Medicine Hat Minute: Issue 242

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

📅 This Week In Medicine Hat: 📅

• There will be a City Council meeting this afternoon at 3:45 pm. As usual, the meeting begins with a closed session. Away from the public eye, Council will discuss Municipal Inspection Action Items, an Energy Business Matter, the Council Expense Policy, a Medicine Hat College Agreement, and Requests to Council for Dinners, Meetings, Tours and Town Halls.
  
  
• When the meeting opens up to the public, at 6:30 pm, Council will discuss the final decision for the Saamis Solar Park and a proposed capital budget amendment of $131.5 million to fund development and construction. The funding would come partly from the Energy Transition Reserve and partly through debt, contingent on Council approval of a related debenture bylaw. Construction would begin after the City secures a long-term energy sales contract with satisfactory terms and receives siting approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission.
  
  
• Mayor Linnsie Clark says the newly elected Medicine Hat Council, though diverse in backgrounds and personalities, is committed to teamwork and serving the community effectively. Speaking after her State of the City address, she highlighted team-building activities, including an introductory dinner and a trip to the Alberta Municipalities Convention, which helped build trust, camaraderie, and open communication among Councillors. Clark emphasized that while Council members have different lifestyles and perspectives, they share a common goal of contributing positively to the city. She aims for each Councillor to see at least one of their priorities achieved during the term. High-level strategic planning sessions are underway to define Council’s vision, key priorities, and measurable goals, with a final strategic plan expected by late spring or early summer.
  
  
• The City of Medicine Hat will launch its biennial Community Survey from February 2nd to 16th, conducted by IPSOS, to gather resident feedback on municipal services and community priorities. Targeting residents aged 18 and older, the survey uses a randomized telephone sample of 400 people - 95% cellphones and 5% landlines - weighted to reflect age, neighbourhood, and other demographics. Residents who receive a call are encouraged to participate, and an online version will also be available starting February 4th for those who wish to contribute. The survey collects opinions on key issues affecting the community and satisfaction with municipal services, with results benchmarked against other municipalities and tracked over time. City officials say the feedback helps Council and administration make informed, balanced decisions aligned with community priorities. The full report is expected to be released in the spring.
  
  
• The Medicine Hat Public School Division’s Alternative Learning Team (ALT) provides targeted and responsive support to students with complex behavioural, emotional, and communication needs. Established in 2017-18, the team initially focused on elementary schools but now supports students division-wide, offering spaces for reflection, cognition, and ongoing guidance. Last November, the team presented a webinar to the College of Alberta School Superintendents as part of a three-part series on managing aggressive student behaviour, highlighting their impact through increasing referrals, school involvement, and individualized programming. Currently, the ALT manages around 33 referrals annually, involves 90 staff members, and operates in 14 schools. The webinar is available on the MHPSD website.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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