Council Highlights August 17 2020

Following a public hearing, City Council approved 2^nd and 3^rd reading of Bylaw #4633, a Bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to close roads in the City of Medicine Hat. The change will see the road allowance adjacent to the property at 901, 13^th Street SW sold to the property owner and consolidated to provide additional parking. The owner of 901 13^th Street SW has agreed to absorb all costs associated with the closure of the road allowance, pay market value for the property and absorb all costs of consolidating the property. The road allowance has been declared surplus to the City of Medicine Hat’s road network needs.

Through Administrative Committee, City Council approved Tender Recommendation IM20-02 Medicine Hat Regional Airport North Node Phase 2 Development. Administrative Committee awarded the tender recommendation to the best-evaluated bid meeting specification: MJB Enterprises Ltd. in the amount of $2,933,106.

Through Public Services Committee, City Council approved a capital budget amendment to the Parks and Recreation budget to reflect increases to third party community partnership funding received for Kiwanis Central Park Natural Playground Development within the approved 2019-2022 budget cycle. The project will see the replacement of the existing playground in Kiwanis Central Park with a natural playground, and construction is expected to commence in late summer with completion in October 2020.

Through Administrative Committee, Council approved a recommendation to pass a resolution to cancel the municipal tax for the Cypress Bingo Society contingent upon the City’s receipt of proof that the Cypress Bingo Society has cancelled its Class A liquor license. The Board of Directors of the Cypress Bingo Society has made a formal request for property tax exemption for the space occupied by Top Hat Bingo. The Society has recognized that the liquor license has not been a profitable venture due to yearly license fee and liability insurance, therefore the Society will cancel the Class A liquor license for property tax cancellation. City Council may cancel or defer taxes if it is considered equitable to do so.

Through Administrative Committee, City Council approved Request for Proposal Recommendation GP20-104 Cut and Cap – Freefight (not including F2) gas wells and pipeline risers. Administrative Committee awarded the Request for Proposal to the best evaluated bid meeting specification: Innovative Well Abandonment Ltd. in the amount of $730,000.00.

Through Administrative Committee, City Council approved Request for Proposal Recommendation EG20-81 Engineering Design Services for City of Medicine Hat Unit 17 Gas Turbine Generator. Administrative Committee awarded the Request for Proposal to the best-evaluated bid meeting specification: Burns & McDonnell in the amount of $1,453,620.00.

Council received the following reports for information:

• Municipal Planning Commission meeting minutes of June 24, 2020;
• Heritage Resources Committee meeting of July 14, 2020;
• and Police Commission meeting minutes of July 16, 2020.

City Council approved 2^nd and 3^rd reading of Bylaw #4625, a Bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to incur indebtedness in the amount of $66 million. The funds will be used to install a new electric generation plant (Unit 17). The City of Medicine Hat has a need to procure additional electric generation to provide reliable electric supply to serve growing City load requirements and to provide contingency power should the City lose its largest generating unit. This new electric generation plant is expected to be operational in early 2022 at a cost of $66 million. The total capacity of the electric generation plant will be 44 megawatts.

City Council approved 1^st reading of Bylaw #4634, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #4168, the City of Medicine Hat Land Use Bylaw. Planning & Development Services has initiated a review and update of the current bylaw and prepared amendments to improve the regulations therein.

City Council approved 1^st reading of Bylaw #4635, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw No. 4168, the City of Medicine Hat Land Use Bylaw. The homeowners are proposing an amendment to Land Use Bylaw (LUB) No. 4168 to rezone the subject land (352, 354 & 358, 360 & 364, 366 Ranchlands Blvd NE) from Low Density Residential (R-LD) to Medium Density Residential (R-MD) to allow for 4 units on each parcel.

Under new business, City Council approved the ratification of the collective agreement with Local #46 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. The previous agreement expired on December 31, 2019. The new agreement is for a three-year term from January 1, 2020 until December 31, 2022. General wage increases include 0% effective January 1, 2020; 0% effective January 1, 2021; and 2% effective January 1, 2022.