Council Highlights September 21, 2026

Sep 22, 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.

Councillor Reynish announced that annual maintenance work on the Kinsmen Aquatic Park at the Big Marble Go Centre is ahead of schedule and will reopen this Friday, September 25. The last day to enjoy Hill Pool is Thursday, September 24.

City Council received the following items for the corporate record

Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Minutes of September 3, 2026
Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of September 9, 2026
Corporate Services Committee Meeting Minutes of September 10, 2026
Budget Committee Meeting Minutes of September 15, 2026

City Council received the following items for information

Medicine Hat Police Commission Meeting Minutes of May 20, 2026
Medicine Hat Resilient and Inclusive Community Task Force of July 29, 2026
Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Action Items of September 3, 2026
Development and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Action Items of September 9, 2026

Bylaw 4893-2026 - Subdivision And Development Appeal Board

City Council gave second and third reading to approve Bylaw 4893-2026, repealing Subdivision and Development Appeal Board Bylaw 3009. The amendments include:

Updated the Clerk's responsibilities to reflect current administrative practices and appeal administration processes.

Increased the number of SDAB members to improve member availability and support timely hearing scheduling.

Modernized hearing procedures by aligning them with current procedural bylaw practices and governance standards.

Authorized the recording and publication of SDAB hearings on the City’s YouTube channel to enhance transparency and public access.

Clarified the duties and responsibilities of the Chair to provide greater direction for managing hearings and Board proceedings.

Updated terminology throughout the Bylaw to reflect current legislative language and modern municipal practices.

Added clarifying details regarding the selection and formation of panels.

Heron Crossing Multi-use Trail

City Council approved a motion directing Administration to change the expected report date to Q4 2026 from Q3 2026 and to further explore opportunities for external funding and cost-sharing opportunities and integrate them into the options presented.

Riverside Corridor Enhancement Project – Design Option Approval

Managing Director Pat Bohan and Interim Director Sandeep Pareek brought forward three design options for 3rd Street North for City Council’s consideration. Of the three options for Council’s consideration, one was to proceed with the 50% design as originally presented during the latest round of engagement and two others were included to reflect what was heard during the public engagement. The three options for consideration included:

Option 1: Rebuild the road to the existing configuration. This option would reconstruct the road generally to the existing configuration with curb extensions at seven (7) critical locations and no multi-use trail along the corridor. The roadway width would vary along the corridor as the existing road does and would maintain the existing roadway configuration. Option 1 is recommended because it addresses the immediate pavement and underground infrastructure renewal needs while providing targeted pedestrian safety improvements and minimizing changes to the existing transportation function of the corridor.

Option 2: Revise the design to meet the City’s collector road standard. This option would revise the design to meet the City’s collector road standard as identified in the Municipal Servicing Standards Manual. The roadway section would include two 3.5 m driving lanes, one in each direction, two 2.7 m parking lanes, one on each side of the road and sidewalks on both sides. Curb extensions would remain at critical pedestrian crossing locations and turning radii would be reviewed to accommodate turning movements at intersections. Option 2 provides greater alignment with the City's collector road standard and long-term transportation objectives but requires a reduction in roadway width that is not necessary to address the identified infrastructure deficiencies or implement the proposed pedestrian safety improvements.

Option 3: Proceed with the 50% design as presented. This option includes two 3.3 m driving lanes, one in each direction, two 2.4 m parking lanes, one on each side of the road, a 2.4 m to 3.0 m multi-use path, curb extensions at critical pedestrian crossing locations and increased turning radii at intersections. The resulting roadway width is approximately 11.9 m (curb to curb). Option 3 provides the greatest advancement of active transportation and long-term transportation objectives but represents the greatest change from the existing corridor configuration and has generated greater concerns through public engagement.

City Council approved a motion directing Administration to proceed with Option 1 and maintain existing road width with curb extensions at seven (7) critical locations, and not to construct the Multi-Use-Trail.

City Council defeated an amending motion directing Administration to put in place the temporary delineators by October 1, 2026 and report back to Council.

Amendments to the Public Member Appointments Policy 0187

City Council approved amendments to the Public Member Appointments Policy 0187. The amendments include:

Update to Section 1.2 to remove reference to Bylaw 3009 and add reference to Bylaw 4893-2026 – Subdivision and Development Appeal Board Bylaw.

Update references to the “Administrative and Legislative Review Committee” to read “Governance Committee.”

Updates to sections 3.9 and 4.4 to increase clarity surrounding attendance expectations and termination of appointments.

Tax Cancellation and Refund Request

City Council approved a motion denying any form of municipal tax cancellations for the property at 623 4 Street SE for the 2016 - 2025 taxation years, as the property owner did not file assessment appeals within the legislated appeal period for any of the years in question.

2027-2028 Budget Presentation

Lola Barta, Director of Finance provided a presentation for Council’s information using the following key budget assumptions:

Property taxes of 4.65% (2027) and 4.40% (2028);

Assessment growth of 0.5% (2027) and 0.75% (2028);

Fees and charges at 3%; and,

0% inflation.

Key points of the presentation included:

A projected budget gap of $7.5M (2027) and $6.8M (2028) to be funded by reserves.

An 8% tax rate would be required to balance the budget in 2027 and 2028.

Administration recommends cost pressure spending of $10.04M.

Recommended one-time cost pressure spending of $1.76 M.

Recommended one-time strategic operating initiatives spending of $6.90M (2027) and $1.34M (2028) as well as ongoing costs of $49K.

Recommended sustaining capital budget funding of $126.7M (2027) and $86.2M (2028).

Recommended strategic capital requests of $114.2M (2027) and $0.8 (2028).

Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes
medicinehat.ca/AgendasMinutes

Live Meetings
youtube.com/CityMedicineHat

Next City Council meeting to be held in Council Chambers in City Hall on
Monday, October 5 at 6:30 p.m.