Council Highlights September 3, 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.

City Council approved a motion to delay item 11.2,1061108 Alberta Ltd. Seeking Tax Cancellation, to the September 16, 2024 meeting of City Council.

Under Councillor Announcements:

• Councillor Sharps acknowledged PorchFest as a success and shared a message from a community member who wished to thank contractors in the area who delayed their work to avoid disrupting the festivities.
• Councillor Robins acknowledged the Medicine Hat AAA 12U Major Mavs who attended the Canadian Little League Championship.
• Mayor Clark provided an apology related to the incident on August 21, 2023 in response to being found in breach of the Code of Conduct.

City Council received the following items into the corporate record:

• Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of July 8, 2024
• Administrative and Legislative Review Committee meeting minutes of July 16, 2024
• Municipal Planning Commission meeting minutes of July 17, 2024
• Energy, Land and Environment Committee meeting minutes of July 18, 2024
• Municipal Planning Commission meeting minutes of August 7, 2024
• Development and Infrastructure meeting minutes of August 13, 2024

City Council received the following items for information:

• Community Vibrancy Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of April 24, 2024
• Development Permits approved from May 6 to July 7, 2024
• Development Permits approved from May 6 to July 29, 2024
• Public Services Committee Outstanding Items of July 8, 2024
• Administrative and Legislative Review Committee Outstanding Items of July 16, 2024
• Energy, Land and Environment Committee Outstanding Items of July 18, 2024
• Administrative and Legislative Review Committee Outstanding Items of August 13, 2024

• Development and Infrastructure Committee Outstanding Items - August 15, 2024

Colleen Graham, Director of Communications, Engagement and Marketing, and Craig Fruin, Manager of Application Services, provided a demonstration to City Council on the city website and myMH portal, illustrating the variety of ways that members of the public can conveniently find information and services online, or reach out to City Council and administration.

Merrick Brown, Assistant Chief of Community Safety, presented to council on his time spent in Jasper, supporting emergency response efforts following the wildfires in July.

John Popoff, City Planner and Director of Development Services, and Conrad Westerson, Municipal Engineer, introduced Bylaw 4803, to amend the Off-Site Levy Bylaw. Off-site levies are a tool used to help attain financial sustainability, where developers are charged a levy that helps pay for the cost of the off-site infrastructure. The intent of the bylaw update is to meet the requirements of to review rates at least every 2 years, bring the model up to 2022 from the previous 2020 data, and to review all projects, costs, staging plans, and benefitting areas, with stakeholders. Following a public hearing City Council passed a motion to postpone Bylaw 4803 to the first Regular Council Meeting in December and further directs administration to bring back an update on progress with the developers at the first Regular Council Meeting in November.

Robert Sissons, Manager of Planning, and Brad Irwin, Senior Planner, introduced Development Permit Application - PLDP 20240396 - 3101 Box Springs Way NW - Change of Use to a Greenhouse. Following a public hearing, City Council approved PLDP 20240396.

Robert Sissons, Manager of Planning, Brad Irwin, Senior Planner, and Sandra Moses, Junior Planner introduced Development Permit Application - PLDP 20240464 – 3180 Gershaw Drive SW - Demolition of Two Garages and One Shed. Following a public hearing, City Council approved Development Permit PLDP20240464.

Under New Business and Committee Business, City Council:

• Approved a recommendation, pending an awarded bid by the Canadian Hockey League, of $1.25M in cash and up to $655K through “in kind” contributions be provided to support the 2026 Memorial Cup Hosting bid by the Medicine Hat Tigers Hockey Club. Communities hosting the Memorial Cup are required to form a not-for-profit entity, and supporting funds from the City of Medicine Hat would be provided to the not-for-profit.
• Approved a recommendation to follow the opt-out service model under the new Alberta Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework. Opting out of direct municipal involvement in waste management under the EPR framework will lead to immediate cost savings for the municipality by eliminating operational expenses associated with recycling collection and processing along with all risks associated with recycling collection and processing. No change to service levels is expected.

• Approved a recommendation to not pursue a grant application for the Housing Accelerator Fund 2.0.
• Gave first reading to Bylaw 4826 to amend the Land Use Bylaw to Rezone 965/969 2 Street SE from Low Density Residential District (R-LD) to Medium Density Residential District (R-MD) to accommodate a future development.
• Approved a recommendation to implement non-statutory public hearings as part of the process in the off-site levy procedures manual.

Under Notices of Motion, Councillor McGrogan submitted the following:

WHEREAS the City of Medicine Hat is a public sector organization dedicated to serving our residents and our community;

AND WHEREAS the City of Medicine Hat, has had a fractured relationship between the Mayor, the City Manager and Council since the open Council meeting of August 21, 2023;

AND WHEREAS, as a result of an incident during the above noted open Council meeting, a Council member made a formal complaint against the Mayor which was investigated by a third party where it was confirmed that the Mayor had breached the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw;

AND WHEREAS on March 21, 2024 Council members imposed a number of sanctions on the Mayor in an effort to, at least, have the Mayor apologize in hopes that the functional working relationship between the parties could be restored;

AND WHEREAS, after multiple attempts to mediate the situation including two formal meetings, one involving an outside municipal expert and another involving a government minister, no positive outcome has come to fruition, and perhaps these meetings have further divided the already fractured relationships.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT City Council, pursuant to the provisions of Subsection 571 (1) (b) of the Municipal Government Act, requests an inspection of the Administration, the Mayor and Council of the City of Medicine Hat.

City Council then approved a motion to waive the notice period for the motion.

City Council approved a motion to extend the meeting time passed 11 p.m. to discuss the item.

City Council approved the aforementioned motion put forward by Councillor McGrogan.