Council Highlights October 7, 2024

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.

Under Councillor Announcements:

• Councillor Robins recognized and congratulated Councillor Shila Sharps for completing all seven core courses required to receive the Municipal Elected Leadership Certificate through University of Alberta’s Augustana Extended Education Program.

City Council received the following items into the corporate record:

• Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of September 9, 2024
• Administrative and Legislative Review Committee Meeting Minutes of September 10, 2024
• Municipal Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of September 18, 2024
• Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of September 19, 2024

City Council received the following items for information:

• Highway 3 Realignment
• HALO 2023 Financial Report
• Police Commission Meeting Minutes of June 19, 2024
• Approved Development Permits from July 29 to September 8, 2024
• Public Services Committee Outstanding Items of September 9, 2024
• Administrative and Legislative Review Committee Outstanding Items of September 10, 2024

Rebecca Arabsky, Junior Planner and Robert Sissons, Manager of Planning introduced Land Use Bylaw 4826 to rezone 965/969 2 Street SE from Low Density Residential District to Medium Density Residential District. The intent of the rezoning is to accommodate future development. Following a public hearing, City Council passed Bylaw 4826.

Randi Buchner, Manager of Land and Real Estate introduced Road Closure Bylaw 4829 to close a portion of Bell Street and sell it to Haven of Rest Medicine Hat to consolidate into their existing property at 1720 Bell Street SW for the purpose of an expanded developable site for their building addition. Following a public hearing, City Council passed Bylaw 4829 and authorized administration to execute a Real Estate Purchase Contract to sell the property for $32,400.

Under Unfinished Business, City Council:

• received a presentation from Jeff Sandford, Manager Electric Operations, Christy Garland, Manager Engineering Operations and Grayson Mauch, Director Utility and Distribution Services on Bylaw 4792 to amend the Electric Utility Bylaw 2244 for clarity, switching to gender neutral language, reflect current code, regulator references, and operational practices. Following the presentation, City Council passed Bylaw 4792.
• received a presentation from Christy Garland, Manager Engineering Operations and Grayson Mauch, Director Utility and Distribution Services on Bylaw 4801 to amend the Gas Utility Bylaw 2489 for clarity, switches to gender neutral language, and reflects the current code, regulations and operational practices. Following the presentation, City Council passed Bylaw 4801.
• received for information the results of a jurisdictional scan of municipalities for disclosure of severance agreements and expense claims.
• received for information the estimated number of person hours (36 hours) and associated budget ($3,810.60) required to respond to a written inquiry from Mayor Clark on February 20, 2024.
• passed third and final reading of Medicine Hat Endowment Fund Bylaw 4827, as amended.
• approved amendments to Financial Reserve Policy 0168 and the Distributable Funds Dividend Policy 0169.
• approved amendments to Heritage Resources Policy 0144.
• gave first reading of Bylaw 4828 to repeal the Heritage Resources Committee Bylaw 4114.
• received an introduction from Aaron Nelson, Manager Cultural Experiences and Events to the City Facility Recognition/Commemoration Policy 0177 intended to formalize the process of recognizing or commemorating the memory of people, places, events and ideas in City facilities in a fair, consistent and transparent manner. Following discussion, Council approved a motion to refer City Facility Recognition/Commemoration Policy 0177 back to Administration and return through Public Services Committee to Council at a later date.

Under New Business, City Council:

• approved the reimbursement of legal fees for the City Manager in the amount of $6,520.50.
• approved a 3% increase to City Manager compensation retroactively to February 6, 2024 to align with other senior leadership increases.
• authorized Administration to enter into a Real Estate Purchase Contract for the sale of 5254 Box Springs Road NW (10.94 acres of land described as Plan 1811492, Block 2, Lot 1 and an additional 10.92 acres of land described as a “subdivided portion” of S1/2 22-13-6-W4) to Hut 8 Mining Corp. for a total purchase price of $600,000.
• gave first reading to Bylaw 4830 to amend the Land Use Bylaw to rezone 29 2 Street SW to Medium Density Residential District.
• passed the new Public Code of Conduct Policy 8048 and corresponding procedures.

Under Council Member Reports:

• Councillor Van Dyke reported a new initiative by the Shortgrass Regional Library System: the Pronghorn Card Project. The program allows patrons to setup online library card registration or renewal using their myAlberta (alberta.ca) online account as their virtual ID.