend the conference at the May 6, 2019 Council meeting, and as such the meeting has been moved back to the original date of Monday, June 3.

Councillor Turnbull and Councillor McIntosh acknowledged the retirement of Commissioner of Energy and Utilities, Cal Lenz, and thanked him for his contributions to the City of Medicine Hat.