Medicine Hat Minute: Issue 204

Medicine Hat Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Medicine Hat politics

📅 This Week In Medicine Hat: 📅

• The Public Services Committee will meet this afternoon at 3:45 pm. The Committee will receive the Destination Marketing Organization’s 2024 Annual Report. The report notes that Tourism Medicine Hat received $495,970 in core funding from the City of Medicine Hat in 2024 through a fee-for-service contract, along with an additional $80,000 toward the Medicine Hat Sport and Event Council. The organization itself invested over $1.2 million into tourism initiatives, including a record-breaking year for the Sunshine Trolley, which hosted 266 tours and served over 2,300 students through school programs. The trolley also supported new offerings like ghost tours and holiday-themed rides, all of which sold out. Marketing efforts proved highly efficient, with a 25% reduction in display ad spending and a 202% increase in Google ad conversions, while maintaining a low cost-per-click well below industry averages. Accommodation indicators were strong, with hotel occupancy rates climbing to 68%, up nine points from 2023, and an average daily room rate of $128.31. Tourism Medicine Hat also partnered on larger initiatives like Savour Alberta’s South, promoting local food and producers across southern Alberta. The organization's website saw a growing share of organic and direct traffic, and the Visitor Information Centre welcomed 16,400 visitors from 44 US states and 45 countries.
  
  
• The City granted The Mustard Seed a 120-day extension to continue operating its ghost kitchen, supporting meals for shelter guests and its new mobile outreach van. This follows the closure of its Community Impact Centre, which had previously served over 100 vulnerable residents with meals and vital daytime services. While The Mustard Seed had requested an indefinite permit, the City opted for a limited extension, providing short-term operational stability. Several residents raised concerns at a meeting of the Municipal Planning Commission, citing increased violence near the shelter, though others acknowledged recent improvements in neighbourhood safety. One resident noted the past two months had been the quietest in years, praising the shift to a kitchen-only model. The organization is still searching for a permanent unified location with the help of City officials and provincial partners.
  
  
• Medicine Hat is exploring new strategies to address its housing shortage, including promoting land and development opportunities to external construction firms. This move comes after a market appraisal showed a potential shortfall of 900 housing units by 2046 due to low growth rates. The City is considering offering grants and creating policies to encourage the development of more affordable housing and multi-family units. Despite ongoing construction activity, the City has struggled to meet demand, particularly in the $400,000 price range. Local builders have cited inflation, high interest rates, and consumer uncertainty as barriers to increasing construction. The City is also looking into reusing underutilized land for redevelopment, particularly in mature neighbourhoods.
  
  
• The City is considering contracting out its payroll services to improve efficiency and potentially reduce costs, though no layoffs are expected. The City's Human Resources Director emphasized that the personnel count would remain unchanged, though job duties could shift. A request for proposals has been issued to private-sector payroll companies, with submissions due next week. Currently, the City manages payroll for 1,261 employees across various unions and provides services for the Medicine Hat Public Library.
  
  
• Council debated a policy that would allow Councillors to hire their own legal representation at the City's expense if they face legal challenges. The discussion was prompted by a potential lawsuit from a resident. While Councillor Shila Sharps and Mayor Linnsie Clark pushed for a fast-tracked decision on independent legal fees, other Council members voted to send the issue to a Committee for further review. Concerns were raised about the need for clearer guidelines on indemnification and limits on legal fees. The issue is set to be reviewed by the Administrative and Legislative Committee in mid-May, with a potential return to Council later in the summer.
  
  
• The Mayors of Medicine Hat and Steenbergen signed a proclamation of friendship to honour the 80th anniversary of the Dutch city's liberation by Canadian soldiers, including the South Alberta Regiment. Steenbergen Mayor Ruud Vendenbelt emphasized the importance of remembering the past through education and connection, particularly for younger generations. The declaration was marked with a ceremony at City Hall and a bell-ringing event at Veterans’ Memorial Park, where one of three commemorative bells gifted by Steenbergen now resides. The bells, located in Medicine Hat, Steenbergen, and North Bay, will be rung in unison twice a year to symbolize shared history and peace. Local students participated by creating postcards about the liberation, which were sent back to the Netherlands. Mayor Linnsie Clark expressed gratitude for the renewed connection, calling it a meaningful reminder of the sacrifices made and the need to prevent future conflict.

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