Greg's Public Awareness Blog

06/01/2026

This is interesting.
I hit a wrong button and now (some how!) it looks like I am sponsoring or co-hosting the City of Medicine Hat Open House on Tuesday.
How embarrassing! It was not intentional at all. But if I were to cancel the post, will people think the whole open House is cancelled? I do not want that to happen. What a mess.

I did hit cancel but the little circle think kept spinning for a few minutes - like 5 minutes - then up pops a message that I am co-sponsoring this event. Now it is up and people are responding.

I guess I will leave it up until someone from the City tells me to take it down.

My apologies in advance to the City Of Medicine Hat!!!!

06/01/2026

I have had are request to post a question about rattlesnakes. This totally out of my area but it is an interesting question so I will post it here.
I personally go out into the boondocks with my metal detector and have come across several of them, but have never been bitten. I have watched one hypnotize a gopher to make ever decreasing circles until the snake got it close enough to strike - that was weird. I almost stepped on one sunning on the rocks below the power plant - it looked like a python. It and me both got scared! lol

So here is the question:

"I’m curious about what the residents think about rattlesnakes these days. A dog was just killed by one. Seems the snakes on a plain lady thinks we just need to respect them and if they’re in our yard to call her. It is a safety issue. I’m not prioritizing my pets or kids for a snake and if ones on my deck I should be able to protect my family. I’m really interested how people really feel and yes I know they’re protected. "

what is your OPINION? (they ARE protected) BTW - no one is suggesting to kill one - this is a "what should I do?" scenario

05/31/2026

And he will have to pay for the privilege like the rest of us.

Should you have to justify your withdrawals to the bank teller?

05/30/2026

Here is the agenda for the next City Council Meeting.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING REQUEST & RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT :
********12.3. Gas Distribution Custody Transfer Meter Program Budget Increase **************
Sponsor: Energy, Land and Environment Committee (again)

RECOMMENDATION THAT Council approves a budget amendment of ***** $1,057,000****** for the Utility Distribution System’s 2026 Gas Custody Meter Transfer Program. The 2026 budget will increase from *****$679,000 to *****$1,736,000, with the increase coming from Capital Reserves.

SO AGAIN SOMEONE IN CHARGE WANTS ANOTHER COOL MILION THAT WAS FORGOTTEN AT BUDGET TIME.

It is coming the Reserve fund so we are to think it is not "real" money being spent so it does not count.

Question: when you do your budget does it not involve real money and you that you leave nothing out?

I am getting tired of all the extra expenditures that somehow were either forgotten, eliminated or hidden at budget time. I could be wrong on that but I do know from personal experience that when you spend money it is incredibly REAL. I am not liking this.

Surely this expense was known prior to the budget being prepared. It did not magically pop up. If you are going to spend it cannot they at least be honest about it?

That is my opinion.

1. CLOSED SESSION Subject to the Access to Information Act
Items Discussed -
24-hour Emergency Shelter (s.26 intergovernmental relations, s.29 advice from officials)
Food Waste Organics Composting (s.19 economic interests of a third party, s.26 intergovernmental relations, s.29 advice from officials)
Special Interest Group Inquiries (s.29 advice from officials)
Recreation Opportunity (s.29 advice from officials)
Personnel Matter (s.29 advice from officials)

2. CALL TO ORDER

3. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
(I deleted this crap because I rate it right up there with the pronouns that they pussyfoot around at City Hall!).

4. MOMENT OF REFLECTION / PRAYER
this crap too.

5. ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

5.1. Regular City Council Minutes - May 19, 2026

6. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Big Dan will probably jump in here)

8. CONSENT AGENDA Receive for Corporate Record

8.1. Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes - May 11, 2026

8.2. Corporate Services Committee Meeting Minutes - May 14, 2026

8.3. Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Minutes - May 21, 2026

8.4. Development & Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes - May 21, 2026 Receive for Information

8.5. Police Commission Meeting Minutes - March 18, 2026

8.6. 2025 Annual Report

8.7. Public Services Committee Meeting Action Items - May 11, 2026

8.8. Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Action Items - May 21, 2026

8.9. Development & Infrastructure Committee Meeting Action Items - May 21, 2026

9. PUBLIC HEARING(S)

9.1. Bylaw 4853-2026 - Land Use Bylaw Refresh

9.1.1 Call to Order

9.1.2 Introduction by Administration
Robert Sissons, Manager of Planning, and Shawn Champagne, Superintendent of Planning, will provide a presentation.

