A proposal to have Regina’s city administration prepare a report of city services that should be prioritized was voted down by a majority of councillors. On Wednesday, Ward 2 Coun. George Tsiklis presented the motion, known as Project Service Prioritization, that requests administration prepare a report that classifies all 60 city services into defined categories deemed mandatory, discretionary and hybrid. The purpose of the prioritization report would be to help pay down city debt, rebuild reserves and secure a stronger financial future, according to the motion. “When money is tight, I think it’s important to know what sits at the top of the list and what sits lower,” Tsiklis told councillors, during a lengthy discussion on the matter. “It’s as simple as that. I don’t have a predetermined list. I’m not here to bring my ideas to council, I’m here to bring my residents ideas to council.” However the motion failed to pass with councillors voting 8 to 3 against. In addition to Tsiklis, Ward 1 Coun. Dan Rashovich and Ward 10 Coun. Clark Bezo voted in favour. When discussing the topic, Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak emphasized that deciding which services are more important than others should be council’s responsibility as opposed to administration’s. “I think it is important that we are trying to make these determinations … but I think it is our job as councillors to wrestle with these questions and then administration to respond in terms of the priorities that they set and give us their best recommendation,” Zachidniak said. “I think we are actually doing this now and should continue doing this. I think we heard yesterday about how this is happening already without this motion so I’m not able to support it.” With every councillor having a chance to speak to the motion, Ward 5 Coun. Sarah Turnbull said city council is already working towards achieving the same goal through its 2026–2029 Strategic Plan. Bezo shared why he was in favour of the motion stating the report would give council a chance to continue improving on specific goals. “There has to be a balance. It’s an opportunity cost of how to get there. We have to face the facts within the city, our residents and our administration, that we do have this problem, it’s called aged infrastructure,” said Bezo. “We also have a problem with, as councilor Tsiklis said, reserves … We have to sit as council to provide the direction, the strategic priorities to get there. I think what councilor Tsiklis’ motion is doing is trying to push council and administration, and I’m glad that the city manager said we are working on continuous improvement in that mindset. We also need administration to come back and tell us the truth about their pain points.” Regina city council’s next meeting is set for Sept. 8.
