Half-Billion-Dollar Budget, Three Months, and a Committee That Meets Mostly in Private
This year, council is using a Budget Committee created at the suggestion of Councillor Cheryl Phaff.
"On the issue of transparency, Phaff said a huge part of trust in government is the ability to see how it's functioning. 'And, we've seen a real lack of trust amongst the public for this current council.'"
Medicine Hat's Budget Assumptions: The Bill Comes Due Later
The City of Medicine Hat is preparing to pass a two-year budget that includes a long list of projects and maintenance items that administration has chosen not to recommend for funding right now. These deferred items carry a price tag that will come due at some point in the future.
Premier Smith is Looking Into Calgary's Closed Meetings -Will She Look Into Her Own Riding?
News Analysis Premier Danielle Smith says she's concerned about Calgary city council using closed meetings too much…closed-door sessions should be "very rare." She said it's "not good practice" when councils debate things in private and then…vote in public without telling anyone what was actually discussed... Medicine Hat has the exact same problem... We've been documenting this for over a year.
Medicine Hat's Proposed Urban Chicken Bylaw
The Development & Infrastructure Committee is sending the Urban Hens Pilot Program to full Council - likely at the September 21 meeting - where they can accept it, reject it, or send it back for more tinkering.
City Clerk Confirms Current Council Broke the Law in First Meeting
Medicine Hat City Council broke provincial laws at their very first operational meeting. Some might write this off as a rookie mistake, but they kept doing it. The Owl has identified multiple potential MGA violations since this council was elected.
