City council will urge UCP to get firefighters vaccinated - Medicine Hat NewsMedicine Hat News medicinehatnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from medicinehatnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
City Centre Development Agency vote in May
Poll
Government policy
Members of the City Centre Development Agency will vote in May on the fate of the business improvement area.
City council approved dates and a ballot question on Monday as the final step before those who pay the levy for the downtown business promotion group.
Voting will take place in the city hall board room on the May 11 (in an advanced poll) and May 13, along with mail-in ballots to those who can prove they will be away from the city on those dates or are homebound, said city clerk Angela Cruickshank.
Successful On-Demand transit could expand
Poll
Yes
Medicine Hat Transit is declaring its pilot project to offer “On Demand” service on some evening routes a success, and say it will likely be expanded this year.
Monday’s meeting of the public services committee heard that other “low volume” evening routes in the city, as well as the special transit system are being considered, but the idea of dispatching buses only when requested isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
“The implementation was very successful,” said transit manager Mike Spicer. “Once people experienced it, they picked it up pretty quickly and made good use of it.”
Veiner Centre operator could take over by spring
Poll
Should authorities crack down on churches that break public health orders for capacity, social distancing and masks?
Yes
The City of Medicine Hat will contract out operations at the Veiner Centre as early as this spring after council approved a proposal submitted by the Calgary-based Kerby Mission to operate the building and handle seniors programming.
The move was approved by an 8-1 margin as council members argued it was the best route to boost attendance while saving the city money.
Coun. Julie Friesen said those were the two goals of a management model review launched two years ago, and argued that a majority of council members made it clear the city must tighten its budget.
CCDA could face spring dissolution vote
Poll
Too strict
Steve Meldrum, a downtown business owner, addresses council regarding the City Centre Development Agency budget before it passed Monday night. CCDA board chair Jeremy Silver, left, and Shila Sharps, centre-top, a vocal CCDA critic, swatch from the gallery. NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
The City Centre Development Agency has an approved budget for 2021, but might face a vote to dissolve the organization before the spring.
City council approved the organization’s budget it had tabled last week while dealing with complaints from some stakeholders about cuts to a local grant.
It also engaged its legal department to study several changes suggested by the board to reform the group that operates on provincial mandate.