Council Highlights December 4 2023

City Council adopted the following items into the corporate record:

• Corporate Services Committee Meeting Minutes of November 9, 2023
• Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of November 14, 2023
• Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Minutes of November 16, 2023
• Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of November 16, 2023
• Administrative and Legislative Review Committee Meeting Minutes of November 21, 2023
• Corporate Services Committee Meeting Minutes of November 23, 2023

City Council received the following items for information:

• Community Vibrancy Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of September 27, 2023
• Police Commission Meeting Minutes of October 18, 2023
• Corporate Service Committee Representative for City Grievance Committee
• Derelict Residential Tax Rates
• Chamber of Commerce Letter re: Policy Progress on Predictable and Fair Market Value Assessments
• Corporate Services Committee Outstanding Items of November 9, 2023
• Public Services Committee Outstanding Items of November 14, 2023
• Energy, Land and Environment Committee Outstanding Items of November 16, 2023
• Development and Infrastructure Committee Outstanding Items of November 16, 2023
• Administrative and Legislative Review Committee Outstanding Items of November 21, 2023
• Corporate Services Committee Outstanding Items of November 23, 2023
• Review of the Medicine Hat Public Library Bylaw
• Status Report on Unsightly Property Bylaw Review and Action Plan
• Comco Strategic Review

Merrill Harris and Gary Franz (Co-Chairs), and Arlos Crofts, CAO Municipal District of Taber, presented to Council on behalf of the Southern Regional Stormwater Drainage Committee (SRSDC). The presentation outlined the regional economic benefits of $168 Million in proposed upgrades to the St. Mary River Irrigation District main canal system and included an informal ask for funding support for future consideration of City Council.

Under new business:

• City Council approved the provisional schedule for 2024 Council Committee meetings, with the understanding that meetings will occur when required and that the public will be notified of upcoming meetings via the City’s online event calendar.  In addition, specific instances of Council Committee meetings may differ from the provisional schedule when required at the direction of the Committee Chairs.
• City Council approved amendments to the Fair Entry Policy 0161 for the purpose of increasing the application renewal length from one year to two years. The amendment is intended to reduce barriers for those applying, as well as administrative time to process applications.
• City Council approved a 2024 Fair Entry Rebate Credit of $100 per month. Funding for this program will be from the unused portion of the 2023 Fair Entry Rebate Program ($1.2M).
• City Council gave first reading to the repeal of Bylaw #3967 and an amendment to Bylaw #3937 to increase the City’s Corporate Credit Card limit at the Bank of Montreal from $1,200,000 to $1,500,000.

Councillor McGrogan gave notice of the following motion:

WHEREAS the City of Medicine Hat is a public sector organization dedicated to serving our residents and our community; and

WHEREAS the City of Medicine Hat recognizes its responsibility as a public sector employer, whereby we must balance providing competitive compensation with sustainability in the stewardship of public dollars; and

WHEREAS disclosing compensation aligns with Council Strategic Priorities of Service Orientation and Partnerships and Governance which relate to Accountability and Transparency.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT City Council instruct the City Manager to make public a Compensation Disclosure List identifying position titles, position numbers, salary ranges and information about pension and benefits for all employment positions and elected officials at the City of Medicine Hat; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT employee names and exact salaries are not made public out of respect for the privacy and security of City of Medicine Hat employees; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT there be no minimum salary threshold for this disclosure list; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City Manager make this information public yearly, on the City’s website, in conjunction with the release of the City of Medicine Hat’s Annual report.