As I write this, the snow is flying fast and so it seems, is Council. I am very pleased to tell you that we have been working hard to make headway on two of our top priorities.

First, we were very pleased with CUI’s announcement that they would not be seeking a rate increase this year. We continue to have conversations with the CUI Board about our vision for bringing long term stabilization to the company and rate relief to residents.

Second, we know that taxes are a major cause of concern for residents and we are planning to review the 2018 Budget very soon. Prior to setting the budget however, we needed to outline our priorities and initiatives. To that end, I am very pleased to let you know that we are in the final stages of completing our 2018-2022 Strategic Plan. This document clearly lays out our goals for sustainability and affordability in our community. It will be made public later this month and I invite you to review it and our plans for the coming year. Watch especially for goals around increasing our non-residential tax base and a commitment to exploring seniors housing.

Next year we will consult with you about our Strategic Plan and get your feedback on the initiatives identified. For this year however, we needed to get the plan in place so we could proceed to reviewing the 2018 Budget before the Tax Rate Bylaw deadline. That being said, be assured that our conversations with you this past Fall fully influenced the goals we set for 2018 and will continue to guide us as we review the 2018 Budget.  

On the regional front, I’m encouraged by conversations we’ve had to date with Rocky View County. One of the items we are looking at is how we can be strong advocates and good neighbours in the new provincially mandated Calgary Metropolitan Region Board.

Finally, we are making progress on finding a new Chief Administrative Officer. We have secured an executive search firm to help us find the right person for this critical role. While we hope to find someone soon, Council is committed to taking enough time to find the person who will be the best fit for the organization and our community.

We have a lot of other things on the go and Council and I would be pleased to tell you about them or discuss your questions at any time. Feel free to join us during our two public question period opportunities at Council meetings, at our monthly Coffee with Council, or by contacting any of us directly. We look forward to hearing from you.  

Mayor Chalmers