Council Highlights February 21 2023

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.

City Assessor and Manager of Assessment, Sue Sterkenburg, presented an overview of the 2023 Assessment Roll. The 2023 Assessment Roll was completed and declared on January 31, 2023, and the mailing of the 2023 Property Assessment Notices will occur on February 28.

City Council adopted the minutes of the Corporate Services Committee of February 9, 2023 into the corporate record and approved the 2023 Tax Auction Reserve Bids. The City of Medicine Hat is required to establish the reserve bid and related conditions for the 2023 Public Tax Sale Auction of properties that have taxes outstanding since 2019.

City Council adopted the minutes of the Economic, Land and Strategic Planning and Development Committee meeting of February 14, 2023 into the corporate record.

City Council adopted the minutes of the Public Services Committee meeting of February 13, 2023 into the corporate record.

City Council approved a motion to postpone second and third reading of Bylaw 4705, the Outdoor Smoking and Vaping Bylaw. The proposed bylaw is an amendment to Bylaw 4136, the Smoke Free Outdoor Public Spaces Bylaw. The proposed amendments include updating the bylaw name to “Outdoor Smoking and Vaping Bylaw”; expanding the existing definition of “outdoor public places/events” to include outdoor events, festivals, markets, grandstands, skating rinks and ponds, and basketball, tennis or pickleball courts; and a requirement for event organizers looking to host an outdoor event to secure and designate an area for smoking.

Under unfinished business, City Council also approved a motion to postpone Policy 0172, the Designated Smoke and or Vape Area Management Policy, as presented.

Under new business, City Council approved a motion to postpone the proposed dissolution of the Municipal Planning Commission and directed Administration to conduct a thorough public engagement process approved by City Manager Mitchell.

Under new business, City Council approved the following resolution for consideration by the Alberta Community Partnership:

a)    WHEREAS the Tri-Municipal Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework identifies a Tri-Municipal Growth and Water and Wastewater Study as a high priority.

b)    AND WHEREAS the Alberta Community Partnership provides grant funding for intermunicipal projects.

c)    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Medicine Hat Council supports this grant application for this strategic regional initiative and confirms that the City of Medicine Hat is directly involved in the project and designates the City of Medicine Hat as Managing Partner for this project.

Under new business, City Council approved the execution of an agreement to amend the Wastewater Agreement with Cypress County to allow for expiration of the agreement no later than May 31, 2034.

Under new business, Council approved the Mayor’s appointment of Councillor Hider to the Public Services Committee in place of Councillor Van Dyke pursuant to Procedure Bylaw #2270. 

Under new business, City Council approved a motion to ratify the collective agreement between the City of Medicine Hat and the Medicine Hat Police Association and the collective agreement with the Medicine Hat Police Senior Officers Association, which both expired on December 31, 2020. The new agreement provides for general wage increases of 2.5% on January 1 of each year of the four-year term.

Under new business, Susan Oxford was appointed to the Assessment Review Board, Bryan Armstrong to the Combative Sports Commission and Cori Cuthbertson to the Municipal Planning Commission each for terms ending December 31, 2025.

Next City Council meeting to be held in Council Chambers in City Hall on Monday, March 6, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.