New council officially meets for first time

By Lethbridge Herald on November 4, 2025.

Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

During the first council meeting following the municipal election late last month, a re-elected member of council was critical of the provincial government for Bill 20, saying it cost an extra $300,000 of tax-payer money for Lethbridge alone to comply with the province’s new rules.

Councillor Rajko Dodic said the biggest concern he had was the banning of electronic tabulators, explaining they provide much quicker results than hand counting.

“Tabulators are a machine, not connected to the internet, that count ballots very accurately, very quickly and those ballots are kept such that if there are any issues that arise, they can be manually counted if need be.

“I’m really hopeful this go-around, the province actually does listen to Alberta Munis, because Alberta Munis speak for the majority of the electorate,” he said.

Councillor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel, who is the current deputy mayor, will be running for a position on the Alberta Municipalities Board and if elected, is hoping to secure the vice-president position for cities up to 500,000.

A unanimous vote passed in favour of allowing Schmidt-Rempel’s name to stand for the vice-president position.

Dodic gave his support for Schmidt-Rempel, but also noted his disapproval for the government passing Bill-20, despite the disapproval of majority of municipalities across the province, and said hopes the province listens the municipality board.

Every year, city council holds an organizational meeting, where the calendar for next year’s city council meetings is released and councillors are assigned to committees, for which they will serve for a year.

Mayor Blaine Hyggen has been assigned to Green Acres Foundation; Economic Development Lethbridge; Mayors and Reeves of Southern Alberta; Blood Tribe and City of Lethbridge Inter-governmental Table; and Mid-Size Cities Mayors Caucus.

Councillor Al Beeber will serve on Chinook Arch Regional Library System; Economic Development Lethbridge; Assets and Infrastructure Standing Policy Committee; and Safety and Social Standing Policy Committee.

Councillor Mark Campbell will serve on the Highway 3 Twinning Development Association, Assets and Infrastructure Standing Policy Committee; and Safety of Social Standing Policy Committee.

Belinda Crowson, who is currently serving as acting mayor, will serve on the Inter-municipal Committee (City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge County); Audit Standing Policy Committee; Governance Standing Policy Committee; and Intercity Forum on Social Policy.

Dodic will serve on the Lethbridge Housing Authority and the Audit Standing Policy Committee.

Councillor Rufa Doria was assigned Green Acres Foundation; Inter-municipal Committee (City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge County; Assets and Infrastructure Standing Policy Committee; and Governance Standing Policy Committee.

Councillor Ryan Parker will serve the Green Acres Foundation; Joint committee of the City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge School Boards; Safety and Social Standing Policy Committee; and Governance and Standing Policy Committee.

Schmidt-Rempel will serve on the Joint Committee of the City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge School Boards; Audit Standing Policy Committee; and Government Standing Policy Committee.

Councillor Ryan Wolfe will serve on the Inter-municipal Committee; Audit Standing Policy Committee; Assets and Infrastructure Standing Policy; and Safety and Social Standing Policy Committee.

Schmidt-Rempel and Wolfe will serve on the Lethbridge Police Commission until 2028.

It was also decided the city manager will livestream Lethbridge Police Commission public meetings beginning this month.

Following the closed session, council announced they will adopt the memorandum of settlement from Oct. 16, between the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Access-A-Ride Employees and the city, which was passed unanimously.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 2.