Medicine Hat Minute: Environmental Framework, Vibrancy Grants, and Mayoral Powers Limited
Medicine Hat Minute: Environmental Framework, Vibrancy Grants, and Mayoral Powers Limited
Medicine Hat Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Medicine Hat politics
This Week In Medicine Hat:
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The Public Services Committee will meet today at 3:45 pm. The Committee will assess the recommendations of the Community Vibrancy Advisory Board with respect to allocating the Community Vibrancy Grants. The Board has proposed allocating $800 to SafeLink Alberta for a community BBQ on International Harm Reduction Day, $4,000 to the Medicine Hat Drug Coalition for an International Overdose Awareness Day event, and $3,000 to the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce for a Chili Cookoff. The Managing Director will provide a Service Area Update that includes Parks maintenance, a low income transit pass funding status update, and information about downtown washrooms.
- This evening, at 6:30 pm, there will be a Council Committee of the Whole meeting. A portion of this meeting will be closed to the public for a discussion about the City’s Environmental Framework. On Thursday, the Corporate Services Committee will meet at 4:00 pm. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.
- The Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta is looking for volunteers to join their Board of Directors for a three-year term, with the possibility of another term. Board Members are asked to contribute roughly five volunteer hours a month, lending their skills and expertise to furthering the foundation's goals of enhancing the quality of life in Southeastern Alberta through endowments, grants, and community leadership initiatives. Applications are open until April 15th.
Last Week In Medicine Hat:
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Council imposed significant restrictions on Mayor Linnsie Clark's powers and duties after a report found that she violated Code of Conduct rules during a meeting with the City Manager last year. The sanctions include a 50% pay cut, a prohibition from chairing meetings or interacting with City staff outside Council sessions, and having her communication with the City Manager limited to email only. Clark said that she will be seeking a legal opinion. She ran on a platform that included dealing with administrative overreach, and her Code of Conduct “violation” was based on a fiery exchange with Administration in which Clark asserted that City departments had been restructured without proper Council approval. Whether you agree with the Mayor on most issues or not, it’s extremely concerning that arguing with an unelected Administrator can result in these kinds of disproportionate consequences. We look forward to the report being released so the full story can be assessed.
- City Hall has implemented a new social media policy focused on enhancing account security. The policy updates the guidelines set in 2011 and include measures to prevent hacking and protect against reputational risks. The policy also addresses potential conflicts and expectations regarding employee conduct on social media platforms, emphasizing the balance between personal use and representing the City.
- The Medicine Hat Police Service announced a new approach to addressing homeless encampments. The Police will be part of a new initiative - the Proactive Engagement and Community Enhancement Team (PEACE), a collaboration with the fire department, Alberta Health Services, and local agencies. This pilot project takes a holistic approach to encampments and aims to provide housing and resources while recording metrics to measure success. The Police Chief noted that the PEACE project will not incur additional costs to taxpayers, as it repurposes existing resources for a more coordinated response. The initiative will be monitored for effectiveness over time.
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