Medicine Hat Council to Hold Final Meeting Before Election

The Medicine Hat City Council will hold what is expected to be its last meeting before the fall civic election on Monday. The meeting will take place in the council chambers, where several important topics will be discussed and possibly decided.

One of the key items on the agenda is an amendment to the procedure bylaw. If given its second and third readings, the bylaw will officially change the start time of council meetings to 4 p.m., followed by a closed session. Currently, meetings can go on until 11 p.m., but the proposed change would shorten the latest possible end time to 10 p.m.

Another important issue for discussion involves legal representation and indemnification for council members and city employees. Four options will be presented to council, and the proposed changes aim to make sure only the council has the final authority to approve or deny any discretionary payments for legal fees or indemnification.
The goal of this change is to reduce risks related to confidentiality, reputation, and personal stress by limiting how many people are aware of sensitive legal matters involving city staff or council members.

Council will also talk about the creation of a new non-profit operating grant program. If the plan is approved, the existing non-profit capital grant review committee will be asked to design the new program. This committee will be responsible for setting eligibility rules, scoring methods, and outcome measures, ensuring they match the city’s current capital grant system.

Another topic up for review is the public feedback collected on two community projects — a new outdoor pool on the city’s south side and new sports fields in Brier Run. Council will look at the survey results and decide on the next steps.
The plan includes an approval of $3.9 million in funding from capital reserves for the preliminary design of these projects. According to official documents, the developments could lead to a 3.5 to 5 percent increase in property taxes if no outside funding sources are found to help cover the costs.

The meeting agenda also includes a recommendation to establish the Southeast Alberta Economic Opportunity Advocacy Committee. This new committee will focus on economic growth and cooperation among municipalities in the region. One elected official will be appointed to represent Medicine Hat on this advocacy committee at the next municipal organizational meeting.

This step is part of a five-year regional initiative started in 2024 that includes five other municipalities: the Village of Foremost, Town of Bow Island, Town of Redcliff, County of Forty Mile, and Cypress County. Together, they created the Southeast Alberta Economic Strategy and Action Plan.
A regional steering committee, with one representative from each municipality, will oversee how the plan is put into action. The goal is to promote regional unity and support shared economic priorities.

Council members will also consider a budget increase of $107,571 for 2026 to adjust for the mayor and council salary raises. This funding will come from operating reserves. Earlier, on September 15, 2025, council had approved an increase in salaries — council members’ pay rising from $52,977 to $60,236, while the mayor’s salary remains at $159,176. The adjustment is needed because the 2026 budget did not fully reflect these new amounts.

Another proposal on the agenda is an update to the City of Medicine Hat whistleblower policy, brought forward by Councillor Shila Sharps. The whistleblower policy allows employees and volunteers to report wrongdoing safely.
Four key updates are being proposed:

• Extending eligibility to include contractors, suppliers, and members of the public.

• Adding an independent third-party reporting system that allows anonymous submissions.

• Strengthening anti-retaliation protections for those who report wrongdoing.

• Providing an annual anonymized report to the council summarizing the number and types of disclosures made.

If passed, the enhanced policy would be presented to the new council before the end of this year.

Another notable item on the agenda involves reimbursing Mayor Clark’s legal fees. The council will decide whether to approve payment of $59,675.68 for legal expenses related to a Code of Conduct Complaint and a judicial review.
Previously, during the August 18, 2025, meeting, the council had rejected the full payment request of $76,017.62, agreeing to pay only $5,841.94. If the current recommendation passes, the mayor would still be short about $10,500, which covers the cost of a legal opinion she sought on whether City Manager Ann Mitchell had the authority to reorganize departments without council’s approval.

Overall, the upcoming meeting will deal with a wide range of topics — from adjusting meeting schedules and salaries to creating new programs that support non-profits and regional economic development. It marks an important session as it could be the final council meeting before voters head to the polls this fall.