City council approved dozens of initiatives during its 2021 budget deliberation meetings, but it also eliminated some projects or pushed them into the future to help keep next year’s tax increase manageable.
Installing more parking meters on First Avenue Northwest, implementing a project in the human resources department and moving to full-year bi-weekly garbage pick-up were some projects that council either removed completely or decided to pursue in 2022.
Parking meters
The public works and utilities department wanted to install 12 single parking meters and 10 double parking meters on the east side of First Avenue Northwest from Manitoba Street to Oxford Street for $24,000.
Installing these additional meters would have created extra revenue of $7,040 per year, improved traffic safety, and clarified the single northbound land by identifying the parking lane, a budget report said. The additional meters would have also provided parking on First Avenue Northwest’s east side for businesses and multi-unit apartments.
There are 900 parking meters throughout Moose Jaw and generate about $650,000 in annual revenue or $700 per meter, the report added. While the existing meters on First Avenue Northwest are not used consistently, city administration expected that the new meters would each generate an estimated $320 per year.
Council unanimously voted to receive and file the report.
“I am not in favour of this. Parking around Central (Collegiate) and Oxford (Street) is mostly used by people who work at Canada Post all day because there’s nothing close, and all students as well,” said Coun. Crystal Froese. “I don’t see a great urgency in this … .”
Bi-weekly garbage collection
City administration proposed moving to a full year bi-weekly residential waste (garbage) collection schedule to help reduce annual operating costs by $88,925, while also including a free yard waste weekend in June and July for roughly $4,000.
The municipality’s weekly garbage collection currently operates from June to September and requires additional labour and an extra garbage truck, the budget report explained. The city provides bi-weekly collection the other eight months of the year.
The public works and utilities department noted that 17.35 kilograms of 69.4 kilograms collected from residential waste during the week comprise recycling and other materials that can be diverted through other programs.
Council voted unanimously to receive and file the report.
“This is my least favourite topic. We’ve been down this road before and oh my goodness … ,” said Froese. “I realize there are savings here. I voted on this last time and it did not turn out well.”
“I worry about the backlash of moving to bi-weekly year-round,” echoed Coun. Doug Blanc. “I dread the calls.”
Human resources
The human resources department wanted to implement an out-of-scope job evaluation framework effective Jan. 1, with $30,000 to come from the operating budget and $60,000 from excess salary reserve accumulations in 2021, $60,000 from the operating budget and $30,000 from excess salary reserve accumulations in 2022 and $90,000 from the operating budget in 2023, for a total cost of $270,000.
A job evaluation plan ensures that the organization has a sound basis for its pay levels and job hierarchy, one that is “gender-neutral” and based on equal pay for equal work, explained human resources director Al Bromley. The revised job evaluation plan for out-of-scope staff ensures that the plan and compensation factors reflect current and future needs.
“From a human resources perspective, it’s about fairness and equity,” he added.
Council voted 5-2 to defer this project to the 2022 budget. Councillors Kim Robinson and Froese were opposed.
The first regular council meeting of 2021 is Monday, Jan. 11.
