Council Highlights January 18 2021

Merrick Brown, Director of Emergency Management and HSE, provided City Council a City of
Medicine Hat COVID-19 update and shared details on the City of Medicine Hat’s response to
the most recent restrictions from Alberta Health. Full details on public
health guidelines are available.

A public hearing was held on the City Centre Development Agency 2021 budget. The Municipal Government Act and associated regulations require the City to provide copies of the CCDA budget to ratepayers and identify a date and time in which ratepayers can speak to the CCDA budget at City Council. City Council approved a motion to table the decision to approve the budget until the February 1 meeting.

Through Administrative Committee, City Council approved a reduction in the tangible capital asset (TCA) and major operating expense (MOE) budgets. The reduction stemmed from a capital reset exercise undertaken by all City departments as part of the Accelerated Financially Fit Initiative budget update process. This effort achieved a reduction in the current budget cycle for capital and funding requirements, however some of the deferred projects may come forward for approval in a future budget cycle. A capital prioritization project is currently underway, which will define a framework to support capital project selection.

Through Development and Infrastructure Committee, Council received for information the following updates:

• A new fast track permit (FTP) process will reduce regulatory red tape and timelines for issuing a building permit to homebuilders for the construction of new single detached dwellings. This new process will prevent construction start delays, while guaranteeing compliance with all provincial regulations.
• Changes to the Municipal Government Act (MGA) as a result of the Government of Alberta’s proposed Bill 48: Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2020 (No.2) and how these changes will affect Planning and Development Services. If Bill 48 receives Royal Assent, changes to the MGA are intended to support economic growth and job creation by:
  • Speeding up timelines for subdivision and development permit approvals;
  • Creating greater certainty for developers by removing the ability of municipalities to take additional reserve land (beyond the standard amount) from developers for municipal purposes; and
  • Strengthening accountability and transparency on off-site levies, resulting in less money and time spent on litigation.

Through Corporate Services Committee, City Council approved amendments to Policy #0167, the Investment Policy. The amendments are meant to provide the City with the flexibility to undertake fixed income and equity investments for the following purposes: 

• achieving long-term capital appreciation, risk mitigation, asset class diversification and inflation protection as well as direct net benefits to the City, such as tax assessment and utility revenue growth and/or
• structuring an incentive in the form of an investment to provide the City with enhanced incentive control and a return on its investment in addition to the measurable benefits identified during the incentive approval process.

City Council received the November 25, 2020 minutes of the Municipal Planning Commission for information.

City Council passed 1st reading of Bylaw #4660, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend bylaw #4168, the Land Use Bylaw. The amendment will see 471 & 475, 21 Street NE rezoned as Medium Density Residential from Low Density Residential.