The City of Red Deer aims to boost its profile over the next several years with the help of a parade float, a centennial celebration and environmental achievements.
City council was told of the city’s increased promotional plans during the first day of 2010 operational budget discussions on Tuesday.
The Office of the Mayor and City Manager Division has asked for $20,000 on top of its base budget of $1.13 million to go towards planning the city’s centennial celebrations in 2013. Some of the money may be used for planning a new City of Red Deer parade float with a theme of environmental sustainability.
The city may also look at participating in the national Communities in Bloom program, which a number of Central Alberta communities are already involved in. Judges give communities marks in eight categories including floral displays and tidiness.
As well, it’s hoped this fund would allow staff to make presentations at conferences and publish articles in professional journals concerning Red Deer’s environmental efforts.
City manager Craig Curtis said the city has been raising its profile provincewide since last year when it introduced an advocacy budget of $60,000. This budget was designed to help council work with staff on promoting certain issues, such as the city’s desire to get provincial funding for a major road to span the growing northeast side.
Curtis said this separate advocacy budget is no longer there because it’s been included in the budgets of three departments, which already perform a lot of this kind of work.
“The strategist in Corporate Services acts as a resource for the mayor and I,” Curtis said. “And then we have regular meetings with the MLAs.”
Curtis has also requested for enough money to hire an employee who would look after city council needs, plus a strategic projects co-ordinator within his office. Both individuals would be hired later in the year, so the tally for 2010 would be just over $51,000 including new computer equipment and other setup costs. In 2011, the proposed budget for these two positions is $123,750.
The strategic projects co-ordinator may investigate how the city might deliver a service in a different way, Curtis said.
Curtis said he was reluctant to bring forward this position, considering this year’s operational budget is a tight one. Curtis said he has been “stealing” staff from other departments when necessary, and that’s not the best scenario.
The Communications and Strategic Planning Department has submitted a base budget of nearly $853,000, down from just over $1 million last year. It has asked for an additional $9,500 this year to review the city’s strategic plan and ensure it stays relevant.
Budget presentations will continue today in City Hall council chambers, starting at 3 p.m., and are open to the public.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com