Council Highlights August 21 2023

Under Councillor Announcements, Councillor Dumanowski paid tribute to former alderman, John Hamill, who passed away on August 1.

City Manager Mitchell introduced Larry Randle, the City of Medicine Hat’s new City Clerk.

Ron Noel, President of the Medicine Hat Condominium Association presented to Council on the cost of utilities in condominium and multi-resident buildings.

Linda Patrick presented to City Council on the Trap, Neuter and Return Program presenting an opposing viewpoint to the proposed amendments to the Responsible Animal Ownership bylaw.

City Council passed Bylaw 4789, the Urban Wildlife Management Bylaw. This new bylaw will provide the necessary provisions to address the concern of residents feeding deer within city limits. It aligns with comparable communities and is compliant with the legislation and regulations under the ministry of Alberta Environment and Protected Areas.

City Council approved a motion to amend proposed Bylaw 4791, a bylaw to amend the Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw as follows: The wording in subsection 38.1(1), immediately after clause (b), shall be replaced with the following: “provided that the trap, neuter and return program has been approved in writing from time to time by the Director, and provided the trap, neuter and return program is being carried out in accordance with (a) such terms and conditions as the Director has provided in writing in respect of same; and (b) all applicable standards, guidelines, bylaws and policies established by the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association from time to time.”

City Council then passed Bylaw 4791, as amended. The bylaw amendments will allow for the “return/release” of a feral cat or feral domestic rabbit once spayed or neutered back to the location where the cat or rabbit was trapped. It was noted that the bylaw only enables the development of these programs, and that they would not be administered or funded by the City of Medicine Hat.

City Council received the minutes of the Corporate Services Committee meeting of July 13, 2023 into the corporate record.

City Council approved a motion to refer items 11.1, 2023-2032 Waste Management Strategy and 11.2, Food Waste Composting Pilot budget amendment, back to committee before returning to a meeting of City Council.

Under new business, City Council approved the divisional realignment as presented by City Manager, Ann Mitchell.

Under new business, City Council approved Bylaw 4794, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend the Administrative Organization Bylaw. The amendments reflect the new organizational structure as approved by City Council in the previous item.

Under new business, City Council approved a motion to direct administration to implement a new interface on the Council Contact webpage, as amended to incorporate comments made by Council during the meeting.

City Council then approved a motion to direct administration to refer the concept of a backend system (related to the Council Contact webpage) to the outstanding items list of the Corporate Services Committee.

Under new business, City Council approved a budget amendment of $630,174 for electric and gas system extensions for Coulee Ridge Phase 2A, 2B and 2C and allocate operating funding in the amount of $358,331 and directed administration to collect $271,843 from the developer as third-party funding.

Under new business, City Council received the report, Cost to Prepare Tri-Annual Management Reports, for information.

Under unfinished business City Council passed Bylaw 4725, the Procedural Bylaw as amended. The amendments support current legislative requirements regarding the functions of Council and Council Committee meetings, the roles of elected officials, and the rights of the public to participate, as well as the amendments requested by Council at the July 17 meeting and a subsequent amendment requested at this meeting to align Schedule “B” of the Procedure Bylaw with the divisional realignment.