We could see some changes to city services next year as part of the city’s wide-ranging program and service review.
City Council is asking their staff to look at how to put some of the recommendations into action. The report includes 45 suggestions on ways to save money, including closing facilities like the Centennial Botanical Conservatory. The city has not committed to carrying out any of them yet.
Councillor Andrew Foulds expects that to be a long-term project.
“We’re going to get this report, but frankly, I think this report lives for a few years. I don’t think it dies in the middle of December and then [stays around] for one budget,” Foulds says.
At-large Councillor Rebecca Johnson agrees, adding it puts them on the right track.
“I think that it will be a living document, an opportunity to really make some things happen for our community as well as the city itself, corporately,” Johnson notes.
McKellar Ward Councillor Brian Hamilton supported the motion, which was amended to ask city staff to consider the recommendations’ “value to city residents.” Hamilton warns that could lead to over-analyzing each suggestion.
“And I’m not suggesting that we just bulldoze this through, but if we have to kind of add this qualitative kind of component to every decision that we’re going to make, we’re really going to water down this document,” he argues.
The breakdown of the review’s suggestions will be back before Council before the 2021 budget.
