Medicine Hat Minute: Issue 223

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

📅 This Week In Medicine Hat: 📅

• There will be a Special City Council meeting this afternoon at 5:00 pm to discuss a “personnel matter.” No further details are provided and this meeting is not open to the public.
  
  
• City Council has voted to raise Councillor salaries from $52,977 to $60,236, effective at the start of the next term on November 3rd, while keeping the Mayor’s salary at $159,176. Councillors Andy McGrogan and Darren Hirsch opposed the increase, with McGrogan arguing that voting on their own pay was unfair and uncomfortable, especially since members already receive consumer price index (CPI)-based raises during their term. Supporters like Councillors Shila Sharps and Cassie Hider said it was better for the current Council to set the adjustment rather than forcing new Councillors to approve their own raise immediately after taking office. Sharps emphasized that the pay level remains in the middle range compared to other municipalities and framed the decision as setting the right tone for the incoming Council. Hider added that the role is not part-time and requires significant commitment, stressing that Councillors deserve recognition for their work. 
  
  
• Council also approved the sale of a 2.73-acre parcel at 21 Ranchlands Boulevard NE for $655,000 to Span West Building Corporation, which plans to construct two four-story condominium buildings with a total of 48 units. The land, listed since 2016 with no successful sales until now, was sold below its original asking price of $890,500. The project supports the City’s housing diversification goals and aligns with its Land and Real Estate Strategy by turning underused City-owned land into increasing medium-density housing options. Councillor Alison Van Dyke raised concerns about the lack of amenities in the area, but City staff confirmed other nearby parcels could be rezoned to allow for commercial use in the future. The development is expected to generate between $80,000 and $100,000 annually in property taxes once completed. Alongside the approval, Council also rescinded its old Acquisition and Sales Policy in favour of a new Land and Real Estate Policy designed to streamline and modernize land management practices.
  
  
• Medicine Hat’s upcoming municipal election will feature the largest slate of candidates in the City’s history, with 37 individuals now running for Council, surpassing the previous record of 36 set in 2001. Voters will choose among six mayoral hopefuls and 19 School Trustee candidates across both the Catholic and Public divisions. The nomination window remains open until noon today, meaning the ballot could grow even longer. Advance voting begins October 4th. Election Day is October 20th, but official results will not be finalized until at least October 21st due to provincial hand-counting rules. This record-breaking election is set to test both voter engagement and the City’s election infrastructure.
  
  
• Speaking of the election, Councillor Alison Van Dyke has announced her bid for re-election, emphasizing her desire to build on the policies and initiatives she helped advance during her first term. She highlighted achievements such as creating the City’s first environmental framework, developing the Community Wellbeing Plan, expanding the Fair Entry Program to cover public transit, and lifting the downtown skateboarding ban. Van Dyke said she is proud that many of the priorities she campaigned on in 2021 have now been realized, and she wants to continue focusing on equity, fairness, and long-term solutions for the community. Looking ahead, she hopes to balance economic development with quality-of-life initiatives to make Medicine Hat vibrant and competitive with other municipalities. She also values the City’s unique involvement in areas like energy, the airport, and economic development, which she says has broadened her understanding of local issues. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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