MEDICINE HAT, AB- Downtown stakeholders will be headed to the polls to determine whether or not to disband the CCDA.
Medicine Hat City Council passed first reading of the bylaw at Monday’s meeting.
Advanced polling will be held on May 11 from 8 a.m. to 2p.m. at city hall in boardroom M-1.
A regular vote is scheduled for May 13 from 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m at City Hall, in boardroom M-1.
Earlier in the year, a petition was submitted to the city, calling on the CCDA to disband. That petition triggered a referendum.
Calvin Maltin of Isaac’s Barbershop, is a sitting board member. He told CHAT News that he has concerns of degradation to the downtown core should the CCDA disband.
” There’s no streetscapes , the acquisition of possibilities, the events that bring thousands of people, that is possible,” he said.
There are also questions about what the future will hold for the Monarch Theatre. Mayor Ted Clugston says the city is very much aware of the public’s concerns.
” We are actively working behind the scenes now trying to figure out a process for the Monarch Theatre, because it is complicated, because first of all we don’t know if they are going to disband, let’s assume that they do. It really is owned by the downtown revitalization zone, the BRZ or the CCDA,” Clugston said,
“Myself personally, this theatre must stay in operation in some form. It was a catalyst back when the downtown was completely vacant, it isn’t now, contrary to what some people might say, and we need to see it continue in operation in some form.
If the bylaw is approved, the CCDA will disband by June 30.
