Mayor Linnsie Clark answers questions on community issues as posed by Barry Finkelman, director of the Medicine Hat Kiwanis Club and master of ceremonies, during the annual State of the City address and luncheon on Tuesday at the Medicine Hat Lodge.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Mayor Linnsie Clark says that although herself and the eight newly elected councillors are “indeed a motley crew,” the chemistry is positive and each member is ready to work together in the best interests of the community.
“We’re not the same people,” Clark told reporters following her annual State of the City address on Tuesday afternoon, referring to a challenging year of conflicts between elected officials and staff.
“We’re different, but we all share a common goal and really willing to work towards working together. This council recognizes that being a team is one of the most important things that we can do for our community,” she said.
Clark made the motley crew reference during opening statements of her address at the luncheon, adding that councillors have been taking part in team-building activities outside work.
Following the October election, Clark said Coun. Brian Varga and his wife invited the newly elected council for an introductory dinner.
“We ate some delicious food and played some standard get-to-know-you games,” said Clark. “And this presented an opportunity for each of us to make a choice, to be guarded, self-centred, superficial, or to risk openness, trust, team spirit and fun. I am very pleased to tell you this council jumped into the latter with two feet.”
Clark says members shared “a lot of laughter that night,” and that camaraderie continued during a November trip to Calgary to attend the Alberta Municipalities Convention and Trade Show.
“We are indeed a motley crew. One of us drives a Jag while another has to crawl through their passenger side door to open the driver’s side. One of us got their hair cut short to prepare for this role, another of us rocks the heck out of a glorious legendary mullet,” said Clark. “Some of us are a little bit country, while others could not possibly be more city. But beyond the superficial, we are bonded by the goal of serving this community to the best of our ability, and we all have a healthy dose of humour.”
Clark says one of her goals this term is to see realization of an important idea or goal each council member has.
“We have a council that brings a lot to the table, and so I’m really interested in hearing all of their ideas and what they’re passionate about,” said Clark. “I want each member of this council, in four years, to see something that they were passionate about that was accomplished.”
A starting point to establishing council’s key priorities is being discussed through high-level strategic planning sessions that will identify this group’s vision for the next four-years.
“And once we have that, we’re also going to try to identify what the key priority areas are specifically,” explained Clark. “How are we going to measure them? And then do a dashboard so our community, our council and administration can see the progress we’re making, or not making, on a particular thing, and then retool as necessary.”
Clark expects the process to take a few months but predicts council should have the final version of its strategic plan by late spring or early summer.
