Quesnel City Council Maintains Focus on Cost Control

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

 “As part of its continuing efforts to ensure Quesnel remains a vibrant and resilient community through this transition period, Council has continued to focus on reducing the City’s operating costs and this week we’re announcing some staff and service changes that will help us achieve our target of $525,000 in cost reductions for the 2016 budget,” said Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson.

Earlier this year Quesnel City Council implemented staff changes at City Hall that will result in a net savings of approximately $250,000 starting in 2016. This week Council announced further program and service changes in an effort to achieve the remainder of its targeted cost reductions for 2016. These changes include:

·        Taking advantage of an attrition opportunity to restructure administrative staff at the RCMP detachment;

·        changing the hours of operation at the Quesnel & District Museum to seasonal (May to September) rather than year-round;

·        renegotiating the contract for the Quesnel & District Visitors Center; and,

·        making changes to residential garbage pick-up and landfill operating hours.

Starting the week of November 16, residential garbage pick-up will occur every two weeks rather than weekly. Also starting November 16, the landfill will be closed Mondays and statutory holidays with the exception of Boxing Day. 

Bi-weekly residential garbage pick-up will be aligned with MMBC’s recycling materials pick-up, the revised schedule will be posted on our website shortly.

“The changes to residential garbage pick-up frequency and landfill operating hours are the first steps in Council’s review of our entire waste management system,” said Mayor Simpson. “Council’s overarching goal is to develop and implement a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling strategy that will simultaneously achieve environmental, climate change, and cost reduction objectives.”

“This week’s announced changes to staffing, service levels, and operating hours are all part of Council’s commitment to ensure that the City of Quesnel is fiscally prudent and sustainable,” said Mayor Simpson.