Red Deer residents with ideas on how City Hall should run in 2011 are encouraged to attend a public open house on the municipal budget.
The session will run on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Westerner Park’s Harvest Centre.
“This is an opportunity for people to have their say into our budget,” said Corporate Services Department director Lorraine Poth on Monday.
Among those items people may wish to talk to senior administration or city council about are snow removal and policing matters.
This is the second year that the city is hosting a public open house to gauge people’s opinions about city services before budget decisions are made.
The format is different from last year, when staff presentations were given and a question-and-answer period followed.
Poth said display boards outlining the budget and different departments will give people an idea of what to expect. They’ll then have the chance to workshop with other participants, including a member of city council who will sit at each table.
Computers will also be inside the room, where residents can give their opinions through a new interactive City of Red Deer website, www.letstalkreddeer.ca
Those unable to attend will be able to give input through that same website for the next six weeks.
The city is seeking feedback on planning for parks in the future. The Let’s Talk Parks forum is available until June 3.
A similar forum will be set up online about the city’s proposed Environmental Master Plan.
Charity Dyke, communications co-ordinator for the city’s Communications and Strategic Planning Department, said they hope to reach more people through the new online forum.
“We recognize that open houses are not always convenient for people,” Dyke said.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com