Council Highlights September 5 2023

City Council approved a motion to move items 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 to the top of the agenda.

Under new business, City Council approved a Cost Pressure Relief Program as amended. The program includes the following:

a)   $200 per month for the months of August, September, October and November be applied to each Residential Utility Account holder, including residential units represented by condo associations and other housing-based associations as a community cost pressure relief program, commencing with a double initial payment on the billing cycle of September 18, 2023;

b)    $500 per month for the months of August, September, October and November be applied to each Small/Medium Business Utility Account holder as a community cost pressure relief program, commencing with a double initial payment on the billing cycle of September 18, 2023; and

c)    the disconnect notice fee be waived between June 1, 2023 and September 18, 2023, inclusive of both days with credits to be provided for the months already billed and included on the customer's next bill; and

d)    the late fees be waived between June between June 1, 2023 and September 18, 2023, inclusive of both days with credits to be provided for the months already billed and included on the customer's next bill; and

e)    the NSF (non- sufficient funds) fees be waived between June 1, 2023 and September 18, 2023, inclusive of both days, with credits to be provided for the months already billed and included on the customer's next bill; and

f)     the total cost of $33.2 M which includes community cost pressure relief program and waived fees be funded through a budget amendment from City Financial Reserves.

Under new business, City Council approved a recommendation directing staff to:

a) Deliver a draft utility bylaw amendment for Council’s consideration that establishes interim electricity rates based on ‘best of market’ prices available in the province; and

b) Convene an independent (third‐party) review of the City of Medicine Hat (CMH) COMCO business unit to confirm overall strategic approach to ensure best value for the community. 

Under new business, City Council approved the 2023 Community Spirit Award Recipients as follows:

Arts/Culture: Robert Pape

Civic Pride: Willy and Cindy Taillon

Community Inclusion: Kristen Sept

Compassion: Kym Porter, George Kovalev

Sports/Recreation: James and Coreen Sheardown

Volunteerism: Brenda Taylor, Kendra Albrecht, Terry Noble

Heart of Medicine Hat: Donna Serr

Change Maker: Karen Saffran

The recipients will be recognized at a ceremony at the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre on October 18, 2023.

City Council adopted the minutes of the following meetings into the corporate record:

• Corporate Services Committee of August 24, 2023
• Administrative and Legislative Review Committee of August 28, 2023
• Audit Committee of August 28, 2023
• Council Committee of the Whole of August 28, 2023
• Public Services Committee of August 28, 2023

Council received the following items for information:

• Property Tax Exemption
• Urban Forestry
• Community Vibrancy Board meeting minutes of June 28, 2023
• Facilities for the Future
• Corporate Services Committee Meeting Outstanding Items
• Public Services Committee Meeting Outstanding Items

Under new business, City Council passed Bylaw 4737, a bylaw of the City of Medicine Hat to amend the Municipal Police Commission Bylaw. The amendments will align the Police Commission Bylaw with the Province’s recently amended Police Act and with the City’s new Procedure Bylaw, including additional wording related to Council’s financial oversight of the Municipal Police Commission for the City of Medicine Hat and adopting a requirement for Council to consider the cultural diversity of the community when appointing members to the commission.

City Council approved that Kingsgate Legal be retained to perform the role of investigator under the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw on an as-needed basis, to be funded from the Council contingency fund.

Through Audit Committee, City Council approved a recommendation to reverse the April 17, 2023 reappointment of KPMG LLP for the City of Medicine Hat annual audit engagement for the 2023 financial statements; and approve the appointment of MNP LLP for the City of Medicine Hat annual audit engagement for the 2023 financial statements.