Medicine Hat city council to review new business license fees

Sharps said that business owners already pay higher taxes, and that rates need to be “equitably doled out”.

“I will own this one hundred per cent,” she told CHAT News Monday.

“When these come in front of us through a committee, and we listen to administration and we look at the thing, and as long as they’re in line, we don’t maybe question as hard as we should,” she added.

“And shame on us. Thank God the community spoke up and said, “Look, this is crazy. Some of my fees are exorbitant’.”

Sharps also addressed the notice of motion to prioritize sanctions against the mayor that were struck down in August 2024.

She said that council has to hold the same standard as administration when it comes to getting things done.

“Justice Nation sent it back in August, and so I think right as soon as she sent it back it probably should’ve been done,” she said.

“It was just a gentle nudge to get this back on the table and get it going.”

Both of these motions will be brought forward at the next council meeting on Feb. 3.

A zoning application change was also reviewed for a lot in Saamis Heights.

A unanimous vote to amend the land use bylaw for what will be its third reading was made by council with only slight hesitation by one member.

Councillor Robert Dumanowski said that he’s excited for the unique proposal that is aesthetically appropriate for the area.

He said that his eagerness is not just based around developing lands that have sat idle for a decade.

“The aspirational development that is being put forward- very creative, higher density but not inappropriately so, so that neighbours are impacted diversely,” he said.

“I would like to think that this is something that could be mimicked, elsewhere in the city,” he added.

“In an era where we have a shortage of housing and affordable housing, this looks to be a remedy for that, for that problem in a very unique way, and I’m inspired by that.”

The lot is currently owned by the city and was initially developed in 2015.

Dumanowski says it is also exciting because it’s an application for a zoning change not occurring in areas where it is often seen in the city.

by Jayk Sterkenburg

Medicine Hat city council to review new business license fees

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