Council Highlights July 2 2024

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.

Under Councillor Announcements:

• Councillor Hider commended the Root Cellar on their work in the community, recently showcased during the Food Bank Alberta Conference.
• Councillor Robins congratulated all organizers and volunteers of the numerous community events held during the past weekend including Beat the Heat, Canada Day in Kin Coulee, Canada Day at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede, the Towne Square Block Party, and a celebration to mark the end of Pride Month.

City Council received the following items into the corporate record:

• Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of June 10, 2024
• Administrative and Legislative Review Committee Meeting Minutes of June 11, 2024
• Audit Committee Meeting Minutes of June 18, 2024
• Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of June 20, 2024
• Energy, Land & Environment Committee Meeting Minutes of June 20, 2024

City Council received the following items for information:

• Police Commission Meeting Minutes of May 15, 2024
• Canyon Creek/Heron Crossing Multi-Use Trail
• Development and Infrastructure Committee Outstanding Items of June 20, 2024
• Medicine Hat Public Library 2023 Annual Report
• Public Services Committee Outstanding Items of June 10, 2024
• Tri-Annual Management Report for the Period Ending April 30, 2024
• Audit Committee Outstanding Items of June 18, 2024
• Energy, Land and Environment Committee Outstanding Items of June 20, 2024

Senior Planner, Shawn Champagne introduced Bylaw 4820 to amend the Land Use Bylaw to Rezone 1720 Bell Street to Medium Density Residential District. The intent of the rezoning is to accommodate future development of South Country Village. Following a public hearing, City Council passed Bylaw 4820.

Brad Irwin, Senior Planner introduced Bylaw 4824 to amend the Land Use Bylaw to Rezone 620 Porcelain Avenue SE to Business Industrial District. The intent of the rezoning is to accommodate future development. Following a public hearing, City Council passed Bylaw 4824.

Under Committee Business, City Council:

• received a verbal update from acting Managing Director Robinson regarding the upgrades made to Council Chambers, undertaken in response to safety and security concerns submitted by staff in delineating Council and staff spaces and public areas, a desire to improve meeting experience by improving sightlines, and modernizing the appearance of the space. Upgrades have been partially completed with further work scheduled during the Council break this summer. To date, work within Council Chambers has been completed on various items including:
  • Repositioning the Managing Director desks to improve Council and staff sightlines on the Chamber floor
  • Repositioning the current presentation podium to improve Council and staff sightlines on the Chamber floor
  • Repositioning of the media desks from the first-row gallery area to the top row
  • Repositioning of Communications staff to the Chamber floor

Scheduled work remaining includes:

• • Addition of public presentation podium to the first-row gallery area
  • Replacement of staff presentation podium and repositioning of cabling
  • Installation of permanent power supply at relocated media desk location
  • Modification of blackout curtain and application of window treatment to exterior windows
  • Update of card access control system on Council Chamber perimeter doors
• received a verbal update regarding public requests to address City Council. City Manager Mitchell described the current process as outlined in Bylaw 4725, section 7.21: Members of the public who wish to speak at a Meeting, excluding a Public Hearing, must submit a completed Request to Address Form to the City Clerk. City Manager Mitchell noted that this process will be considered in context with the upcoming committee review.
• approved a motion to rescind the current Whistleblower Policy 8041 in its entirety and replace is with the revised Whistleblower Policy 8046.
• gave first reading to Bylaw 4803 to revise the Off-site Levy Bylaw and include a non-statutory public hearing for August 19, 2024, in Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m.
• approved a motion directing the Development and Infrastructure Committee to review the off-site levy procedures to determine the merits of adding a non-statutory hearing and to report back to council through a briefing note for consideration.
• approved a motion to:
  • (a) authorize execution of a Real Estate Purchase contract for the sale of the Property described as 5244/5240 Southlands Drive SE (Lot 23, Block 8, Plan 1012845) with the Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta Medicine Hat Chapter at 50% reduction from the sale price of $119,800 for $59,900, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the City Manager and City Solicitor; and
  • (b) approves the transfer the remaining 50% of the sale price, $59,900, from the Capital Reserve to the Land and Real Estate Department to compensate for the market value of the property.
• received an update on the stat­­us of the Canyon Creek/Heron Crossing Multi-Use Trail.