The city’s efforts to seek out awards for which any St. Albert resident — not just the city — can be recognized has hit a snag that council hopes it can correct during budget deliberations.
Council voted on Monday night to suspend the awards leadership committee, based on the committee’s own recommendation. Council also narrowly voted to have administration prepare a business case for this year’s budget that will detail what resources are needed to put towards a two-year pilot program to support the awards leadership initiative.
Envisioned by both former members of the committee and administration is an advisory committee with dedicated staff resources.
“Those were the options we came up with at our last meeting,” said Barry Bailey, former chair of the awards leadership committee.
The committee was proclaimed in November 2010 with the goal of seeking out award possibilities for all St. Albert residents, groups and organizations. It was the first of its kind, as most other cities look only for awards based on the efforts of municipal governments and their staffs.
But problems cropped up soon after the committee started meeting, according to a report from administration. There were problems developing both a short and long-term plan. Work commitments made it difficult to attain a quorum and eventually the majority of the committee members resigned. Particularly at issue was a group of volunteers meeting as a committee to perform work they believed was more “administrative” or “clerical” in nature.
“The more we talked, it became apparent that maybe this is a role for a city staffer,” said Bailey. “The more we looked at it, it was kind of an administrative kind of task.”
Some members of council seemed to believe the committee was hamstrung by an unclear mandate.
“What occurred to me is there seemed to be lack of structure or no criteria for awards,” said Coun. Malcolm Parker. “I was asking myself, ‘What is the purpose of the committee and what are the awards?’ ”
Acting city manager Chris Jardine replied the idea was to search for and identify awards, as well as develop a procedure through which residents could apply for them. However, he said from a staff perspective it could be difficult to fulfil that expectation.
In voting against establishing a business case, Coun. Wes Brodhead, who joined the proceedings from Toronto by phone, described the entire idea as poorly conceived.
“This whole activity has been floundering in ambiguity and we’re going to be debating a number of business cases and I believe this needs to be brought back when it’s fully thought out,” said Brodhead.
Jardine acknowledged existing staff had no time to take on this responsibility and suggested a part-time individual could take on the role, estimating it could take 15 to 20 hours a week. That person would become the “focal point” that makes sure residents and businesses are recognized for excellence. The rest of the board would then serve as in an advisory capacity.
“At least the ball’s been transferred to council at budget time,” Mayor Nolan Crouse said to Bailey, who was seated in the gallery. “It hasn’t been an easy one but that’s the way start-ups go sometimes.”
