Council Highlights November 2, 2026

Nov 03, 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.

The following items were added to the agenda

Medicine Hat Police Senior Officers Association Collective Agreement
2027 Community Vibrancy Grants

Councillor Mohammed invited residents to apply for current openings with City boards, commissions and working groups. The application process is available on the City’s website and the deadline to apply is November 13.

Councillor Reynish reminded the community that the Royal Canadian Legion's National Poppy Campaign is underway and encouraged support. In addition to the Poppy Campaign, Veterans' Week in Canada is observed from November 5, culminating in Remembrance Day on November 11, and Indigenous Veterans Day is observed on November 8 to honour the military contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. He also pointed to the Remembrance Day Service at the Esplanade on November 11, which will also be livestreamed on the City’s YouTube channel.

Councillor Reynish shared that he, Mayor Clark, and Councillor Varga joined members of the South Alberta Light Horse for the recent Liberation Bell ceremony in Medicine Hat. The Liberation Bell is a historic symbol of gratitude and friendship gifted by the people of Steenbergen, Netherlands, to honour the role of Canadian forces (specifically the South Alberta Light Horse) in the liberation of the Netherlands during World War II. The Bell is rung twice a year; once in May to mark the liberation of Steenbergen and the Netherlands, and in November to mark the liberation of Welberg.

City Council received the following items:

Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes - October 13, 2026
Governance Committee Meeting Minutes - October 14, 2026
Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Minutes - October 15, 2026
Development & Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes - October 15, 2026
Audit Committee Meeting Minutes - October 20, 2026
Budget Committee Meeting Minutes - October 20, 2026
Corporate Services Committee Meeting Minutes - October 22, 2026
Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes - October 26, 2026
Community Vibrancy Advisory Board (CVAB) Meeting Minutes - September 2, 2026
Medicine Hat Resilient and inclusive Community Task Force Meeting Minutes - September 9, 2026
Municipal Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - October 21, 2026
Friends of Medalta 2025 Annual Report
Tri-Annual Management Report for the Period Ending August 31, 2026
Development Permit Decisions - September 14 - October 11, 2026
Public Services Committee Meeting Action Items - October 13, 2026
Governance Committee Meeting Action Items - October 14, 2026
Development & Infrastructure Committee Meeting Action Items - October 15, 2026

The following items were pulled for discussion from reports in the Consent Agenda:

Off-Leash Dog Park Update
Council was advised that Administration continues to evaluate areas on the south area of the city and expects to bring a recommendation forward through Public Services Committee in Q1 of 2027.

Urban Hens
Mayor Clark advised that due to heavy council meeting schedules, this item was delayed until late 2026 or early 2027.

Tri-Annual Management Report
Mayor Clark advised that the item is typically included in the consent agenda, but that a presentation could be scheduled at Council’s request.

Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society

Natasha Carvalho, Executive Director at Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society provided a presentation on Family Violence Prevention Month, outlining the services offered by the group and an update on activity over the past year.

Legal Matter

Council approved the retention of Parlee McLaws LLP to represent City Council and the City of Medicine Hat in the judicial review proceeding before the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, Court File No. 2608 00476.

2027 Utility Distribution Systems Utility Rate Bylaws

Council gave first reading to bylaws:

Bylaw 4896-2026 to amend Bylaw 2489, The Electric Utility Bylaw
Bylaw 4897-2026 to amend Bylaw 2489, the Gas Utility Bylaw

The proposed Utility Bylaw amendments introduce new utility rates for 2027. A public hearing on the rate bylaws will occur at the December 8 meeting of City Council and, if approved, the new rates will take effect on January 1, 2027.

2027 - 2028 Environmental Utility Rates and Bylaws

Council gave first reading to bylaws:

Bylaw 4898-2026 to amend Bylaw 1805, the Waste Bylaw
Bylaw 4899-2026 to amend Bylaw 2379, the Water Service Bylaw
Bylaw 4900-2026 to amend Bylaw 1541, the Sewer Bylaw

The proposed Environmental Utility Bylaw amendments introduce new utility rates for 2027. The rates will be discussed at the November 17 meeting of City Council.

