Council Highlights July 6, 2026

Jul 07, 2026

Council Highlights

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.

Councillor Reynish congratulated the organizers of the Canada Day festival in Kin Coulee Park, including Councillors Mohammed and Young who were both involved with the event.

Councillor Phaff shared that City of Medicine Hat, Medicine Hat College, Tourism Medicine Hat and the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce hosted a “This is Medicine Hat” networking event at the Calgary Stampede on Saturday, July 4. She indicated it was a wonderful networking opportunity to connect with federal and provincial government representatives.

City Council received the following items for the corporate record

Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of June 8, 2026
Governance Committee Meeting Minutes of June 9, 2026
Audit Committee Meeting Minutes of June 10, 2026
Corporate Services Committee Meeting Minutes of June 11, 2026
Budget Committee Meeting Minutes of June 16, 2026
Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Minutes of June 18, 2026
Development & Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of June 18, 2026
Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of June 22, 2026

City Council received the following items for information

Community Vibrancy Advisory Board (CVAB) Meeting Minutes of March 25, 2026
Medicine Hat Public Library 2025 Annual Report
Unison 2025 Annual Report
Tri-Annual Management Report for the Period Ending of April 30, 2026
Public Services Committee Meeting Action Items of June 8, 2026
Governance Committee Action Items of June 9, 2026
Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Action Items of June 18, 2026
Development & Infrastructure Committee Meeting Action Items of June 18, 2026
Public Services Committee Meeting Action Items of June 22, 2026

Bylaw 4888-2026 - Change Reserve Designation

First reading took place at the June 15 council meeting

Randi Buchner, Manager of Land and Real Estate, provided an introduction. The Department of National Defence (DND) currently leases land from the City of Medicine Hat that spans two legal parcels as referenced above. DND is seeking to purchase the leased lands from the City. To facilitate this, a newly subdivided parcel has received conditional approval. The proposed parcel will combine portions of both Lot 1 and Lot R4 to align with the 5-acre area currently under lease. As part of the subdivision, approximately two acres of Lot R4 will have its reserve designation removed and be included in the parcel to be transferred to DND. Concurrently, approximately two acres of unused land from Lot 1 will be redesignated as Municipal Reserve land and incorporated into the remaining Lot R4.

Following a public hearing, City Council approved Bylaw 4888-2026 to do the following:

Direct a designated officer to notify the Registrar of Land Titles that the appropriate provisions of the Municipal Government Act, R.S.A. 2000, Chapter M-26, have been complied with and to request the Registrar to remove the Reserve designation from such portion of the lands legally described as Lot R4 (Reserve), Block 6, Plan 7610522, highlighted in blue diagonal shading on Attachment #1 for the purposes of a sale; and

Designate such portion of the municipal lands legally described as Lot 1, Block 6, Plan 7610522 highlighted in purple diagonal shading on Attachment #2 as Municipal Reserve.

Water Not Coal

Councillor Cocks introduced a motion to send a letter to the province expressing concern regarding coal related activity that may impact watershed protection and drinking water security. The motion did not receive a seconder.

WHEREAS Medicine Hat has a direct and continuing interest in the protection of clean water and the integrity of Alberta’s watersheds,

AND WHEREAS the City of Medicine Hat wishes to reaffirm the City’s commitment to the protection of clean, safe, and reliable water resources for current and future generations,

AND WHEREAS exploration and mining for coal raises concerns relating to water quality, runoff, land disturbance, tailings, and cumulative impacts on downstream users and the agrarian economy;

AND WHEREAS water security and economic development are core municipal concerns,

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor, on behalf of Council, forthwith forward a letter to the Premier of Alberta, the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, and any other provincial or federal officials expressing Council’s concern regarding any coal-related activity that may jeopardize watershed protection and drinking water security.

Strategic Plan 2027-2030

Mayor Clark provided an introduction of the plan, sharing the four priority areas. Acting City Manager, Rochelle Pancoast offered a thank you to Council for their leadership on the development of the plan and confirmed that the plan will guide administration’s work over the next four years, as well as a commitment to ongoing reporting on the progress of the plan. Councillors Mohammed and Phaff provided additional comments on the development of the plan and summarized the four strategic priority areas:

Fiscal Responsibility
Economic Growth through Asset Expansion

Organizational Effectiveness and Reliable Services

Strong Community Connections

Following the discussion, City Council adopted the plan. View the plan here.

Affordable Housing Project – Request for Land Donation

Administration received a request from the Miywasin Friendship Centre to donate (sell at a reduced sale price) 301 Spencer Street SE for an affordable housing project, the “Miywasin Seniors Housing Project”. Council approved the donation (nonprofit reduced sales price) of the property located at 301 Spencer Street S.E. and approved the transfer of $412,000 from Capital Reserves to the Land & Real Estate department to compensate for the market value of 301 Spencer Street S.E.

Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes
medicinehat.ca/AgendasMinutes

Live Meetings
youtube.com/CityMedicineHat

Next City Council meeting to be held in Council Chambers in City Hall on
Monday, July 20 at 6:30 p.m.