9.1.3 Presentations / Submissions
City Clerk Notification Report
3 written submissions were received from the following:
Robert Campbell
Werner Fischer
Dustin Turcotte

9.1.4 Close Public Hearing

9.1.5 Business Arising from the Hearing for Bylaw 4853 - 2026
First reading occurred on May 4, 2026.
Prior to second reading, recommended housekeeping amendments will be introduced by staff.
RECOMMENDATION THAT Council considers second and third readings of Bylaw 4853-2026, to complete the LUB Refresh project, address key land use issues, and align zoning and regulations with community expectations and the policies of the Municipal Development Plan (MDP).

10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
10.1. Development and Expansion Incentive Program Bylaw 4885-2026 and Bylaw 4886-2026
Sponsor: Development & Infrastructure Committee
First readings occurred on May 19, 2026.
Selena McLean-Moore, Director of Economic Development, will provide a presentation.
RECOMMENDATION THAT Council:
a) considers second and third readings of Bylaw 4885-2026 to amend the Residential Tax Exemption Bylaw 4851;
b) considers second and third readings of Bylaw 4886-2026, the Non-Residential Tax Exemption Bylaw to repeal and replace the Tax Incentive Bylaw 4667; and
c) pursuant to Incentive Policy 0179, approves the Development and Expansion Incentive Program which includes Creating a “Development and Expansion Grant” intended to encourage commercial and industrial investment and expansion, of strategic target sectors, to occur in Medicine Hat.

11. NEW BUSINESS

12. COMMITTEE BUSINESS
12.1. Destination Marketing Organization Annual Report
Sponsor: Public Services Committee For Council's information only.
Jace Anderson, Executive Director of the Destination Marketing Organization, will provide a presentation.
12.2. Food Waste Organics Composting
Sponsor: Development and Infrastructure Committee
For Council's information only.
Jamie Garland, Director of Environmental Utilities, Gareth Chudleigh, Corporate Strategic Analyst, and Shane Briggs, Manager of Waste and Recycling, will provide a presentation.
12.3. Gas Distribution Custody Transfer Meter Program Budget Increase Sponsor: Energy, Land and Environment Committee

RECOMMENDATION THAT Council approves a budget amendment of ***** $1,057,000****** for the Utility Distribution System’s 2026 Gas Custody Meter Transfer Program. The 2026 budget will increase from *****$679,000 to *****$1,736,000, with the increase coming from Capital Reserves.

12.4. Financing Electric Utility Service Upgrades to Support Continued Development of Backyard and Secondary Suites
Sponsor: Energy, Land and Environment Committee

RECOMMENDATION THAT Council direct Administration to continue to offset the cost of electric utility service upgrades for development of backyard and secondary suites by maintaining the backyard and secondary suite provisions contained within Residential Tax Exemption Bylaw 4851.

12.5. Hedging Policy Amendments
Sponsor: Corporate Services Committee
RECOMMENDATION THAT Council approves amendments to Hedging Policy 0159, as presented.

13. NOTICE(S) OF MOTION

14. COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS

15. ADJOURNMENT

NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING: June 15, 2026

May 4, 2026 – June 17, 2026

DEPUTY MAYOR: Cllr. C. Phaff - ACTING MAYOR: Cllr. D. Reynish

05/29/2026

here is a good idea that was sent to me:

Greg, at least once a week I drive along 13th Ave and need to cross over South Boundary Road. This is a corner where I feel Medicine Hat should have a double lane roundabout. It would keep the traffic flowing on all directions. And wide enough to accommodate it. Instead of wasting money on the cement that they have on 8th Street SE 4th and 2nd Ave.

05/29/2026

Do you know what really upsets me?

It is when our children and grandchildren are unprotected by this city.

They will spend millions on unneeded and unwanted bumpouts, constrictions and curbs on narrowed roads, but they will not enlarge the unguarded side walk on Parkview Drive hill.

IT looks like all the children, and all the people that walk and bike to downtown in North East Crescent heights and area have to walk dangerously close to vehicular traffic going down the hill.

