Tale of Two Cities: Council to Debate Pay Raise While Addressing Behavioural Shortfalls

Council will be introducing a rezoning bylaw to see a union hall on the outskirts of the city be allowed to host a new Mustard Seed shelter during Tuesday’s meeting. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times as Tuesday’s city council meeting will be tackling controversial issues as well as a substantial pay bump as the countdown to the next election in seven weeks ticks closer.

Rezoning of a union hall for a new shelter location, council pay, a ministerial order on respectful workplace training, the future of the Transportation Master Plan and a multi-million-dollar request for the Exhibition & Stampede are on the agenda.

Tuesday’s list of business will also deal with the release of senior administration expenses, two additional council meetings to be held in September, a bylaw amendment for an empty First Street lot and a presentation on a regional composting initiative.

Rounding out the agenda is council appointments and the Community Spirit Award selections.

The rezoning of the Medicine Hat Trades and Labour Society Hall is being proposed to be shifted from Highway Commercial to Direct Control.

Council is being asked to pass first reading Tuesday of a bylaw to allow that move with the issue expected to be heard for the first time by the Municipal Planning Commission on Sept. 17.

A public hearing on the rezoning is scheduled for Oct. 6 during second and third reading of the bylaw.

The end of pedestrian access to the proposed new Mustard Seed shelter location which is more than a half kilometre away from the site. The nearest bus stop is approximately two kilometres away. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

The issue of council’s pay which has been delayed by a year due to, “operational issues,” will see a pay boost to the city’s elected officials if they accept administrative staff’s recommendation to do so.

This council has seen its pay rise 16.5 per cent over its term tied to the city’s renumeration policy indexing pay to inflation and raising current base pay for part-time councillors to $52,977 from $ 45,476. Staff are recommending a further 13.7 per cent pay boost to councillors brining their base wage to $60,236 but changing annualized inflation indexing to begin in the second year of the term.

The mayor’s wages have also seen a 16.5 per cent boost over the term from $ 136,639 to $159,176 but no further raise is being proposed outside the inflation indexed salary.

Council failed to adhere to the city’s renumeration policy requirement to deal with elected officials pay by the end of the third year of the term.

Those pay rises come following a critical provincially led municipal inspection report on city operations which includes a ministerial order requiring respectful workplace training for elected officials and senior staff.

The issue of that training is also on the agenda with staff recommending a consultant be brought in with the objective of helping council address disrespectful behaviour and communications. Other objectives of the training for council will be to assist them with self-regulation and awareness among other goals.

The Transportation Master Plan which was first proposed as part of budget discussions in late-2022 is also up for debate.

The plan, which initially had a $500,000 earmarked to it as part of the 2023-2024 budget, was introduced in early 2025 prompting vocal criticism from Hatters.

A standing-room only crowd of more than 250 Hatters jam into city hall chambers during July’s non-statutory public hearing on the proposed Transportation Master Plan. (Photo Kelly Allard)

Staff recommending the plan be reintroduced in early 2026 and are indicating a budget amendment may be required as the consultant work on the project has been completed.

Council will also be possibly deciding on how senior administration expenses are reported.

A verbal update on the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede’s multi-million-dollar request to build a new grandstand as well as a presentation by Redcliff Mayor Dwight Kilpatrick will also be heard on Tuesday.

Council will also be voting on holding two additional meetings to be held on Sept. 17 and 29.

Tuesday’s council meeting will be held at 6:30 pm at city hall.