Council Highlights March 16, 2026

Mar 17, 2026

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.

Item 12.2, Development of Non-standard Crosswalk Pavement Marking Policy, and Item 13.2, Extension of Energy and Innovation Program, were removed from the agenda.

An additional item, Budget Committee, was added as Item 12.4.  

Councillor Hellman announced that the Skateboard Association in partnership with the Root Cellar, MHC Rattlers and Redcliff Youth Centre have launched their End Period Poverty campaign and encouraged community members to participate. Donations of products can be dropped off at locations across the city including Medicine Hat College Fitness Centre, Station Coffee House, the Root Cellar, Sun Valley Honda, Link Church, and Save On Foods. Last year over $14,000 worth of products were raised through this campaign. 

Councillor Reynish acknowledged and wished a fond farewell to local reporter, Eli Ridder, who is moving to New Brunswick. 

The Consent Agenda is used by City Council to streamline meetings by grouping routine, non-controversial items - such as approval of previous minutes, standard reports, and minor administrative actions - into a single agenda item. These are approved in a single motion without discussion, though any member can request an item be removed for separate consideration. This process saves time and lets Council focus on more complex issues.

City Council received the following items for the corporate record

  • Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of February 23, 2026 

  • Corporate Services Committee Meeting Minutes of February 26, 2026 

  • Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of March 5, 2026 

  • Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Minutes of March 5, 2026 

City Council received the following items for information

  • Medicine Hat Resilient and Inclusive Community Task Force Meeting Minutes of February 11, 2026 

  • “Momentum”: Medicine Hat Community Well Being Plan Progress Report  (To be presented at a future Council meeting) 

  • Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services 2025 Year in Review Report 

  • 2025 Supply Chain Annual Report 

  • Grant Revenue Development 

  • Development and Infrastructure Bylaws and Policies, Motions, Capital Projects Discussion 

  • Land Budget Update 

  • Public Services Committee Meeting Action Items - February 23, 2026 

  • Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Action Items - March 5, 2026 

  • Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Action Items - March 5, 2026 

From the consent agenda, Councillor Mohammed requested an update on Item 8.3, Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes – March 5, 2026, specific to the airport. Airport Manager, Logan Boyd, advised City Council that WestJet has announced they will end air service to Medicine Hat effective June 24, citing lack of demand. Airport staff affirmed that the demand exists locally and is focused on bringing a new carrier to the community.   

REDI Enterprises/The Action Group (TAG)

Larry Fuchs and John Steer from REDI Enterprises/The Action Group (TAG) provided a presentation to Council regarding mobility challenges, citing concerns related to sidewalks, crosswalks, transit service hours and more, and offered specific suggestions for improvements throughout the city. Mayor Clark and Council thanked the group for bringing forward their concerns. Administration offered an update on current efforts to improve accessibility across the community and encouraged the delegation to continue offering suggestions.

Bylaw 4870-2026 - Rezoning 1850 South Boundary Road SW 

Rebecca Arabsky, Planner, provided a presentation. The application is to rezone 1850 South Boundary Road SW from Future Urban District to Direct Control District. The application to rezone the parcel is to facilitate the future development of a mix of uses over a unique site with a variety of constraints/considerations – specifically an acreage with additional out buildings. Direct Control is meant to accommodate the unique constraints and land use considerations for this site, including proximity to and protection of environmentally sensitive areas, and also allows Council to establish parameters for future development proposals over the site. First reading was given at the February 17, 2026 City Council meeting. 

Following the public hearing, City Council approved Bylaw 4870-2026. 

Bylaw 4871-2026 - Land Title Designation Change for Flood Mitigation Berm Infrastructure 

Randi Buchner, Manager of Land and Real Estate, provided an introduction on Bylaw 4871-2026 to change the boundaries of Municipal Reserve and Environment Reserve designated parcels to create Public Utility Lots for the “Berm Lands”. Land title designations such as Environmental Reserve, Municipal Reserve and Public Utility Land are different than zoning identified through the Land Use Bylaw. This proposed land designation change does not contemplate or propose any changes to the existing zoning of these parcels. As this infrastructure will require ongoing operations, maintenance and future work, guidance was received from Alberta Environment and Parks that the appropriate land designation for the Berm is Public Utility Lot. First reading was given at the February 17, 2026 City Council meeting. 

Following the public hearing, City Council approved Bylaw 4871-2026.  

 

Bylaw 4869-2026 Dishonoured Payments 

Council approved Bylaw 4869-2026, an amendment to Bylaw 3224 Dishonoured Payments. The amendment reduces the 2026 fee for dishonoured payments from $44.00 to $10.00, effective April 1, 2026.

This voluntary change aligns with a change in federal regulation capping NSF fees charged by federally regulated banks.

The dishonoured payment fee is designed both to encourage customers to avoid insufficient funds transactions through their financial institutions, and to offset the City’s administrative costs associated with processing, reversing, rebilling and collecting new payments. The City processes approximately 1,327 dishonoured payments per year. First reading was given at the March 2, 2026 City Council meeting. 

Whistleblower Policy 8051-2026 

Lola Barta, Interim Managing Director of Corporate Services, and Leigha Haney, Solicitor, introduced the item, advising Council that the updated policy is in response to the following motion from Council in October 2025:  

Council directed the following amendments to the Whistleblower Policy: 

  • Extend eligibility for whistleblower reporting to include contractors, suppliers, and members of the public; 

  • Introduce an independent, third-party reporting mechanism that allows for anonymous disclosures; 

  • Strengthen anti-retaliation protections for whistleblowers; and  

  • Provide annual, anonymized reporting on the number and types of disclosures received and outcomes to Council.  

City Council approved a motion directing Administration to bring the policy back with amendments, as per the discussion, on the April 20, 2026, Regular Meeting of City Council. 

Extension of City Manager Appointment 

City Council approved a motion to extend the term of Interim City Manager, Joseph Hutter, from March 31, 2026, to October 1, 2026. 

Budget Committee 

Council approved a motion directing administration to prepare an amending bylaw to amend the Procedure Bylaw for Council’s consideration, for the purpose of establishing a standing council committee called “the budget committee” for the purposes of streamlining the budget process, enhancing fiscal responsibility and exploring priority-based budgeting. 

Urban Hens 

Council approved a motion to defer the item to the April 7 Regular Meeting of City Council.  

Rate Review Committee and Alternatives – Expanded 

Managing Director of Energy, Land and Environment, Rochelle Pancoast, provided an introduction. 

Following the discussion, Council approved a motion to: 

a) defeat the pending motion from Item 9.2 in the July 21, 2025, City Council Agenda regarding the establishment of a Rate Review Committee (RRC); and 

b) affirm its authority to set and regulate – without delegation – all electric and gas utility rates, fees, and charges under Gas Utility Bylaw 2489, Electric Utility Bylaw 2244, and all applicable provincial legislation; and 

c) continue to base any proposed changes to utility pricing on public hearings required by the utility bylaws, and recommendations from Administration.

Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes
medicinehat.ca/AgendasMinutes 

 Next City Council meeting to be held in Council Chambers in City Hall on
Monday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m.

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