Lola Barta

The meeting included a point of privilege to introduce the new intern City Manager, Dr. Glenn Feltham, detailing his extensive background in law, accounting, and post-secondary leadership. Another point of privilege involved reading the City's statement of acknowledgement regarding Treaty Territory in observance of National Indigenous People's Day. The agenda was adopted, and minutes from previous regular and special meetings (June 6, 2022, and June 13, 2022) were adopted. The primary presentation focused on the City Center Area Redevelopment Plan, specifically the North Railway Urban Design Project, which involved collaboration with the University of Calgary School of Architecture. The presentation detailed concepts for transforming the North Railway District using agroforestry principles, unifying disconnected spaces with a central pathway named the "Emerald Brick Road," and expanding edible native plant areas to boost economic, social, and ecological systems. Proposed design interventions included pedestrian prioritization through roadway elevation changes and the introduction of educational and conservation nodes.

The meeting commenced with an acknowledgment of the treaty territory. Key discussions included the adoption of the agenda and the process for handling outstanding council motions, capital projects, policies, and bylaws, which were referred to respective standing committees for review. Counselor announcements covered congratulations for a well-attended Penticton event and a report on a productive meeting with advocates for the homeless to address community challenges and service enhancements. A procedural matter involved the appointment of a Councilor as acting mayor for a specified period due to scheduling conflicts. The open portion of the meeting concluded with motions to adopt various items and a subsequent motion to move into closed session to discuss energy business matters related to economic interests.

The meeting commenced with acknowledgments of treaty territory, followed by procedural items including the adoption of the agenda with several amendments. Key discussion centered on item 12.1, the deferral of the food waste organics composting facility capital funding request to July due to information required from the intermunicipal committee. Councilors also provided announcements, including an update on the 2025 Alberta Chamber of Commerce AGM, the naming of Commerce Way, and congratulations to local students recognized at the Canadawide Science Fair. Following the consent agenda approval, the meeting moved into a public hearing concerning Bylaw 4852 to amend the tri-area intermunicipal development plan. The amendment specifically involved shifting the eastern boundary of the IDP area further west to accommodate changes requested by Cypress County regarding the sand and gravel resource area, while the annexation language remained unchanged. Both Cypress County and the Town of Redcliffe had already approved this amendment.

The meeting began with the organizational session, during which Council unanimously approved the Mayor's appointments of council members to standing and special Committees of Council, as well as to external boards and quasi-judicial tribunals. Following the organizational session, the regular City Council meeting commenced. Key discussions included council member announcements, notably recognizing the City of Medicine Hat Gas Utility for receiving three Canadian Gas Association awards related to safety and customer care. The agenda was then adopted, and minutes from the October 3rd, 2022 regular meeting were amended and adopted. The primary focus then shifted to Public Hearing Item 8.1 concerning Bylaw number 4693, which proposes to amend the land use bylaw to redesignate the former arena lands at 155 Ash Avenue Southeast from Community Services to High Density Mixed Use. Staff presented the rezoning proposal, highlighting its alignment with Council's strategic priority for maximizing infill development and supporting the Municipal Development Plan and River Flats Area Redevelopment Plan goals for urban core density. A public input session raised concerns regarding the allocation of a portion of the site for a road right-of-way impacting access to the Athletic Park; staff clarified that the road access would be formalized but maintained. After closing the public hearing, Council debated the merits of encouraging higher density redevelopment on the Brownfield site, before reading the bylaw a second time.

The City Council meeting included acknowledgments of Indigenous peoples' treaty territory. The agenda was adopted after adding an item arising from closed session business. Counselor announcements addressed shared community concerns regarding the unhoused population during winter months, specifically noting the provincial denial of funding for Safe Link's daytime drop-in center. A new process for a post-council media scrum was announced. During the consent agenda discussion, several items were pulled for comment, including matters related to the Community Vibrancy Advisory Board grants and the Resilient Inclusive Community committee appointment. A significant portion of the meeting involved a public hearing regarding Bylaw 4862 to rezone a vacant parcel at 1064 First Street Southwest from mixed-use district to medium density residential district. Administration presented on policy considerations, growth goals, and provided visual examples of potential medium density development concepts. The Municipal Planning Commission's recommendation to approve the rezoning was noted.