Council Highlights October 19, 2026

Oct 20, 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.

Agenda

Mayor Clark advised that the annual Organizational Meeting would take place prior to the regular agenda and opened the meeting.

Councillor Reynish acknowledged the tragedy at CFB Wainwright over the weekend and offered condolences to the family and friends of those who died or were injured. Mayor Clark asked for a moment of silence.

City Council approved the schedule for Deputy and Acting Mayor. This schedule is necessary to ensure adequate coverage is in place during times when the Mayor is unavailable.

City Council approved the Council and Committee meeting schedule for 2027.

City Council approved the appointments to standing committees, boards and commissions for the period of October 19, 2026 to October 18, 2027 as follows:

Standing Committees

Audit Committee

Councillor T. Clugston, Chair
Councillor C. Phaff, Vice Chair
Councillor B. Cocks
Mayor Clark

Budget Committee

Councillor C. Phaff, Chair
Councillor S. Young, Vice Chair
Councillor Y. Mohammed
Mayor Clark

Corporate Services Committee

Councillor B. Cocks, Chair
Councillor B. Varga, Vice Chair
Councillor D. Reynish
Mayor Clark

Development and Infrastructure Committee

Councillor Y. Mohammed, Chair
Councillor D. Reynish, Vice Chair
Councillor S. Young
Mayor Clark

Emergency Advisory Committee

(Appointed per s.7 of Bylaw 4319)

Mayor Clark, Chair
Chair of Public Services Committee, Vice Chair
Chair of Energy, Land and Environment Committee

Energy, Land and Environment Committee

Councillor T. Clugston, Chair
Councillor B. Cocks, Vice Chair
Councillor C. Phaff
Mayor Clark

Governance Committee

Councillor Y. Mohammed, Chair
Councillor D. Reynish, Vice Chair
Councillor C. Hellman
Mayor Clark

Public Services Committee

Councillor C. Hellman, Chair
Councillor S. Young, Vice Chair
Councillor B. Varga
Mayor Clark

Special Appointments

Civic Functions

Councillor D. Reynish

Community Futures Entre-Corp

Mayor Clark

Highway 3 Twinning Association

Councillor B. Varga

Inter-City Forum on Social Policy

Councillor C. Hellman

Regional Drainage Committee

Councillor B. Varga

Southeast Alberta Rural Renewal Steering Committee

Councillor Y. Mohammed

City Representation on other Boards, Committees and Commissions

Chamber of Commerce

Councillor C. Phaff

Cypress View Foundation

Councillor D. Reynish
Councillor S. Young

Friends of Medalta

Councillor C. Phaff

Intermunicipal Committee

Mayor Clark
Councillor Y. Mohammed

Medicine Hat Community Housing Society

Councillor C. Hellman

Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede

Councillor C. Phaff

Medicine Hat Public Library

Councillor D. Reynish

Municipal Names Committee

Councillor D. Reynish

Municipal Planning Commission

Councillor T. Clugston
Councillor B. Varga

Palliser Economic Partnership

Councillor Y. Mohammed
Councillor C. Phaff

Physician Attraction and Retention

Mayor Clark
Councillor Y. Mohammed

Police Commission

Councillor T. Clugston
Councillor B. Cocks

Resilient and Inclusive Community Task Force

Councillor C. Hellman
Councillor S. Young

Shortgrass Library System

Councillor D. Reynish

Southeast Alberta Economic Opportunity Advocacy Committee

Mayor Clark

Subdivision and Development Appeal Board

Councillor B. Cocks
Councillor C. Hellman

Tourism Medicine Hat Committee

Councillor B. Varga
Councillor S. Young

Mayor Clark adjourned the Organization Meeting and called the Regular City Council meeting to order.

Councillor Reynish pointed to local Halloween attractions and encouraged the community to take part.

City Council received the following items for the corporate record

Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes of September 28, 2026
Regular Medicine Hat City Council Meeting of Monday, October 19, 2026
Development & Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of October 1, 2026
Police Commission Meeting Minutes of June 17, 2026

City Council received the following items for information

Development & Infrastructure Committee Meeting Action Items - October 1, 2026

Bylaw 4890-2026 - Rezoning of 22 Sierra Green SW

Council gave first reading of the bylaw on September 8, 2026. The proposed bylaw would allow the applicant to consolidate the site with the neighbouring lot, allowing for the development of row housing comprising 4 units. This public hearing initially opened during the October 5 meeting of City Council and was recessed to gather further information. The hearing reconvened and Merrick Brown, Manager of Organizational Development (formerly in emergency management) provided an update to Council advising that the proposed development would not have an impact on emergency egress from Saamis Heights. He also confirmed that the current emergency egress includes plastic bollards that are easily bypassed during an emergency, and that Parks and Recreation can ensure no issues with snow piling up at the egress as there is no longer a gate in place. Following the public hearing, City Council approved Bylaw 4890-2026.

Arising from the discussion, City Council approved a motion directing Administration to explore options for a permanent secondary roadway in Saamis Heights.

City Manager Performance Evaluation Policy

City Council approved City Manager Performance Evaluation Policy 8053-2026 as presented. Currently the City Manager is evaluated annually as per Municipal Government Act requirements, however this new policy is intended to formalize the City Manager evaluation process to ensure a consistent, effective framework is in place across City Council terms.

Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes
medicinehat.ca/AgendasMinutes

Live Meetings
youtube.com/CityMedicineHat

Council will meet for closed budget sessions on Monday, October 26 and Tuesday, October 27.

The next regular City Council meeting will be held in Council Chambers in City Hall on
Monday, November 2 at 6:30 p.m.