Council Highlights November 18, 2024

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.

Under Councillor Announcements:

• Councillor Van Dyke congratulated local AsTech award winners PRAXIS Science Outreach Society and QinetiQ. The ASTech Awards recognize Alberta's innovation ecosystem's key contributors, from companies to entrepreneurs and researchers.
• Councillor Hider invited the community to BATUS Park for the annual tree lighting ceremony on Friday, November 22 to kick of Midnight Madness.
• Councillor Robins invited the community to attend the MANVAN at Fire Station 2 on November 19 from noon until 2 p.m. The MANVAN is Canada’s first mobile health clinic specifically for men, traveling across the country to provide vital health services with a focus on screening for prostate cancer.

City Council received the following items into the corporate record:

• Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of October 28, 2024
• Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes of October 30, 2024
• Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes of November 5, 2024
• Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Minutes of November 7, 2024

City Council received the following items for information:

• Community Well-Being Plan Update
• From the Archives: Diversity and Representation
• Election 2025 Update
• Rural Renewal Program Report April 29 - November 8, 2024
• Public Services Committee Action Items - October 28, 2024
• Energy, Land and Environment Committee Action Items - November 7, 2024.

Under New Business:

• City Council approved adjustments to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Fee to $210, effective January 1, 2025, and $215, effective January 1, 2026.
• City Council approved the proposed plans and actions provided by Administration in response to the focused City of Medicine Hat 2024-2026 Strategic Plan approved at the October 21, 2024 meeting of City Council.

Under Committee Business, City Council:

• Received a presentation from Aaron Nelson on Towne Square and the use of the space during 2024. Following the presentation, City Council approved the removal of the Market Pods/Sea Cans at Towne Square and revert to public programming in areas in the community where there is audience, partners, and volunteer support.
• Approved the distribution of the 2025 Community Projects, Activities, Annual Festivals and Special Events Grants as follows:

 

COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES GRANTS
Organization Name	Initiative	Amount
Medicine Hat FireFit Team	The FireFit Championships Regional Event is a two-day competition based on firefighting tasks commonly performed in emergency situations. The competition visits every Province in Canada, and each individual event draws participants from multiple provinces, fire departments, and levels of experience.	$9,500
Wander YXH	A series of 6 short documentaries that highlight the entrepreneurs behind Medicine Hat's beloved local businesses, sharing their story, fostering community, connection, and support.	$6,000
Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation	The Larry Godin Classic is a celebration of sledge hockey within the community of Medicine Hat.	$3,000
The Cycle Guild of Medicine Hat	We collect over 400 donated/discarded bicycles and typically are able to rescue over 200 bicycles every year, putting them back on the road at little or no cost to the rider.	$3,500
Medicine Hat Vintage Trailer Rally	Vintage trailers of all shapes and sizes are on display at this annual event with over 90 registered trailers held each year at the Gas City Campground.	$3,000
Total: $25,000
ANNUAL FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS GRANTS
Organization Name	Initiative	Amount
Spectrum Festival Foundation	An Open-Air Community Festival, welcoming all the different cultures that live in Medicine Hat.	$14,500
The Kiwanis Club of Medicine Hat	Family Day Activities at Police Point Park include complimentary cookies and hot chocolate, roasting hot dogs outdoors, a scavenger hunt, a guided walking tour of the trails (or other family related outdoor activity), and wildlife kit building.	$1,500
Alternative Waves Music Festival	Alternative Waves is a community minded event that encompasses everything to do with the alternative music space.	$3,000
Total: $19,000

 

• Approved updates to the Planning and Development Services 2025-2026 Fee Schedule, and gave first reading of the following bylaws (to reflect new fee schedules):
  • Bylaw No. 4832, an amendment to Bylaw No. 4438 Safety Codes Permit Bylaw;
  • Bylaw No. 4833, an amendment to Bylaw No. 2339 Business Licensing Bylaw;
  • Bylaw No. 4834, an amendment to Bylaw No. 4617 Vehicle For Hire; and
  • Bylaw No. 4835, an amendment to Bylaw No. 2300 Amusement Arcade and Billiard Room Bylaw.
  • Received a presentation on the Environmental Utilities Rate-based Budget and gave first reading to the following bylaws:
    • Bylaw 4836 to amend the Sewer Bylaw;
    • Bylaw 4837 to amend the Water Service Bylaw;
    • Bylaw 4838 to amend the Waste Bylaw;
    • Bylaw 4839 to amend the Electric Utility Bylaw;
    • Bylaw 4840 to amend the Gas Utility Bylaw.

A public hearing for the Electric Utility Bylaw and Gas Utility Bylaw will take place at the December 16 meeting of City Council.

• Approved the sale of seven single family residential lots (Plan 1411496; Blk 10; Lots 42‐48) on Somerside Road SE in the City’s Southlands 6C subdivision on the following key terms and conditions:

a)    Purchase price is $577,500 ($82,500 per lot).

b)    The Properties would be sold “as is, where is”.

c)    The sale of the Properties is using a Real Estate Purchase Contract in a form and content satisfactory to the City Manager and City Solicitor.

City Council approved the ratification of a new collective agreement with Local Union 254 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which covers 56 employees working in a variety of positions in the City’s Utility Distribution Systems Department. The previous agreement expired on December 31, 2023. The new agreement is for a four-year term from January 1, 2024 until December 31, 2027. The agreement includes general wage increases of 2.5 per cent effective January 1, 2024; 2.25 per cent effective January 1, 2025; 2 per cent effective January 1, 2026; and 2.5 per cent effective January 1, 2027.

 

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