Council tonight - Chickens, Raises, Veteran Tribute
Medicine Hat Council Faces Political Dilemma Over Backyard Chickens, Pay Raises, and Transparency Reforms
MEDICINE HAT – A diverse range of issues, from urban agriculture to major questions of government transparency, is set before Medicine Hat City Council at its public meeting tonight, Monday, September 15, with a vote on their own pay raises posing a particularly thorny political problem.
The meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, will feature a delegation and several key votes.
Urban Hens Take Centre Stage
A presentation from delegate Kristen Mann will kick off the public discussion on the topic of allowing residents to keep urban hens within city limits.
The presentation will include proposed solutions to problems including removing chickens from the definition of livestock in the Animal Bylaw, replacing the word chicken with rooster. The document states that 2 dozen households already have chickens. It compares the proposed bylaw change with the changes made to accommodate pigeon fanciers.
Arguments from the presentation documents include:
“Roosters are not required for egg production, hens are quiet creatures, similar noise levels to a cat
Bedding should be changed when soiled, at least once a season, feces can be composted into excellent fertilizer. A small number of birds produce very little smell, unlike commercial scale operations
We do not prohibit dogs even though they bark, escape and bite people. Current bylaws regulate all animals kept in city limits from being nuisance
Although Avian Flu has been a hot topic, birds are less likely to become infected when living in less dense populations… Other pets also are prone to disease and vet care is available”
Above photo from presentation in Agenda Packet
Council Pay Raise Vote Creates Political Tightrope
A highly sensitive item on the agenda will see council members deciding on their own remuneration for the next term, a move that comes exceptionally late in the current council's term. The timing places many members in a difficult position with the municipal election just weeks away.
With Nomination Day still a week away, the political landscape is already active: four current council members have filed nomination papers. One councillor is running for mayor, the mayor is running for re-election, and two councillors, including Councillor Sharps, are seeking re-election. They are part of a large field of 6 mayoral and 33 councillor candidates.
This vote now creates a no-win scenario for some incumbents: a vote against the raise could be seen as a last-minute attempt to buy votes, while a vote for it could be used by opponents to criticize them during the election campaign. Council must find a quorum of 5 of its 9 members to pass the motion.
Council is presented with two options: Option 1 is to replace the existing policy with a new "Council Remuneration and Business Expenses Policy." Option 2 is to approve specific amendments to adjust pay levels, effective after the election on November 3, 2025.
Crosswalk to Honour Veterans Proposed
From Document Included in Agenda Package
In a less contentious move, Council will vote on a recommendation to install a specially painted crosswalk between City Hall and Riverside Veterans’ Memorial Park. “On August 17, 2025, the City received a request from a military veteran and resident to consider painting the crosswalk that leads from City Hall to Riverside Veterans’ Memorial Park as a tribute to veterans. A proposed design has been provided (above), with the request to have the crosswalk completed before November 11, 2025 (Remembrance Day).“
The proposal recommends the City cover the installation cost and directs administration to develop a formal policy for future decorative crosswalk requests by Q1 2026.
Transparency and Governance Reforms Proposed
First, a notice of motion by Councillor Sharps, who is running for re-election, aims to expand the City's Whistleblower Policy to include members of the public, addressing past frustration where residents felt they had no protected avenue to report wrongdoing.
Second, Council will give first reading to amendments to Procedure Bylaw 4725. A key change is the restructuring of the Agenda Review Committee. This committee, which currently includes the City Manager due to a bylaw passed just last year, would see the City Manager removed. This proposed reversal would shift control of the agenda fully to elected officials, a move often seen as enhancing governance independence.
Other Meeting Business
The full agenda also includes:
A public hearing for the rezoning of 620 Porcelain Ave SE.
First reading of a new Parks Bylaw.
A progress update on recommendations from the recent Municipal Inspection report.
The public is welcome to attend the meeting in person or view it via the City’s public streaming service. The next scheduled council meeting is set for September 29, 2025.