Reschedule and Addition of Regular City Council Meeting - November / December 2026

Council approved a motion to reschedule the November 16, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting to November 17, 2026 and to schedule an additional Regular City Council Meeting on December 8, 2026, to be held in Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m.

Medicine Hat Police Senior Officers Association Collective Agreement

City Council approved a motion ratifying the Memorandum of Agreement reached between the parties concerning a collective agreement for the term of January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027, and providing, inter alia, for the following general wage adjustments:  

3.75% effective January 1, 2025;  
3.75% effective January 1, 2026;  
3.5% effective January 1, 2027.

Bylaw 4904-2026 - Rezoning of 514 South Railway Street

City Council gave first reading of Amending Bylaw 4904-2026, an application to rezone 514 South Railway Street SE from Urban Villages and Corridors (UVC) District to Direct Control Special Use (SU- C) District (Councillor recused himself due to a pecuniary interest. The Mustard Seed has made a rezoning application to change the zoning of 514 South Railway Street SE from Urban Villages and Corridors District to Direct Control Special Use District. The purpose of the application is to obtain the zoning necessary to be able to submit a Development Permit application for a “community shelter and navigation centre”. A public hearing will occur at the December 7, 2026 meeting of Council.

Tax Sale Auction of Defaulted Legal Agreement

City Council approved the minimum sale price (reserve bid) and the sale conditions that apply to the Public Tax Sale Auction in accordance with Section 419 and 426 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), for the following properties:

1115 Brier Park Way NW
1047 Brier Park Way NW
194 Fairchild Street SW

These properties were previously scheduled for the March 2026 Tax Sale Auction but were removed as the owners entered into Tax Arrears Payment Agreements. The owners have defaulted on those agreements, causing the properties to be offered for public auction on November 16, 2026.

2027 Community Vibrancy Grants

City Council approved the distribution of the 2027 Community Vibrancy Grants in the Community Projects and Activities stream as per the Community Vibrancy Advisory Board recommendations as follows:

2027 Community Vibrancy Grants - Community Projects and Activities Stream
Recipient	Project or activity description	Amount awarded
The Larry Godin Classic	Sledge hockey event for adaptive athletes from Alberta and Saskatchewan to compete and have community connection. Sledge hockey was developed in Medicine Hat in part by Larry Godin to create opportunity for these athletes.	$3,000
Library Comic Con No. 4	Fans connect with fellow enthusiasts, meet celebrities and creators, and participate in a wide variety of themed activities.	$3,000
Family Day at Police Point Park	Family Day activities at Police Point Park include complimentary cookies and hot chocolate, roasting hotdogs outdoors, a scavenger hunt, a guided walking tour of the trails and wildlife kit building.	$1,000
Medicine Hat Rotary Music Festival	Annually hosting a two-week event offering young musicians and speech artists the opportunity to showcase their work for family, friends and community, workshopping and adjudication for each discipline.	$5,000
Downtown Days 2027: Food & Beverage Expo & Community Festival	Brings Medicine Hat's unique downtown to life and celebrates through local food and beverages, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, recreation, community partnerships.	$2,500
Park Meadows Estates Christmas Lights	Extensive Christmas light display within the building complex grounds. The people of Medicine Hat and area are invited to tour the central park area to enjoy the light displays.	$2,500
The Mockingbird Lift	A local business gala featuring exclusively Medicine Hat's independent local business community, a silent auction and paired with entertainment in the form of local comedians.	$1,500
Medicine Hat Creative Community Pilot Program	Build a Creative Directory while strengthening Medicine Hat's creative community through connection, professional development, paid creative opportunities, public creative experiences, collaborative creation, and increased visibility for local creatives.	$15,000
Jamaican Day	Celebrate Jamaica's Independence and Emancipation Day for Jamaicans and other Caribbean nationals living in Medicine Hat, along with friends and members of the community.	$2,000

Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes
medicinehat.ca/AgendasMinutes

Live Meetings
youtube.com/CityMedicineHat

The next regular City Council meeting will be held in Council Chambers in City Hall on
Monday, November 17 at 6:30 p.m.