Medicine Hat’s city council meets next on Monday. File Photo/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

EXCLUSIVE

Medicine Hat city council will consider ‘strategic refocusing’ for year remaining in term

Oct 17, 2024 | 11:59 AM

Medicine Hat city council will at its next meeting consider a “strategic refocusing” to outline high-level goals to aim for with a year left until the next municipal election, several councillors have confirmed to CHAT News.

As council worked on City Manager Ann Mitchell’s performance evaluation this year, it also decided to carry out what was intended to be a regular review of its strategic plan, they said.

In a private meeting last week, council decided it would lay out a few objectives it would focus on for the 12 months remaining in its term.

“I can confirm that we met to discuss our strategic plan and the important pieces we need to concentrate on for the last year,” Coun. Andy McGrogan said in a message.

“It was very positive and the details will be discussed at our next open council meeting I hope.”

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Coun. Ramona Robins said when council first worked on its strategic plan three years ago, it was intended to be a “living document” that was regularly updated based on council’s priorities.

But due to the lack of a permanent chief administrative officer for much of the term, the utility costs controversy of summer 2023 and an ongoing leadership crisis over the past year, council was unable work on an update.

“I enjoyed the process as we were able to look at the past objectively and then narrow down priorities for the next year based on what we have heard from citizens,” Robins said.

Coun. Shila Sharps confirmed the “strategic refocusing held last week provided a valuable opportunity for everyone to realign with our mission and work towards achieving key objectives for our community.”

When asked who attended the strategic plan meeting last week, Sharps recommended reaching out to Mayor Linnsie Clark for additional comments.

Clark did not respond to a CHAT News request for comment sent Wednesday. The mayor has not granted an interview to CHAT News since after a news conference on Sept. 19.

In March, councillors voted to strip Clark of mayoral powers and cut her salary in half in response, saying she broke council’s code of conduct in her treatment of chief administrator Ann Mitchell at a public meeting in 2023.

Clark brought the city to court for a judicial review of the sanctions council imposed. A Calgary judge ruled council’s misconduct finding was valid but reversed many of the sanctions for being “disproportionate and unreasonable.”

Since the ruling, councillors say they have been trying to find ways to restore unity at council and continue to accomplish its objectives.

More details on council’s strategic plan refocusing will be revealed when Monday’s meeting agenda is published on Friday.