Council Highlights December 8, 2025

Dec 09, 2025

Council Highlights

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.

Amendments to the Agenda

City Council approved a motion to postpone Item 13.1 Council Appointments of Public Members to Advisory Boards and Commissions to the December 15, 2025 meeting.

Councillor Reynish thanked administration for planning the annual family holiday party for employees.

Councillor Varga congratulated the Medicine Hat Tigers on another successful Teddy Bear Toss on December 6.

Councillor Young shared his experience attending the Tourism Economic Budget Forum on November 24, 2025 and congratulated local operator Miller’s Haunted tours, hosted by Tamara Miller, for being a finalist in the Alberta GRIT Awards. These awards, presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Alberta (TIAA), were created to celebrate the enduring values of Growth, Resilience, and Inspiration in Tourism.

The Consent Agenda is used by City Council to streamline meetings by grouping routine, non-controversial items - such as approval of previous minutes, standard reports, and minor administrative actions - into a single agenda item. These are approved in a single motion without discussion, though any member can request an item be removed for separate consideration. This process saves time and lets Council focus on more complex issues.

City Council received the following item for the corporate record.

Council Committee of the Whole Committee Meeting Minutes of November 24, 2025
Administrative and Legislative review committee minutes of November 18, 2025

City Council received the following items for information.

Approved Development Permits – September 8-November 2, 2025

2026 Budget: $2 Million Efficiency Target

Resilient and Inclusive Community Task Force Meeting Minutes of October 29, 2025

Municipal Planning Committee Meeting Minutes of November 12, 2025

Corporate Services Committee Meeting Action Items of November 27, 2025

Councillor Hellman referenced the Corporate Services Committee Meeting Minutes from November 27, 2025, highlighting administration’s efforts to meet the commitment of identifying $2 million in savings for the 2025–2026 budget. The 2025-2026 budget already included maintaining zero-inflation assumptions for operating budgets, reducing capital budgets by $4.1 million compared to the 2023–2024 cycle, and streamlining workflows and execution strategies to encourage innovation and operational efficiencies. The additional $2 million reduction comprises 27% ($540,000) in staffing efficiencies and 73% ($1,460,000) in administration and support costs from investment management fees, fuel, irrigation, concrete and storm sewer, office training and travel costs, and contracted services. This reduction represents approximately a 2% tax impact and ensures that efficiencies are achieved without compromising the quality of services provided to the community.

Jace Anderson, Executive Director of the Destination Marketing Organization (Tourism Medicine Hat), presented the 2025 Mid-Year Report to City Council.

Visit tourismmedicinehat.com to learn more about their work and what Medicine Hat has to offer.

If you or a group you represent wish to address Council, you may do so by completing the Request to address City Council form.

Public hearing banner

Proposed demolition of former Riverside School building

A public hearing was held to discuss Development Permit Application PLDP20250688, an application for demolition of the former Riverside School building.

Jim Genge, Superintendent of Planning, and Rebecca Arabsky, Intermediate Planner, introduced the item to Council. The application, submitted by Prime Builders Ltd., proposes to demolish the former Riverside School building, located at 201 2 Street NW, for the future purpose of facilitating low density residential development. The site is zoned Direct Control (DC) District in Land Use Bylaw 4168, requiring City Council to make a decision on the development permit application.

Mayor Clark opened the public hearing and Council approved a motion to accept the late submissions received and include them in the official corporate record.

Following the public hearing, City Council approved the application.

Amendments to the Utility Rate Bylaw, Energy Production Budgets, and Land & Real Estate Budget Amendments

City Council approved a Items 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3 all at once.

11.1 2026 Utility Rate Bylaw Amendments

Council gave first reading to Bylaw 4864 (Electric Utility Bylaw) and Bylaw 4865 (Gas Utility Bylaw) on November 17, 2025. The utility rate bylaws set the 2026 rates for all gas and electricity charges (set annually for administration, distribution, etc.) as well as the commodity rate formulas (commodity rates are announced quarterly for electricity and monthly for gas.) A public hearing will be held on December 15, 2025.

11.2 2026 Energy Production

Council approved the following recommendations:

a) 2026 Electric Generation Operating Revenue and Expenditure Budget Amendments;

b) 2026 Electric Generation Capital Budget Amendments; and

c) 2026 Natural Gas Production Operating Revenue and Expenditure Budget Amendments, as presented

The proposed amendments to Energy Production Operating Budgets are the result of updates to market forecasts related to volatile commodity prices and markets. Operating models have been updated to reflect the most recent commodity price forecasts, emissions compliance costs, asset retirement obligations and sustaining capital maintenance schedules. The overall net impact to financials is an increase of $5.6 million to net earnings and a $15.6 million increase to Tangible Capital Assets. Tangible Capital Assets are proposed to be funded through Working Capital and Capital Reserves.

11.3 2026 Land and Real Estate Budget Amendment

Council approved amendments to the 2026 Operating and Tangible Capital Asset Budgets for the Land and Real Estate department. Since the completion of the Land Strategy earlier in 2025, the department has reallocated capital to existing projects where appropriate, based on project needs. Completed projects will be closed out at year-end, and the remaining budget for projects not expected to proceed in the near term are being relinquished as part of this proposed budget amendment. Since land capital projects are funded through future sales, the relinquished budget is administrative and does not affect overall budget availability.

Bylaw 4867 – Amendments to the Procedure Bylaw

Council approved the following amendments to the bylaw:

Adjusting the start time of regular City Council meetings to 6:30 p.m. and indicating that closed meetings will occur prior to regular meetings commencing at a time determined by the Agenda Review Committee and ending no later than 5:45 p.m. the same day.
Appointing the mayor as an ex-officio member to any standing committee to attend at the mayor’s discretion.
Including Council Employee Committee under schedule B to oversee the recruitment, selection, and annual performance evaluation of the City Manager.
Adding a provision for Economic Development reports to be brought forward through the Development and Infrastructure Committee.

Inter-City Forum on Social Policy

Council appointed Councillor Cocks to the Inter-City Forum on Social Policy.

Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes
www.medicinehat.ca/AgendasMinutes

Live Meetings
https://www.youtube.com/CityMedicineHat

Next City Council meeting to be held in Council Chambers in City Hall on
Monday, December 15, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.