Council Highlights April 8 2024

Under Councillor Announcements, Councillor McGrogan provided the following:

I want to take this opportunity to thank the citizens of Medicine Hat who engaged the Canadian Armed Forces and the Minister of National Defence to save “The South Alberta Light Horse” in Medicine Hat and its subordinate Troop in Lethbridge from being given to a Calgary Regiment. Medicine Hat has been the home, for over a century, to the Sally Horse and its predecessor units, who fought in both World Wars through terrible Battles at places like Vimy Ridge and Normandy.  Well over two hundred Sally Horse soldiers also served on Peacekeeping operations and helped fight fires and floods in Canada. In 2013, twenty-seven local soldiers filled the sandbags that saved our Water Treatment and Power Plants from being flooded when all other Reservists were being sent to help Calgary. We had our own soldiers from our own Regiment here when we needed them.

A special thanks the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Bill Blair, for his Ministerial Investigation into the plan to change the home of the Regiment. Unfortunately, the plan has not been fully defeated as Medicine Hat and its Troop in Lethbridge, although remaining part of the Sally Horse, in name only, now fall under operational command of that Calgary unit. We are hopeful that the Minister will direct his team to undo this plan and fully return the SALH in Medicine Hat and Lethbridge back under the command of The South Alberta Light Horse and by properly resourcing recruiting to grow the Regiment back to its former strength of 195 soldiers from just four years ago.

Medicine Hat is a strong vibrant City, and like many cities our size across Canada, Medicine Hat has proven its ability to be a supportive home for an Army Reserve Regiment during war and peacetime and the benefits of the regiment in this geographically isolated area of the province has been proven over and over, not to mention the importance of the identity and culture of Medicine Hat.

 

City Council adopted the following items into the corporate record:

• Regular Council Meeting Minutes of March 18, 2024
• Special Council Meeting Minutes of March 21, 2024

City Council received the following items for the corporate record:

• Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of March 7, 2024
• Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of March 11, 2024
• Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of March 21, 2024
• Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of March 25, 2024
• Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes of March 25, 2024

City Council received the following items for information:

• 2023 Fire and Emergency Services Year-In-Review Report (Note: A presentation will be provided at a future Council meeting.)
• Community Vibrancy Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of November 29, 2023 and January 31, 2024
• City of Medicine Hat Environmental Framework
• Development and Infrastructure Committee Outstanding Items of March 7, 2024
• Public Services Committee Outstanding Items of March 11, 2024
• Development and Infrastructure Committee Outstanding Items of March 21, 2024
• Public Services Committee Outstanding Items of March 25, 2024

Robert Sissons, Manager of Planning, introduced Bylaw 4808 to amend the Land Use Bylaw to rezone the 800 Block of 2 Street SE as Medium Density Residential District. The amendments are intended to allow the Land and Real Estate department to obtain Council authorization to sell the lots and ultimately receive a future development proposal that aligns with the vision of the Municipal Development Plan. Following a public hearing, City Council passed Bylaw 4808.

Robert Sissons, Manager of Planning, introduced Bylaw 4809 to amend the Land Use Bylaw to rezone 830A Balmoral Street SE as Neighborhood Commercial District. The intent of the rezoning is to accommodate a proposed change of use to lease a portion of the existing building and field to an existing daycare operator. The other portion of the existing building is intended to be converted into a residential development in the future. Following a public hearing, City Council passed Bylaw 4809.

Robert Sissons, Manager of Planning, introduced Bylaw 4810 to amend the Land Use Bylaw to rezone 3204M, Block 3, Lot 37, which currently has no designation, to Medium Density Residential District. There is interest for the City to sell the subject site to the adjacent property (229 2 Street NE) to be consolidated into the parcel to create a larger site. This will allow a much more substantial development to occur at 229 2 Street NE. A subdivision application is currently under review and a condition of subdivision approval will be rezoning the site to Medium Density Residential District. Following a public hearing, City Council passed Bylaw 4810.

