Council Highlights July 20 2020

A public hearing was held regarding a change of use development permit application for 1102 Shale Street, SE. The application from Vision Engineering Ltd. would see the site changed from Direct Control to Discretionary Use Industrial Support Service. The applicant engages in non-destructive examinations (NDE) which includes industrial radiography. The company's head office is in Calgary and currently has a Medicine Hat office at unit 1 & 2, 1771 - 30 Street SW. The subject property was recently purchased to serve their Medicine Hat branch office.

Through Public Services Committee, Council received the Arts and Heritage Advisory Board (AHAB) Goals for 2020 for information. The goals include promoting and enhancing the understanding of the value of arts and culture as a driver of a diversified economy, bringing an inclusive arts and heritage lens to municipal planning, and more.

Through Administrative Committee, City Council approved the sale of 440 Maple Avenue SE (former Fire Station #1) to the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank. The agency intends to building a “Community Food and Wellness Hub”, concentrating on food sustainability through education. Subject to closing, the City would realize cash proceeds of $800,000, in addition to acquiring the Food Bank’s current site at 532 South Railway Street, SE, valued at $500,000. The transaction will be recorded at the gross amounts which includes sale proceeds of $1,300,000, and a purchase of the food bank property of $500,000 (plus purchase costs required to satisfy conditions).

Through Administrative Committee, City Council approved Tender Recommendation MW20-89 2020 Storm Sewer Rehabilitation. Administrative Committee awarded the tender recommendation to the best evaluated bid meeting specification: MJB Enterprises Ltd. in the amount of $619,287.

Under Unfinished Business, City Council tabled the sales and pricing strategy for 826 11 Street SE (Elizabeth Street School) until the October 5 meeting of Council, after postponing the item at the July 6 meeting. This Community Service land use is comprised of 0.9 acres, with a school building of 15,960 gross square feet.

City Council approved 1^streading of Bylaw #4625, a Bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to incur indebtedness in the amount of $66 million. The funds will be used to install a new electric generation plant (Unit 17). The City of Medicine Hat has a need to procure additional electric generation to provide reliable electric supply to serve growing City load requirements and to provide contingency power should the City lose its largest generating unit. This new electric generation plant is expected to be operational by Q1 2022 at a cost of $66 million. The total capacity of the electric generation plant will be 44 megawatts.

City Council approved 1^st reading of Bylaw #4633, a Bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to close roads in the City of Medicine Hat. The change will see the road allowance adjacent to the property at 901 13^th Street SW sold to the property owner and consolidated to provide additional parking. The owner of 901 13^th Street SW has agreed to absorb all costs associated with the closure of the road allowance, pay market value for the property and absorb all costs of consolidating the property.