Council Highlights August 2 2022

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.

Lindsay Heier, Director of Administration and Finance and Jeanette Devore, Elder Abuse Case Manager from Medicine Hat Family Services, along with Cori Fischer, Director, Veiner Centre presented on the Elder Abuse Case Management Program. In 2021, the program served 65 older adults in areas of emotional, financial, medication, physical, and sexual abuse or neglect. Those interested in volunteering with the program can contact Angela Dunn at the Veiner Centre, 403-529-8307.

Council received the minutes of the Energy and Infrastructure Committee meeting of July 7, 2022 for information.

Council received the minutes of the Public Services Committee meeting of July 11, 2022 for information.

Council received the minutes of the Administrative Committee meeting of July 13, 2022 for information and approved the Amendment to Incentive Policy No. 0170. The amendments are required to align with Bylaw # 4667, the Tax Incentive Bylaw, which was approved at the July 4 meeting of City Council.

Council received the minutes of the Energy and Infrastructure Committee meeting of July 21, 2022 for information and approved the Medicine Hat Power and Water Tangible Capital Asset Server Upgrade. When discussing this item, Council also acknowledged staff for their response to the July 18 storm and thanked regional partners for their support.

Council received the minutes of the Public Services Committee meeting of July 25, 2022 for information and approved the execution of a project list to recognize pandemic impacts and supports, including a community portrait project, public art time capsule, tree planting and story capture project.

Council received the minutes of the Municipal Planning Commission meetings of July 13, and July 27, 2022 for information. There will be a non-statutory public hearing for Development Permit PLDP20220342 at the next Council meeting on August 15, 2022.

Council approved first reading of Bylaw #4703 a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to adopt the Coulee Ridge Outline Plan.

Council approved first reading of Bylaw #4704, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #4168, the City of Medicine Hat Land Use Bylaw re: rezoning of lands located within the Coulee Ridge Outline Plan.

Council approved first reading of Bylaw #4707, Bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #4168, the City of Medicine Hat Land Use Bylaw re: text amendments.

Under new business, Council ratified a mediator’s recommendations for terms of settlement and renewed the collective agreement with the Medicine Hat Fire Fighters Association. The recommendations include general wage adjustments in each year of the agreement, with increases of 1.5% effective January 1, 2019; 1.5% effective January 1, 2020; 2.5% effective January 1, 2021; and 2.5% effective January 1, 2022.

Also under new business, Council appointed Councillor Sharps, Council Knodel and Managing Director Mastel to the Vicious Dog Appeal Committee for the remainder of the Council term.

With leave of the Chair, Councillor Knodel introduced the topic of crime prevention through environmental design. The item will be brought forward at a future meeting.