Under unfinished business, City Council passed a motion to refer Bylaw 4805 - Council Code of Conduct back to Administrative and Legislative Committee’s Outstanding Items List for review by the end of Q2, based upon City Manager Mitchell’s summary of the discussion.

Under new business, City Council:

• passed Bylaw 4815 to amend the Procedure Bylaw. The amendments indicate that the Council agenda approval process is to be undertaken by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Acting Mayor, City Manager and City Clerk (or delegates).
• approved a motion indicating that the duties of the Mayor related to chairing meetings and attending the Administrative Committee Meetings be undertaken by the Councillors in the positions of Deputy Mayor or Acting Mayor on the 45-day rotating schedule established at the beginning of the Council term pursuant to the Procedure Bylaw for as long as the Mayor is not authorized to perform those duties.
• approved a motion to rename Boardroom 2-1 the “Ted Grimm Conference Room”, in honour of former Mayor, Ted Grimm.
• The written inquiry from the Mayor was left as unfinished business due to the meeting adjournment.

Under Committee Business, City Council:

• approved a motion to induct Joseph Henry Fisher and Sensei Zorislav Krco into the Medicine Hat Sports Wall of Fame for their contributions to the sports of hockey and karate respectively.
• approved the distribution of the 2024 Community Projects and Activities Grants as per the Community Vibrancy Advisory Board recommendations. Distribution is as follows:
  • Family Fun and Flight
    A free one-day event providing military, commercial and civilian aircraft displays to the general public at the Medicine Hat Airport $10,000
  • South Eastern Alberta Archaeology Society (SEAAS)
    40th Anniversary Celebration of the Saamis Archaeological Site event with art, music, displays, tours, and hands on activities for all ages $6,000
  • Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce
    Midnight Madness 2024 – an annual downtown pre-Black Friday late night shopping event to encourage local business support with free family-friendly activities $5,989
  • Keskikeymowin Planning Committee (Medicine Hat Public School Division)
    Spring celebration for grades 4 and 10 students from the Medicine Hat Public School division to provide awareness of the First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples and their cultures $5,000
  • Medicine Hat Drug Coalition (Health Connections Association of South Eastern Alberta)
    International Overdose Awareness Day, a global event to raise awareness of drug overdose harms and deaths, and to reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths $4,000
  • REDI Enterprises Society
    Free outdoor family friendly movie night for persons of all abilities with snacks, run by The Action Group (TAG), a REDI Enterprises disabilities advocacy group $3,211
  • Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce
    Chili Cookoff – an annual event to encourage people to visit downtown and support Medicine Hat businesses and organizations $3,000
  • Medicine Hat Choral Society (Medicine Hat Concert Band Society)
    An inaugural gospel themed choral concert, for musicians’ collaboration featuring a full choir with a rhythm section and soloists for community attendance. $1,000
  • Move for Mental Health Fun Run/Walk Planning Committee (Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education)
    Kick off for Mental Health Week, an annual event for discussion and education on mental health and local supports, providing a fun and engaging experience in a family-oriented atmosphere for people of all ages and abilities $1,000
  • SafeLink Alberta
    A free community BBQ for International Harm Reduction Day with information about their programs and services to create a safer and healthier community $800
  • Hat Horizons Radio Operators Club
    Training for radio operations and Ham radio licenses to help supply emergency communications during storms, floods, or any problems that interfere with local communications $500
  • Total $40,500

• rescinded the original Incentive Policy 0170, and approved the new Incentive Policy 0179; approved the City Centre Vibrancy Incentive Program and the Infill and Redevelopment Housing Incentive Program under Policy 0179 and; gave first reading to Bylaw 4799 to amend the Tax Incentive Bylaw. A public hearing for Bylaw 4799 will take place at the May 6, 2024 meeting of City Council.
• received a presentation from Shawn Champagne, Senior Planner, entitled Taking the Strong Towns Approach.

Consideration of first reading to Bylaw 4735 to amend the Unsightly Property Bylaw was left as unfinished business due to the meeting adjourning.

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