November 25 Lethbridge City Council Meeting

By Lara Fominoff

Lethbridge council looking to fiscal restraint

Lethbridge City Council unanimously passes nearly a dozen potential fiscal restraint resolutions

Nov 26, 2019 | 7:27 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Eleven resolutions have been passed by Lethbridge City Council unanimously; many requiring City Manager Bramwell Strain to report back by June 2020, exploring the possibility of city asset sales, operational alternatives or funding withdrawal.

It’s part of Phase One of the City’s Fiscal and Operational Performance Review, completed by consultants KPMG, and presented initially at the Community Issues Committee meeting Nov. 18.

The first resolution requires Strain to explore ownership and operational alternatives for the Enmax Centre, and report back to City Council no later than June 1, 2020. Concurrently, he will also implement strategies and recommendations in the KPMG report that will have the Enmax Centre reduce its reliance on taxation support. Last year, the Enmax Centre received $1.8 million in funding from the city.

In addition, because the City owns about 50 per cent more assets than other comparable cities, Strain will also develop a framework to identify potential asset sales or disposals.

Funding for Recreation and Culture contracts will also be reviewed and may not be continued beyond 2020. That includes taxpayer funded monies given to the Lethbridge Sports Council ($55,000), Allied Arts Council ($107,000), Southern Alberta Art Gallery ($76,000), and Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden ($171,900). All of the funding requested by the groups approved in the 2019-2022 Operating Budget is for staffing and salaries.

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At the end of the school year, the City’s School Bus Operations Contract will not be renewed either. According to the City Manager, Lethbridge is the only municipality in North America that contracts school bus services, and issues around liability are a concern, as is the cost recovery model. The Public and Catholic school divisions have been or will be advised of the changes and the City will work with on a transition schedule.

Also in the KPMG report were several recommendations for Transit Services. Council has voted unanimously to direct Strain to explore the possibility of reduced Transit services during off- peak hours and to explore a revised eligibility requirement for the Access-A-Ride service. Again, the deadline to report recommendations for Council to consider is June 1, 2020.

The second phase of the Operational Review is also due around the same time. The second phase will examine potential efficiencies in several other departments including Water and Waste Water, the Electric Utility, Fleet Services and several other departments.

Strain is expected to hold a news conference Tuesday, to talk more in depth about the resolutions that were passed.