Council Highlights October 17 2022

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.

Prior to the regular City Council meeting, Mayor Clark called the annual Organizational Meeting to order. City Council approved the following appointments to City of Medicine Hat standing/special committees external boards and quasi-judicial tribunals with terms effective October 17, 2022 to October 23, 2023 as follows:

APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES REPORTING DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL

Administrative & Legislative Review Committee
Councillor A. McGrogan, Chair
Councillor A. Knodel, Vice-Chair
Councillor R. Robins
Audit Committee
Councillor D. Hirsch, Chair
Councillor S. Sharps, Vice-Chair
Councillor A. McGrogan
Corporate Services Committee
Councillor R. Dumanowski, Chair
Councillor S. Sharps, Vice-Chair
Councillor C. Hider
Emergency Advisory Committee
Mayor L. Clark
Councillor R. Robins
Councillor A. Van Dyke
Energy & Infrastructure Committee
Councillor A. Van Dyke, Chair
Councillor R. Dumanowski, Vice-Chair
Councillor A. McGrogan
Public Services Committee
Councillor R. Robins, Chair
Councillor A. Van Dyke, Vice-Chair
Councillor A. Knodel
Economic, Land and Strategic Planning and Development Committee
Councillor A. Van Dyke, Chair
Councillor R. Dumanowski, Vice-Chair
Councillor A. McGrogan

SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS

Civic Functions
Councillor A. Knodel
Community Futures Entre-Corp
B. Mastel, Managing Director Public Services
Council Employee Committee
Councillor S. Sharps, Chair
Councillor R. Robins, Vice Chair
Councillor A. Van Dyke
Highway 3 Twinning Assoc.
Councillor D. Hirsch
Inter-City Forum on Social Planning
Councillor A. Van Dyke
Regional Drainage Committee
Councillor A. Van Dyke

CITY REPRESENTATION ON OTHER BOARDS, COMMITTEES & COMMISSIONS

Chamber of Commerce
Councillor A. Knodel
Cypress View Foundation
Councillor D. Hirsch
Councillor R. Robins
Friends of Medalta
Councillor A. Knodel
Intermunicipal Committee
Councillor R. Dumanowski
Councillor S. Sharps
Medicine Hat Community Housing Society
Councillor R. Robins
Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede
Councillor A. McGrogan
Medicine Hat Public Library
Councillor R. Robins
Municipal Names Committee
Councillor C. Hider
Municipal Planning Commission
Councillor D. Hirsch, Chair
Councillor A. McGrogan
Palliser Economic Partnership
Councillor C. Hider
Councillor S. Sharps
Police Commission
Councillor A. Van Dyke
Councillor S. Sharps
Shortgrass Library System
Councillor A. Van Dyke
Subdivision & Development Appeal Board
Councillor C. Hider
Councillor R. Dumanowski, Alternate
Tourism Medicine Hat Committee
Councillor C. Hider

Councillor Van Dyke offered congratulations to the City of Medicine Hat Gas Utility as the recipients of three awards in recognition of their safety and customer service. The awards from The Canadian Gas Association’s Safety Awards for Excellence included the Corporate Safety Award for Employee Safety in recognition of the City’s perfect employee safety scores, and the Corporate Safety Award for Vehicular Safety recognizing the organization’s track record for reducing vehicle damages over the past year. The City also received the Michael Mulcahy Award for Excellence and Innovation in Customer Care and Service for significant achievement by members of the natural gas delivery industry in the area of innovation and service to natural gas customers.

Robert Sissons, Manager of Planning and Development Services, introduced Bylaw #4693, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to redesignate 155 Ash Avenue SE from Community Services to High-Density Mixed Use. The site is the decommissioned Medicine Hat Arena and a parking lot and is a key location for future redevelopment as envisioned in numerous statutory plans. First reading of the bylaw was passed at the October 3, 2022 meeting of City Council. Following a public hearing, City Council approved Bylaw #4693.

Robert Sissons, Manager of Planning and Development Services, introduced Bylaw #4713, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to redesignate 1752 10 Avenue SW as General Industrial District. The site is currently zoned as Airport District and has conditional subdivision approval. The intent is to consolidate with the adjacent parcel and a condition of the subdivision approval is rezoning the site to be consistent with said parcel. First reading of the bylaw was passed at the October 3, 2022 meeting of City Council. Following a public hearing, City Council passed Bylaw #4713.

City Council adopted the minutes of the Audit Committee Meeting of October 4, 2022 into the corporate record.

City Council adopted the minutes of the Energy and Infrastructure Committee Meeting of October 6, 2022 into the corporate record.

City Council adopted the minutes of the Public Services Committee Meeting of October 11, 2022 into the corporate record.

Under new business, City Council approved a recommendation that Council direct Administration to
submit a community designation application on behalf of the City of Medicine Hat, allocate resources, work with economic development partners, and pursue potential grant funding avenues. The opportunity to become a designated community for the Rural Renewal Stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is meant to support the attraction and retention of newcomers through a community-driven approach.

Under new business, Council approved a recommendation for the City of Medicine Hat to participate in the Strong Towns 2023 Community Action Lab, which requires City Administration to enter into an agreement to the satisfaction of the City Manager and City Solicitor with the Strong Towns organization and the approval of a major operating expense in the amount of $212,000 with the funding source from capital reserve (non-repayable council contingency).

Under new business, City Council approved a recommendation to approve a budget amendment for $168,000 to allow for the purchase 817 – 2 Street SE. The property is the only lot on the 800 block of 2nd Street SE that the City does not currently own and acquiring the lot would widen the future development/use opportunities and offer a more orderly (and accelerated) potential for highest and best use across the full block of lots.

Next City Council meeting to be held in Council Chambers in City Hall on Monday, November 7, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.

 

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