NEWS FILE PHOTO
A city parks department worker tests out the sprinklers at a park behind Valleyview Retirement Home in April 2016. Councillors say they've heard plenty from Hatters about a city plan to reduce maintenance in some parks but will give the department a two-month trial period with the cuts.
City council members say they’ve heard public reaction about a plan to trim the parks budget by reducing mowing, fertilizer or watering in some less used areas, but will wait until fall to pass judgment.
“(The department) is asking for a two-month opportunity to try some things with operations and their environment,” said Coun. Julie Friesen, chair of the public services committee, which oversees parks.
“I’m willing to have that trial, but I’m not convinced that I’ll support (in the future).”
The issue was discussed at length in a committee meeting last week and again at Monday’s council meeting.
Some councillors expressed concern that residents take pride in the appearance of city parks, or that relatively lush parks in a semi-arid climate is a way to advertise the city.
Coun. Darren Hirsch says he sees the need for cost savings, but also a need for exceptions.
“I’m a big proponent of being fiscally responsible but a bigger proponent of what makes this city great,” he said, arguing that boulevards on main arterial roads advertise the city to visitors.
Coun. Jamie McIntosh however, said people in other cities accept that when there’s no rain, grass will be brown, and vice versa.
“I really don’t agree that the focus should be on how green the city needs to be,” he said.
The 2019-2022 city budget calls for administrators to find a total of $4 million in savings organization-wide over the four-year period. That would negate the effect of inflation over that time on city spending so a structural budget gap that opened when gas dividends dried up will be closed more quickly.
The “Financially Fit” budget plan, launched in 2016, describes “service level adjustments” as one way to erase the once $24-million gap, and a survey that year asked residents to rank priorities for potential spending cuts.
Public services commissioner Brian Mastel told council that the parks plan involved “tweaks” to areas and a consciousness to be as unobtrusive as possible while seeking savings.
“We’re going to be checking in,” he said. “Our intention is to go through this summer being cognizant of feedback we receive, and adjust that if there are pressure points.”
He added that the seasonal budget has been set and hiring has occurred.
Coun. Phil Turnbull said a review of operations is needed, however “$200,000 is not going to break a $200-million budget,” and other areas should be cut first.
Administrators say they’ve surveyed the land under the care of the parks department and, based on use and circumstance, managers are adjusting operations to stretch the budget while affecting best-known, most-used areas the least.
No changes are planned at sports fields, and major parks will see little difference, but community parks could see grass cut longer to better retain moisture. The trail system will see trailside brush mowed just twice, compared to four times. Some isolated areas, like boulevards and other areas, will experience the biggest decline.
Parks and recreation has the largest non-utility budget at the city at $28.85 million, though a large portion is operating pools, arenas and other facilities. About $22.3 million of that is covered by taxpayers, or slightly more than the police service.
