Proposed Strategic Plan Draws Two Visions

What should be the values for the City of Moose Jaw drew two different responses when the issue came before Council.

One side was the main responsibility was to repairing and upgrading the City's core infrastructure (water, sewer and roadways) while the other was it encompassed many other things. It was all part of the proposed Strategic Plan shared with Council.

“We had an outstanding opportunity Council and community leadership to get together as a team and talk about the priorities and values and things going forward,” city manager Jim Puffalt said.

The strategic plan contained a Values section as well as an Objectives and Action Page. The action section contained all of the major accomplishments by Council this term but did not contain any failures such as converting to curb side garbage collection and Canadian Protein Innovation not setting up a pea protein plant in the new Southeast Industrial Park.

Councillor Brian Swanson saw things in a different light and the proposed strategic plan was too broad and not focused enough on the right priorities.

“I am not a fan of the strategic plan process but when this was discussed in-camera last week, two weeks ago I said we are three-quarters of the way through our term and we are still working on our strategic plan that says something,” Councillor Swanson said.

He said at that in-camera meeting the strategic plan was several pages long and he could condense it down to 26 words at that time but not could condense it to a shorter 21 words.

“I suggest this would be a better strategic plan,” Councillor Swanson said, adding “Rehabilitate the City's core infrastructure, water distribution and roadways in a cost effective manner that seeks to minimize impact on property tax payers.”

Councillor Swanson felt his version was the concise more appropriate strategic plan for Council and the City.

“I believe that is what duty calls for us very concisely all of this other stuff I consider it fluff, bureaucratic quicksand where elected officials diminish their role and responsibility.”

Rehabilitating core infrastructure without breaking taxpayers was the top priority, he said.

“If we can do that we are doing a great job. Everything else is going to be secondary to that.”

The Values Page Of The City's Proposed Strategic Plan - source City of Moose Jaw

Noticeably unimpressed with Councillor Swanson's strategic plan suggestion Mayor Fraser Tolmie said there was much more to the City's role than simply maintaining core infrastructure.

“I appreciate Councillor Swanson you have contributed these 21 words. And I think one of the things we have realized as a Council as a community and community leaders around the table is that it is not just one thing we have to deal with,” Mayor Tolmie said.

The Mayor spoke about a presentation by the West Park Community Association asking to work together to create an outdoor park and playground facility as an example of how Council and the City have a bigger role.

“There are other things we have to address and deal with. The people of this community yes they do want their roads. They want their roads paved. They want their roads cleaned. They want their garbage picked up. They want their recycling picked up. They want to go into a park and it is not littered with garbage. They want to live in a community where they are not robbed.”

“That's the values of this City it is very diverse and this value statement is very important to our community,” he said, adding it was not just Council but Tourism Moose Jaw, the Downtown Business Group and the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce that worked on it.

“We have members of this community who want to see this community move forward and they care about different things,” the Mayor stated.

He went on to state the City had spent more money in the past three years on infrastructure in recent history and repairs were being made..

“We have taken that responsibility and we have said this is the job we do, there is no fluff.”

The report was received and filed.

Objectives and Action Section Of the Proposed Strategic Plan - source City of Moose Jaw