Efficiency review program approved by Regina's executive committee

Regina's executive committee voted 8-1 Wednesday toapprove a plan to startan efficiency review program for the city.

"With the election of a new mayor and council, there is an opportunity to explore efficiencies," city administration said in a report. "The primary purpose of the efficiency review program is to find ways to 'do more or better with the same.'"

Administration said the city has tallied savings of $20 million over the past four years. The last time an efficiency review was done was in 2004. As a result, administration and Mayor Sandra Masters recommended a multi-phased review is, with the first phase anticipated to take until near the end of 2021.

"I think that COVID-19 has provided us the opportunity to transform in some respects," Masters said during the meeting.

The first phase would task an independent third-party consultant with reviewing six to eight city services through the lens of the social, economic and political climate in Regina and the province. This is estimated to cost up to $250,000. Those findingswould inform a comprehensive plan to guide mid- and long-term decisions.

Coun. Cheryl Stadnichukasked if internal staff could be used, instead of an external advisor.City administration said it is a matter of capacity, as city staff could look at two to three city services a year, whereas an independent person could look at six to eight and analyze them deeply.

"The public definitely values when there is an external review, an external objective lens on the process," administration said.

Councillor Dan LeBlanc spoke against hiring an external consultant. He said the main reason is trust and thatthis review seems to be about cutting costs and cutting services.

"The word we've been using is efficiency and I think in common parlance what efficiency means is less with less," LeBlanc said. "To me this is the first step down the path where we look at reducing service levels."

Stadnichuk said it was important to go into the review thinking there could be improvements to service levels.

City administration said thatonce the consultant is hired and given council endorsement, they will be reporting to administration on an ongoing basis.

Review one of the key promises of Masters' campaign

Conducting an efficiency review was a keypromise of Masters' 2020 campaign.

"As your mayor I will: Conduct an operations efficiency review within the first six months, and am committed to finding 15 [per cent] in savings from increased operational efficiencies," her campaign platform said in Oct. 2020.

The report was not public as of Tuesday afternoon, but was listed first on the agenda for Wednesday'smeeting.

"This is about being resourceful, as resourceful as possible in a critical time when the city needs to be prudent and strategic during a pandemic. It's definitely not about job cuts or service cuts," Masters said about her plan on Oct. 23, 2020.

Masters said she cannot commit to not cutting jobs, but that she doesn't think job losses will be necessary.She said the report wouldlook at policies, procedures and wasted time that can be streamlined to be more efficient.

"A perfect example is if there's a policy or procedure that requires two or three levels and departments aren't talking to each other," she said on Oct. 23. "So you're getting redundant approval processes. [If] you remove one that should save somebody, any one person an hour during their day."