Council Highlights August 18, 2025

City Council received the following items into the corporate record: 

• Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of July 14, 2025
• Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Minutes of July 17, 2025
• Municipal Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of July 16

City Council received the following items for information: 

• Development Permits approved by the Development Officer from May 5 to July 6, 2025
• Community Vibrancy Advisory Board (CVAB) Meeting Minutes of May 28, 2025
• Heron Crossing – Response Letter from Cypress County
• Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Letter
• Municipal Inspection Recommendations List
• Medicine Hat Resilient and Inclusive Community Task Force Meeting Minutes of June 24, 2025
• Medicine Hat Resilient and Inclusive Community Task Force Meeting Minutes of July 15, 2025
• Public Services Committee Meeting Action Items of July 14, 2025
• Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Action Items of July 17, 2025

Under Unfinished Business, City Council:

• Defeated a motion directing administration to immediately pay and reimburse legal fees incurred by Mayor Clark Council for Legal Opinion re: City Manager Authority to Carry out the Reorg Unilaterally in the amount of $10,500.00.
• Approved a motion directing administration to immediately pay and reimburse legal fees incurred by Mayor Clark for the Code of Conduct Submission in light of City Manager Mitchell’s Demand Letter and Request for Indemnification in the amount of $5,841.94.
• Defeated a motion directing administration to immediately pay and reimburse legal fees incurred by Mayor Clark for Judicial Review in the amount of $29,837.84. 
• Defeated a motion directing administration to immediately pay and reimburse legal fees incurred by Mayor Clark for Judicial Review in the amount of $59,675.68.
• Approved a motion directing administration to seek external legal counsel regarding Mayor Clark’s indemnity in relation to the alleged misconduct to determine if it is in fact covered under the indemnification policy or other policy.
• Approved a motion directing administration to draft the following amendment for Council’s consideration to the Procedure Bylaw 4725; that Regular Council meetings start at 4 p.m. with a closed session at the end of the Orders of the Day.
• Approved a motion directing administration to draft the following amendment for Council’s consideration to the Procedure Bylaw 4725 that the composition of the Agenda Review Committee reflects the following; Mayor (Chairperson), Deputy Mayor, and Acting Mayor. The City Manager (or designate) and the City Clerk will participate in an advisory capacity. The amendments are to be presented for Council’s consideration at the September 15 Council Meeting.

Under New Business, City Council:

• Approved a motion directing administration to initiate public engagement for the development of an outdoor aquatics facility on the south side of the community and the construction of sports fields in Brier Run. Opportunities for engagement are expected to commence as soon as possible.
• Approved a motion to have a member of the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede be allowed to speak at the meeting regarding their financial request.
• Approved a motion to postpone a funding recommendation to support the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede to the Regular Meeting of City Council on September 2, 2025 with an understanding that consultation will continue between the City and the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede. The current recommendation is to provide a financial contribution of 50% of the total project cost, to a maximum of $15,896,250 (funded through Operating Reserves), for the construction of “Building Plan 3b” (replacement of north grandstand excluding the life-cycle replacement of the commercial kitchen, as well as removing costs associated with the incorporation of stadium-style seating on the new north grandstand and the upgrading of stadium seating in the existing south grandstand to the same standard) contingent upon the following conditions:
  • (1) That the Province of Alberta provides a guaranteed financial contribution of 40% toward the project; and
  • (2) That the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede secures the remaining 10% of the total project cost through internal funding, regional municipal partnerships, and/or private donations.
• Gave first reading to Bylaw 4856 to Amend the Residential Tax Exemption Bylaw.
• Approved amendments to the June 3, 2024, Regular Council Meeting Minutes to ensure accuracy of the corporate record. The minutes will be amended to include the following motion and recorded vote under “Item 10.3 – Appointment to Vacancy on the Police Commission”: Councillor R. Dumanowski – Councillor D. Hirsch move that Council ratifies the appointment of new member Onyinye Chukwunyerenwa as determined by secret ballot vote on June 3rd, 2024, to fill the current vacancy on the Police Commission with a term expiring on December 31, 2026.

Under Committee Business, City Council:

• Received an update from Travis Tuchscherer, Director of Energy Marketing and Business Analysis, and Jasmin Gross, Business Analyst, on the Implementation Plan for Rate Classification and Grace Period. This plan outlines communication options to ratepayers when they exceed the consumption threshold in Electric Utility Bylaw #2244’s E.3.1 small commercial rate class, including consideration of a 60-day grace period to understand and address the factors contributing to their increased consumption. The plan identifies tasks to be included by the end of September, including creating educational website materials explaining different rate classes, demand, consumption, and impact to billing; defining a formal process or procedure for rate reclassification including a defined grace period and proactive customer communication; and reviewing opportunities to include rate reclassification awareness through the development permitting process. Arising from this update, City Council approved two motions:
  • to alter Section E.3.3 of Bylaw 2244 regarding Medium Commercial classification. Specifically, that consumers must exceed a demand of 25 kVA for a minimum of four consecutive months before being moved to this rate; and further request administration to bring back the potential impacts of the changes in adjusting Bylaw 2244 and additional information on how the transition would work. This amendment aims to ensure that the transition to the Medium Commercial rate is based on consistent demand levels, promoting fair and accurate billing for our consumers.
  • that City administration conduct a review of the use of demand meters to ensure an equitable and fair process for all consumers. This review should additionally specifically examine the range set for Medium Commercial classification, which currently falls between 25 kVA and 2000 kVA.
• Approved Public Member Appointments Policy 0187.
• Approved a motion to refer Policy 0186 Letters of Support back to Administrative and Legislative review committee for further revisions.
• Gave first reading to Bylaw 4854, an amendment to the Land Use Bylaw that would reconfigure the split-zoning of 620 Porcelain Avenue SE from Mixed Use District, Business Industrial District, and Future Urban Development District to Business Industrial District and Direct Control District. This rezoning would facilitate the development of the site from a vacant/underutilized status (previously an industrial land use) to a recreational land use (campground).