Council Highlights July 5 2021

Merrick Brown, Manager of Support Services in Emergency Services, provided City Council a COVID-19 update. Mr. Brown indicated that this would be his final presentation at Council meetings as stage 3 of Alberta’s Open for Summer Plan is now in play and the majority of restrictions have lifted. For ongoing information, residents can visit the Alberta Health website here.

Through Public Services Committee, City Council received for information an update on the progress of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan.

Through Corporate Services Committee, Council approved a recommendation to not provide a tax cancellation (refunding a portion of taxes from 2011-2016) to the property owner of 1319 Bridge Street, as the request did not follow the assessment appeal process, and the complaint period for previous years is closed.

City Council received for information the minutes of the Municipal Planning Commission meeting of June 9, 2021.

City Council approved first reading of the following bylaws:

Bylaw # 4674, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #4636, the City of Medicine Hat Municipal Development Plan. The amendment will update the suburban residential growth image (Figure 14) in the plan to reflect the change of Hamptons Phase 3 to a stage 2 development stage. A public hearing will be held at the August 3 meeting of Council.

Bylaw #4679, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #3617, the Hamptons Area Structure Plan and Bylaw # 4594, the Hamptons Area Structure Plan Amendment, to allow the development of the Hamptons Phase 3 subdivision. Hamptons Phase 3 is currently defined as Stage 3 of suburban residential growth using the measured development staging approach. The proposed amendment will place Hamptons Phase 3 into a stage 2 development stage. A public hearing will be held at the August 3 meeting of Council.

Bylaw #4680, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #4168, the Land Use Bylaw. The amendment will align the zoning of Hamptons Phase 3 to the Hamptons Area Structure Plan and tentative subdivision plan, and allow development of residential lots, open space, and a commercial lot.

Bylaw #4678, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend Bylaw #4168, the Land Use Bylaw. The amendment would see Lots 19 and 20, Block 1, Plan 181 2507 redesignated from Historical Clay district to Direct Control district

Councillor Turnbull was granted a notice of motion and moved as follows:

"Council … I move that management be directed to prepare a second COVID relief program for Medicine Hat residents to assist our community in transitioning from lock-down and restrictions back into a more ‘normal’ set of circumstances in which to live and conduct business. The first COVID relief program was directed by Council and administered by management and was successful in assisting our residents. This second program is also necessary and will be valued by our community. In terms of general guidance, management should be directed to develop a local COVID relief program in an amount of approximately $4.5 million to be funded from the City’s Heritage Reserve. Management’s recommended program should be brought to Council at our next regularly scheduled meeting."