Council Highlights July 4 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.

Kaylee Getz, Animal Health Lead, SPCA; Jacqui Pederson, Board President, SPCA; and Steven Wolf, General Manager, Alberta Pound and Rescue Centres (APARC) presented to City Council on trap, neuter and return programs. Council passed a motion to direct Administration to bring forward a briefing note to Council that outlines the pros and cons of a trap, neuter and return program.

Medicine Hat Curling Club representative Cal Hauserman, Co-Chair, Facilities Committee provided a funding request update to City Council. Council passed a motion to direct Administration to develop options to support the continued operations of a curling facility in Medicine Hat, and that the options be brought back to a future meeting of Council.

City Council received the minutes of the Administrative and Legislative Review Committee meeting of June 21, 2023 into the corporate record and approved the Flags and Proclamations Policy 0175 with a motion to amend the policy to allow flag requests to be at the sole discretion of the City Manager.

City Council received the minutes of the Economic, Land and Strategic Planning and Development Committee meeting of June 27, 2023 into the corporate record.

City Council received the minutes of the Energy and Infrastructure Committee Meeting of June 15, 2023 into the corporate record and approved:

1. A recommendation to expand the current emergency vehicle only access to allow for two-way public traffic only during emergencies and when use of the primary access is limited; and a 2023 Tangible Capital Asset budget amendment for $250,000 for the Saamis Heights Special Use Access.
2. A recommendation to alter the minimum electrical service size engineering standard available within the City of Medicine Hat franchise territory for all new greenfield residential subdivisions from the existing 100 amp minimum service to 200 amp minimum service effective July 1, 2023.

City Council adopted the minutes of the Public Services Committee meeting of June 26, 2023 into the corporate record and approved:

1. A recommendation to increase the Community Development operating budget by $48K in 2023 and $100K in 2024 to support additional security personnel hours at the downtown transit terminal; and to delay the decision regarding the build out of Towne Square washrooms while other options are explored.

City Council received the Police Commission Minutes of April 19, 2023 and May 17, 2023 for information.

Under new business, City Council received an update on COMCO energy rate offerings and the methodology that is currently used by the City of Medicine Hat to establish commodity energy rates.  

Under new business, City Council approved a Utility Relief Options/Solutions to Residents motion, directing an allocation of up to $500,000 to the existing Fair Entry Program which would increase the 2023 annual fair entry relief credit from $300 ($50 in January, February, March, July, August, September) to $1,200 ($50 in January, February, March and July and $200 each month from August to December. Following the discussion, Council passed a resolution directing Administration to prepare one-off options to explore possible rates and/or other solutions to current shareholders of the City utility, and an examination of fixed versus variable rates and other potential options by the end of 2023.

Under new business, City Council received for information the results of a Facilities for the Future survey that administration had conducted anonymously with City Council to better understand Council preferences related to the project, and approved a motion to reserve an August 28, 2023 Council Committee of the Whole to discuss Facilities for the Future.

Under new business, City Council gave first reading to Procedure Bylaw 4725, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to set the procedures of meetings and to establish certain Council Committees.