Council Highlights February 2, 2026

Feb 03, 2026

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.

Councillor Varga attended the Annual General Meeting of the Monarch 1911 Society and shared some of their recent accomplishments related to event hosting and renovations at the Monarch Theatre. He encouraged the community to support ongoing events at this historic facility.

Councillor Reynish advised the community of the return of the maternity clinic in Medicine Hat and expressed gratitude to the Government of Alberta for this development. He also reminded the community that MH Transit will now offer service on Family Day and Canada Day, and offered a tribute to Canadian actress, Catherine O’Hara, who passed away on January 30.

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.

Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes – January 12, 2026
Administrative and Legislative Review and Government Relations Meeting Minutes – January 13, 2026
Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes - January 22, 2026
Council Employee Committee Meeting Minutes – January 23, 2026

City Council received the following items for information.

Police Commission Meeting Minutes – November 19, 2025
Medicine Hat Resilient and Inclusive Community Task Force Meeting Minutes – December 10, 2025
Public Services Committee Meeting Action Items – January 12, 2026
Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Action Items – January 22, 2026

Saamis Solar Final Investment Decision (FID)

Rochelle Pancoast, Managing Director of Energy, Land and Environment, introduced the item, summarizing the history of the project, and the due diligence undertaken to inform City Council in considering a final investment decision.

Following the presentation, Council approved a capital budget amendment of $131.5 million dollars to fund the final development and construction of the 75MW Saamis Solar Park and related infrastructure, with the equity portion funded through the Energy Transition Reserve and the balance through debt, provided:

1. Break ground for construction does not commence until after:

1. 1. A related long-term energy sales contract with terms and conditions satisfactory to the City Manager and City Solicitor is executed by the City and that staff will provide periodic updates to Council on the energy sales contract negotiations, in accordance with section 197 of the Municipal Government Act;
  2. The Alberta Utilities Commission approves the required siting permits;
  3. That City Council approves the required debenture bylaw 4874-2026; and
  4. Access to maximum tax credit is confirmed through use of a special purpose vehicle.

Debenture Bylaw

City Council gave first reading to Bylaw 4874-2026 to incur indebtedness by the issuance of debenture(s) in the amount of Sixty-Five Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($65,750,000) for the purpose of Saamis Solar Final Investment Decision. Second reading will be considered at the February 17 meeting of City Council.

Councillor Reynish provided the following notice of motion for the February 17 meeting of City Council:

That council consider directing Administration to pause further policy engagement on the Transportation Master Plan, Transportation Safety Strategy and Active Transportation Strategy until Q4 2026 and re-engage on the Riverside Corridor engagement with a focus on trust-building activities.

Municipal Historic Designation

City Council approved a motion to issue an intention to designate 515A North Railway Street SE as a Municipal Historic Resource. Council also directed staff to draft a Bylaw to be brought forward after the 60 days’ Notice of Intention to Designate is complete.

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
Tuesday, February 17 at 6:30 p.m.