Council has plan for final year, albeit with looming questions

By Collin Gallant on November 19, 2024.

There’s a plan to make progress on a new, stripped-down set of council priorities, but questions linger about the implications of a workforce study and what role the city would take in a “social disorder” task force.

As well, with one year remaining in council’s term, those and a plan to build a south-side rec centre would likely carry over beyond next election.

Mayor Linnsie Clark was the lone vote Monday against accepting an administration roadmap to implement those “priorities” as well as a economic development program, stating a workforce evaluation was being done out or order and leading a “task force” might see the city step on local social sector agencies’ work.

“The city has a reputation as being the big brother,” said Clark, who outlined her ‘no vote’ expressing concern until more would be known about its mandate and the definition of “social disorder,” which she said is very broad.

“I don’t want to insert ourselves into something where we’re not needed or wanted,” she said.

The effort, defined at two days of council workshopping in early October which Clark did not attend, is to “lead a provincial/municipal/community urgent response to social disorder.”

That loosely describes anti-social behaviour and drug use in the city centre – issues that have garnered provincial government resources and focus in other cities.

Coun. Shila Sharps said nothing prejudiced is meant by the term, but action is needed to help business owners and those struggling with mental health and addiction issues.

“As a downtown business owner, it’s getting harder and harder to do business downtown,” said Coun. Shila Sharps. “It’s provincial responsibility, but it’s our backyard. We’re all in this together, it’s not about working outside of our local (social groups), but working with them.”

City manager Ann Mitchell, who presented a general timetable for all four goals, said initial discussions have taken place.

“Sometimes someone has to take charge of facilitating (a program),” said Mitchell, whose plan outlines that staff seek out local social service agencies as potential partners in early 2025, and an action plan would be due in the spring.

“We can’t dictate the mandate â€¦ this is an intention, not a commitment to sit down with various stakeholders.”

Clark also questioned the process of evaluating service levels as a move to “create organizational capacity and effective service,” as stated in the plan, saying it amounts to job cuts, and is being done before a service level inventory.

The city should evaluate and let council determine value to the public before jobs are lost, she said.

“I personally measure the success as outcomes, rather than outputs; what are we trying to achieve,” she Clark.

Mitchell said a workforce strategy would “create a leaner organization â€¦ that’s been in the works, but this solidifies it.”

The project would be done simultaneously with a service level inventory, said Mitchell, and could result in greater use of technology or reallocating workers and resources over three years.

“We all want to work in a sustainable place, and since we’re dealing with the public purse, we have to be very strategic.”

After three years in a holding pattern, a plan for replacing aging recreation centres and facilities could be tabled this fall, according to a plan to tackle a narrowed-down set of priorities of city council.

Council voted 8-1 last month to endorse the list of what is now four priorities.

At the same time, council ordered city manager Ann Mitchell to bring back a plan to implement and make progress. Budget officials have already proposed to find $2.6 million in savings in 2026 during recent budget presentations toward the next two-year budget.

“If efficiencies are found, of course they’ll be applied to 2025,” said Mitchell.

Similarly, city economic development officials have said a new regional economic development strategy and program of development subsidies could spur construction activity in the new year.

City recreation planning could become a live issue in early 2025 as well, when a recreation facility master plan and costing would be due. Mileposts for building a south-side multi-use rec centre would also be set in 2025, though a final go-ahead may be delayed until 2026.

Coun. Robert Dumanowski said that regardless of an election set for next October, “the business of the city continues. (These priorities) define where our focus will be.”

Allison Knodel said the priorities and plan to implement it gives “clarity.”

“I have confidence that a few of these will come to fruition in a short amount of time,” she said.