Council Highlights April 5 2021

Merrick Brown, Manager of Support Services in Emergency Services, provided City Council a City of Medicine Hat COVID-19 update, including the most recent impacts reported by the Province of Alberta. Full details on vaccine information, guidelines and current restrictions can be found here.

Kelli Ireland, Marketing Specialist with Invest Medicine Hat (IMH) provided an introduction to the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) Annual Report presentation. Ms. Ireland outlined IMH’s role in overseeing the contract and the enhanced efforts to collaborate with the DMO. Jace Anderson, Executive Director of the DMO, provided a full summary of 2020 activity, including the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry.

Through Energy and Infrastructure Committee, City Council received for adoption the Cactus Coulee Place Local Improvement Bylaw.

Through Public Services Committee, City Council received for adoption the Community Vibrancy Advisory Board Bylaw.

Through Corporate Services Committee, City Council received information item Complyworks and Contractor HSE Management. ComplyWorks is a web-based pre-qualification and compliance tool that has been used by the City since January 2019. Prior to this, the City would pre-qualify a contractor’s HSE program through submission of a Certificate of Recognition (COR). The system has been well-received by the contractor community, and contractor incident rates have decreased approximately 25% since this program was introduced.

Through Administrative Committee, City Council approved a tax penalty cancellation due to fire at 19 Chinook Drive SW. Penalties of $218.48 will be cancelled.

City Council received the Destination Marketing Organization 2020 Annual Report for information.

City Council received the minutes of the Municipal Planning Commission meeting of February 24, 2021.

City Council received the minutes of the Police Commission meeting of March 18, 2021.

City Council passed first, second and third reading of Bylaw #4658, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #4604, which imposes a local improvement tax in respect of all lands that directly benefit from the Cactus Coulee Place SW local improvement project. A bylaw amendment is required, as the tax levied in relation to Bylaw No. 4658 will be reduced due to a lower than anticipated cost of an improvement completed in 2020.

City Council passed first, second and third reading of Bylaw #4661, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to establish a Community Vibrancy Advisory Board.

City Council passed first reading of Bylaw #4666, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #4168, the Land Use Bylaw. The amendment will see the rezoning of 214 - 4 Street SE from medium density residential to low density residential.