Power petition has a lot more signatures than other big-issue movements
Poll
Too strict
An online petition calling council members to support public ownership of the city’s power plant is growing steam, but it’s unclear how the effort will be viewed, according to a local political scientist.
More than 3,600 people had signed the petition at website Change.org as of Tuesday afternoon, about six days after it was launched by local advocate Alison Van Dyke.
That’s more interest than was registered on similar high-profile petitions to twin Highway 3 in the region or pause selection of a supervised consumption site.
Downtown plan touted, but too good to be true?
Poll
Do you agree with the city’s decision to collapse certain advisory boards into one, nine-member Community Vibrancy Board?
Yes
According to some observers a new vision for downtown looks similar to long-standing plans and could be difficult to achieve, but might be worth it in the end.
Featuring the South Saskatchewan River has been in high-level city plans for years, and more recently planners have alluded to a “Waterfront District” that was revealed Tuesday at the State of the City address.
At its centre, a new amphitheatre built on the slope below Riverside Veterans Memorial Park would lead to a pedestrian promenade along River Road. A raft of other changes and incentives could be brought in along the one-kilometre stretch of shoreline.
Power sale opposition taking action
Poll
Do you agree with the city’s decision to collapse certain advisory boards into one, nine-member Community Vibrancy Board?
Yes
A local advocate for retaining public ownership of the city’s power generating company says a “strategic review of alternatives” is beginning to form even though council members say they have heard relatively little feedback on the subject.
Alison Van Dyke says that might be compared to the recent debate about public mask use, when councillors say up to a thousand emails were received, but the potential sale of a public asset demands local government solicit substantial public consultation.
By Tiffany Goodwein
Upcoming development projects rose to the forefront, as Mayor Ted Clugston delivered the 2021 State of the City.
One of the main highlights was the proposed waterfront development district which is intended to capitalize on 1 km of riverfront land stretching from the Library to Athletic Park. A first step vision of the proposal was displayed during the State of the City address. An enhanced riverside walkway, a natural playground, and market commons that could provide up to a dozen commercial opportunities were among some of the features in the proposal.
The proposal also features a community square that could host a number of outdoor events, from outdoor concerts to fitness activities. Space is also proposed for food trucks and outdoor markets.
City council looking into controversial coal proposal
Poll
Would you support the Conservative Party of Canada’s carbon tax plan of consumer pricing with ‘green’ savings account?
Yes
Medicine Hat city council will consider lending its voice to opposition of a coal mining proposal near the headwaters of the South Saskatchewan river basin.
The proposed Grassy Mountain coal mine would be located in the Crowsnest Pass, just north of the town of Blairmore.
Mayor Ted Clugston said Monday that the issue has been raised by some residents and council discussed the matter in its closed session prior to Monday’s regular meeting.