Medicine Hat city council: Women’s shelter request, mayor’s legal fees

There were three key cash requests from community groups during budget planning last year.

Council opted not to provide half a million dollars a year in operating cash for HALO Air Ambulance and only in May responded to the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede’s funding request to fix ailing infrastructure on the grounds.

A third request from the women’s shelter has not been publicly deliberated since December — but tonight’s meeting is about to change that.

The Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society is hoping the city can contribute $2.85 million to a $8.5-million expansion project. Work on the expansion started in 2023 is scheduled to be completed this month.

City staff are proposing four options for council to consider.

The first option suggests council grant the women’s shelter $1.85 million from the city’s capital reserve. Staff say this option balanced support to an organization that provides important shelter services while acknowledging a $1 million grant from the Alberta government.

The second option would have council approve the full $2.85 million requested by the shelter. Staff warn that commits the maximum allowable funding, which could raise expectations for future applicants seeking support.

Staff write in a report to council the third option is for council to grant the shelter whatever amount it deems appropriate but cautions against deviating from the capital grant process it set up this year.

A final option would see council grant zero cash to the shelter.

Mayor’s legal expenses

First up on Monday’s agenda is Mayor Linnsie Clark’s motion to get the city to reimburse her legal fees from 2023 and 2024, when she fought the city manager and took council to court.

This item — postponed several times since March — requests the City of Medicine Hat reimburse legal fees she accrued during the sanctions scandal that led to a leadership crisis at Medicine Hat city hall in 2024.

Clark’s motion directs city administration to cover $76,017.62 in legal fees over five different items.

She did not give a reason for delaying the motion but council has a hefty agenda that could result in an lengthy meeting. Also, two councillors are not present, including Robert Dumanowski and Allison Knodel.

The first is the cost of obtaining a second opinion about the reorganization of city hall that chief administrator Ann Mitchell carried out in 2023.

Clark, who before becoming mayor worked in the city solicitor’s office as a lawyer, paid for legal advice on the legitimacy of Mitchell’s restructuring.

Guy Giorno, a lawyer with Calgary-based Faskon Martineau DuMoulin LPP, said Mitchell’s actions contradicted the city’s Bylaw No. 4662.

Giorno wrote that large parts of the reorganization were “null and of no effect” in his response to the mayor.

Clark brought up that legal opinion at the famous Aug. 21, 2023, meeting that led to a sharp exchange between Clark and Mitchell and surprised councillors who had no prior warning.

Clark’s second item requests reimbursement for the “reorg.”

She told CHAT News on April 8 that fees attributed to the Giorno opinion and reorganization are the same.

The third item that Clark asks for reimbursement on is Mitchell’s defamation allegation.

Mitchell’s lawyer sent the mayor a letter in November 2023 demanding she “cease and desist” from further defaming the city manager.

It’s unclear what cost Clark incurred in the defamation letter or if there was a legal response that was not disclosed to the public.

The fourth and fifth items Clark asks for reimbursement on are “the Code of Conduct” and “the JR” — in reference to the misconduct allegation from council and the judicial review in August 2024.

Clark appears to reference fees she incurred last year as she fought the sanctions placed on her by the rest of council in March 2024.

Justice Rosemary Nation ruled the sanctions were “disproportionate and unreasonable” but agreed Clark broke council’s code of conduct rules by mistreating the city manager.

Election resolutions

Medicine Hat city council will be asked to approve various voting accessibility options ahead of the fall civic election.

That includes holding an advanced vote, provisions for electors unable to attend a voting station because of a disability and special ballot provisions — all required by Alberta law.

Only four candidates as of Monday have officially filed to run for council in the Oct. 20 election, including Kelly Allard, Chris Hellman, Dana Christensen and Pamela Kunz.

Advanced voting dates and places have already been listed on the city’s website for both the Hockey Hounds Recreational Centre and the Holy Family Parish.

Follow everything ELXTN25 on the CHAT News election page.

Veiner’s 50th, transit review

Various other items are on council’s agenda.

Officials with the Veiner Centre will give an annual report with special attention to its 50th anniversary. That’s for information only.

Council will give first reading to a proposed residential tax exemption bylaw from the economic development team that aims to spur the development or redevelopment of multiple unit residential housing.

Medicine Hat Tourism’s ever-enthusiastic executive director Jace Anderson will present an annual report from Destination Marketing for council’s information.

Council also consider a $1,992 property tax exemption refund and hear about the special transit review.

by Eli J. Ridder

Medicine Hat city council: Women’s shelter request, mayor’s legal fees

Women’s shelter ask

Mayor’s legal expenses

Election resolutions

Veiner’s 50th, transit review

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