Council Highlights April 22, 2025
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 .
Mayor Clark advised that Item 10.1, the reimbursement of legal fees incurred by Mayor Clark to date in relation to the Giorno legal opinion, the Reorg, City Manager Mitchell’s defamation allegation, the Code of Conduct, the JR, or otherwise in the course of her duties, in the amount of $76,017.62, would be deferred to the May 5, 2025 meeting.
The following notices of motion were added to the agenda:
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Notice of Motion: Indemnification (Councillor Sharps)
I move that the indemnification policy be revised to allow Council to seek independent legal advice without requiring city administration approval. The revised policy should also ensure that legal counsel is available in cases of accusations from any person, internally or externally. Council directs administration to complete the policy by the end of Q2.
- Notice of Motion: Public Code of Conduct Revision (Councillor Sharps)
I move that the public code of conduct policy be suspended until a revised version can be drafted. Currently, the policy only allows administration to file complaints against members of the public, while not providing a mechanism for the public to file complaints against administration. Therefore, a revised policy should include provisions for complaints to be directed toward administration and ensure that all complaints are directed to an integrity commission commissioner rather than through city personnel. Council directs administration to present a revised draft by the end of Q2.
Under Councillor Announcements:
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Councillor Robins offered congratulations to Councillor Van Dyke for completing the Municipal Elected Leaders Certificate training program through the Elected Official Education Program.
City Council received the following items into the corporate record:
- Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes of March 31, 2025
- Audit Committee Meeting Minutes of April 1, 2025
- Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of April 3, 2025
- Administrative and Legislative Review Committee Meeting Minutes of April 8, 2025
City Council received the following items for information:
- Police Commission Meeting Minutes of February 19, 2025
- 2023 Government Finance Officers Association Awards
- Capital Projects and Major Operating Expense (MOE) Carry Forwards as at December 31, 2024
- Capital Projects and Major Operating Expense Over Expended/Under Expended/Cancelled as at December 31, 2024
- 2024 Budget Amendments and Contingency Spending
- Tri-Annual Management Report for the Period Ending December 31, 2024
- Heron Crossing ATF Statement April 3, 2025
- Audit Committee Meeting Action Items of April 1, 2025
- Development and Infrastructure Committee Action Items of April 3, 2025
- Administrative and Legislative Review Committee Action Items of April 8, 2025
- Passed Bylaw 4846, Tri-Area Intermunicipal Development Plan. First reading occurred on January 20, 2025, and second reading occurred on February 12, 2025. Noteworthy updates include the creation of a new City of Medicine Hat Long Term Urban Growth Area that will feature stronger protection of strategic lands located south of the City within Cypress County for future urban expansion needs, a Rural Development Area (West-South) that will allow for new multi-lot country residential development opportunities while protecting the area from any new industrial activities, an Agri/Industrial Area located west of the Medicine Hat Regional Airport to take advantage of potential economic development opportunities arising from the Highway 3 twinning/realignment and a potential airport runway extension, and a Regional Heavy Industrial Collaborative Planning Area in the northwest corner of the IDP area replacing part of the current Commercial/Industrial Area.
- Passed Bylaw 4831 to amend the Procedure Bylaw. The amendments will address changes to the Municipal Government Act specific to public hearings, including provisions for electronic attendance, and clarity that only one public hearing is allowed when considering residential developments of developments with residential and non-residential developments under Part 17.
- Passed Bylaw 4848, the 2025 Property Tax Bylaw. The 2025 tax notices to be mailed on May 21 will include the approved new tax rates, which will result in a 5.6% increase to the municipal tax rate for the median taxpayer. The City of Medicine Hat also collects education taxes on behalf of the Government of Alberta, and this requisition is included on property tax notices. This year’s education tax requisition from the province increased by 11.7% over 2024, which will impact local property tax notices.
- Passed Bylaw 4849, the Supplementary Tax Bylaw. This bylaw provides for equity amongst property owners. When newly constructed or renovated homes and buildings are completed and/or occupied, the property owners receive municipal services. Supplementary tax revenue contributes towards the cost of providing these services.
- Passed Bylaw 4850 to amend the Electronic Communications Related to Tax and Assessment Bylaw. Minor amendments are required to reflect the recent implementation of new tax software.
- Received for information a zoning status report of 737 8 Street SE, including the dates the building was zoned for its present purpose and existing conditions related to its operation. With the information obtained from historical records for 737 8 St SE, the use of the site as a shelter has been permitted to operate as a continuation of a legal non-conforming use since 1999 and continues to operate as a such to the current date. This means the operation at this location (737 8 Street SE) is legally entitled to operate at this location as an overnight shelter and for the provision of meals throughout the day.
Under New Business, City Council:
- Received for information a report on the Energy Business Strategic Review – defining Municipally Controlled Corporation (MCC) and Rate Review Committee (RRC). The report provides a ‘blueprint’ to describe the future state, path to get there, and cost estimate for each of a potential MCC and RRC for the City of Medicine Hat’s energy business. Work that is currently in progress will be added to this ‘blueprint’ and will be provided as written ‘disclosure’ information on May 20, 2025 for Council’s consideration and decision on whether to keep advancing to the next stage (public hearing) of the project or not.
- Approved a motion to schedule three Council Committee of the Whole Meetings and one Open Council Meeting in Council Chambers as follows:
- Council Committee of the Whole – Monday, April 28, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
- Council Committee of the Whole – Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
- Council Committee of the Whole – Monday, May 26, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
- Open Council Meeting in the week of June 23 at 6:30 p.m.
- Approved the 2024 Financial Statements. The Municipal Government Act states that each municipality must prepare annual financial statements of the municipality for the immediate preceding year in accordance with:
- Generally accepted accounting principles for municipal governments recommended from time to time by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.
- Any modification of the principles or any supplementary accounting standards or principles established by the Minister by regulation.
The Canadian Auditing Standards require that those in the City with recognized authority take responsibility for the Financial Statements. Once City Council has approved the financial statements, the external auditors may date and issue the audit report.
- Approved the municipal tax-write off in the amount of $6,579.15 on two terminated lease agreements from 2023 where the taxes were levied in error.
- Approved the reappointment of MNP LLP for the City of Medicine Hat annual audit engagement for the 2025 financial statements.
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