Then the City uses the excuse that it is to costly to enlarge the sidewalk, let alone put up guardrails.

Correct me if I am wrong - but is this not dangerous?

Our most precious treasure is unprotected and forgotten - but they can blow millions on unneeded changes on Division Avenue south and now Riverside.

Just how stupid are these people?? They all need to be gone.

And further - how do we MAKE them do what is both wanted and is right?

That is my opinion - What do you think?

05/29/2026

its coming soon.

05/29/2026

Here is an interesting conversation string:

Greg - We are under no obligation to narrow the roads. The Complete Streets ideology is strictly an option, not mandatory. And it sucks. We have a only a few people in City Hall that have drank the Kool-aide, or have been ORDERED to follow the program. They must learn what WE want.

James Finkbeiner
Has anyone reached out to Infrastructure Minister Dreeshan? The province is stepping in to stop projects like this in Calgary and Edmonton, I am sure he is more than willing to put a stop to this as well.

Reply

James Finkbeiner Yes we have - he is watching very closely. However, as long as we let Mr. Pareek have authority the City will ram this through. Third street will be a last choice route and first and second street will have to handle the 3500/day vehicle traffic - which is projected to increase to 5,000/day. So they think - hey, let's narrow the roads. They are so smart.

Ken G. Enslen
Had a good discussion with 1 councillor and a couple of the city guys involved with promoting this nonsense. Pointed out to them that “seniors” don’t ride bikes for the most part, they drive, and as they progress in their years, they need more space, not less. Narrowing the road actually makes it more dangerous for them. They admittedly hadn’t thought of that angle…and surprisingly thought it was a valid point to consider. The 53’ tractor/trailer units that bring supplies to St Joes have enough of a challenge now to get their units backed in off the street, giving them less room isn’t a smart move… what Shelly said is the prudent thing to implement, fix the infrastructure when needed, smoothe the potholes…and leave well enough alone…thanks to all the volunteers for the BBQ, great job…Greg -

05/29/2026

Below is a post from Riverside Community Connect.

They are a small group trying to save the character of Riverside by preventing the unwanted narrowing of the roads. The geniuses that brought you Division Avenue South Hill - particularly Mr. Sandeep Pareek and crew want to screw up Third Street north with bumpouts. constrictions and NARROW ROADS.

There were about 200 people that came to BBQ - 99% against the narrowing. However one councilor in attendance stated it was 50 - 50 on the survey (!!!).

Doe this sound like the corrupt information that the previous Council demanded be corrected this time around?

Do you trust that we will get accurate information, unsolicited by the city honchos?

I don't.

All trust was lost when they wanted a rubber stamp on the Transportation Master Plan. The one that states over and over that the Planners want to inhibit and discourage vehicle traffic. And use bogus information to sell it to Council.

We the taxpayers cannot let the bureaucrats force a change of our life style with their dumb, IA initiated simulations.

Let's put some humanness into our streets - Go online and fill out the survey and have everyone you know do it too.

What happens in Riverside is what will happen all around our city in the very near future- if we do not stop it now.

Fill out the survey. go to shapeyourcity.medicinehat.ca scroll down past the propaganda and AI video to "How to Get Involved "
then #3 "Take the Survey"

Thank you in advance.

That is my opinion. - Greg

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Here it is -

Hey Riverside! 👋
I'm still trying to recover from the BBQ on Wednesday!
It was an amazing turn out! Thanks to all who came out!
I will leave you be with the posts for the weekend, but I will follow up with info from the BBQ next week! There's still lots to do and information to be shared.
For now- I will tell you that this plan in its current form, narrows our road. This is the concern we heard the most at the open house. That, and bump outs.
It seems like most people are in favor of upgrades, but not at the expense of road narrowing.
Please make sure you fill out the survey that the City has and anywhere you're allowed to comment, please put. No bumpouts. No road narrowing.
They did not have any questions that relate to the narrowing of the road in their survey. 🙄
https://shapeyourcity.medicinehat.ca/.../survey.../56366...
There's another open house Tuesday June 2nd at the Elks Hall 11am-1pm/4pm-7pm.
Please come and voice your concerns!
Have a great weekend, all! ✌️