Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by PD City Hall (Paul Dechene)

Andrew Stevens @astevens81.bsky.social · 59m

Absolutely. City just cleared a massive upfront loan to Dream - a multibillion $$ REIT - for a lift station that allows Coopertown to proceed. It will be getting worse.

1 3

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 56m

Now now, Coopertown is only going to be *slightly* bigger than Moose Jaw at full build out. Is that really "sprawl" or is it "planned manspreading"?

2

Reposted by PD City Hall (Paul Dechene)

cherylstad.bsky.social @cherylstad.bsky.social · 9h

This reminds me of when the SK Party government wanted school boards to use their reserves to makeup for govt funding cuts to operating budgets

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

Radons: I have residents who are concerned about funding & funding & funding the library when you're sitting on reserves & we're at the bare minimum. Maybe we could borrow yours? Or you could look to—
Rashovich: Councillor…
Radons: Is there a question? No. #yqrcc

1 3

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 11h

I imagine they'll be coming in December with a very *impressive* list of accomplishments.

1

Reposted by PD City Hall (Paul Dechene)

Larissa Kurz @larissagkurz.bsky.social · 15h

It was indeed an excellent show and taught me that the one universal in city planning no matter where you are in Canada is that someone, at some point, has pitched the idea of putting a dome over public spaces because snow sucks.

Alexander Quon @alexanderquon.bsky.social · 1d

Regina’s Globe Theatre pulled off the difficult task of capturing the zaniness of city politics and the importance of municipal planning into a tight, well-placed package. A wonderful adaptation of @joshokane.bsky.social ‘s book.

Some worthwhile lessons for councillors and council watchers as well

1 3 4

Reposted by PD City Hall (Paul Dechene)

Andrew Stevens @astevens81.bsky.social · 17h

Oh, it gets better. The RPS also has access to City reserves, like the Asset Revitalization Reserve, which was used to buy the new station. That $$$ could have rebuilt all city pools, and then some…

1 1 3

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

Right? Almost like they're taking some of the burden off RPS. #yqrcc

2

Reposted by PD City Hall (Paul Dechene)

Alexander Quon @alexanderquon.bsky.social · 18h

The RPL essentially said that If council orders us to use our reserves to fund ongoing expenses then they will just have to make bigger mill rate increase requests down the road.

It's essentially short-sighted decision making centered around this year's mill-rate rather than sustainable planning

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

Radons: That's what reserves are for. You have to figure out what your minimums & maximums are b/c that's what we're doing. You have to take this back to your board & have a deep conversation about what you're going to come back w/ #yqrcc

2 7

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

I was glad to see the Housing Accelerator Fund report to receive zero pushback. It turned out to be the one unmitigated good-news story of the day.

And it is a good news story. The stuff they approved is, in my opinion, great. And overdue. So, way to go city council! #yqrcc

1

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

I did not expect Economic Development Regina to get raked over the coals the way they did. (B/c that has never really happened before.) And I did not expect for a councillor to openly ask about maybe folding EDR into city admin. #yqrcc

1 2

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

Well… that isn't exactly what I was expecting.
I did expect RPL getting dragged for asking for a mill rate increase. Didn't realize there'd be an ask for them to spend down their reserves. Did think some councillors would muse about ending the central branch project but that didn't happen. #yqrcc

1 2

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

And adjournment! Thanks everybody for following along! #yqrcc

2

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

Vote on referring RPL budget: unanimous. #yqrcc

1

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

RPL delegation done. No questions for admin about the RPL budget. Clerk clarifies that vote today is to refer RPL budget to budget debate, nothing is being approved today. More deliberation will happen in December. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

RPL: We're prudently putting money into reserves every year for a purpose. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

RPL: We have another reserve of about $800k that will be used to pay for an automated material handing equipment to add efficiencies. We put about $30k into fleet reserve. That's so we can purchase a vehicle so we don't have to come to council for a mill rate ask. #yqrcc

1

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

Froh asks what reserves are for.
RPL: Our next biggest reserve is the branch development reserve & its to renew or replace other branches. We are challenged to have enough to keep up facilities. #yqrcc

1

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

Radons: Can you use your reserves to offset operations?
RPL: If we use those reserves to offset a ongoing expense, we'll have to come back & ask for a mill rate increase to offset how we're depleting those reserves. #yqrcc

1

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

Radons: I have residents who are concerned about funding & funding & funding the library when you're sitting on reserves & we're at the bare minimum. Maybe we could borrow yours? Or you could look to—
Rashovich: Councillor…
Radons: Is there a question? No. #yqrcc

1 2

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

Radons: That's what reserves are for. You have to figure out what your minimums & maximums are b/c that's what we're doing. You have to take this back to your board & have a deep conversation about what you're going to come back w/ #yqrcc

1

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18h

Radons to RPL: I have concerns that you say you have quite significant reserves… if you're in the positive on those, I've concerns that we're asking residents to again support you for operations. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 19h

Oh my god… I just listened to this for the first time in years. My kid was 11 when I got her to record it. I can't believe the script I wrote for her. "By then what they'll do with your cerebrospinal fluid will already be decided…"

I'm surprised my kids are so normal. #yqrcc

City Hall WTF? What is Executive Committee? — Queen City Improvement Bureau

Many people have never heard of the city's Executive Committee. And among those who have, there are some misconceptions about Executive Committee's role in the city government. During the last munici...

queencityib.com

1 2

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 19h

RPL says they have about $1.5mil in operating reserves. And a few others that are set aside for specific projects. Those reserves are in the budget appendix. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 19h

RPL on using reserve for operations: That is for central library renewal. If it isn't there, then it isn't there for central library project. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 19h

Q from Turnbull about savings.
RPL says they have reserve of $19mil & means will not have to borrow as much for central branch project. #yqrcc