Funding changes for Strategic Plan in budget

Councillor Lawrence Lee said if there were to be no surveys, he did not see a purpose for the Public Participation Coordinator. The City said the position’s purpose was to continue the momentum they currently have in engaging with the public. By removing the position from the budget, council removed $150,000 each in 2023 and 2024.

Prior to the decision, council debated on Thursday postponing the Strategic Plan item to have a larger workshop discussion in January to establish priorities that would potentially reduce the overall cost.

Councillor Vesna Higham said if council were to do this, she would like to amend the motion to secure funding for the Tourism Red Deer Business Plan Implementation of $158,609 in 2023 and $258,609 in 2024.

Sitting on the Tourism Red Deer Board, she said she doesn’t want the organization to wait until then for an undetermined response as she would like to see them begin working on their objective to becoming the Destination Development Corporation for events, a goal previously supported by council through funds in 2020.

Councillor Dianne Wyntjes said she supported the amendment and the dollars set aside for Tourism Red Deer.

“We trust administration to help us find our way and get things done and to water this resolution down, I’m shaking my head. Listen, budgets are hard. Each and every one budget is hard. This is an important part of our city for change and cultural change and achieving the objectives that we developed through strategic planning in consultation with citizens and now we’re going to water it down. I’m frustrated Mayor,” she said.

Councillor Lee voiced concern that certain organizations were being singled out unfairly.

City Manager Tara Lodewyk said she did not want the budget process to revert back to being a line-by-line debate.

by Alessia Proietti

Funding changes for Strategic Plan in budget

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