City completes review of Council facilitator costs

Summary

A review of costs associated with hiring a facilitator to work with Council is now complete. Fees totalling $20,000 were billed to the City in accordance with a 2015 agreement with the Integrity Group providing team building support. Added to this amount, the Integrity Group also submitted an additional $28,000 in fees for work undertaken with the Mayor. During an In Camera meeting held February 15, Council unanimously voted to pay the $20,000 portion of the current $48,000 total.

Link to Strategic Plan: N/A

Key Points

  • A majority of Council feel the work undertaken by the Integrity Group resulted in a positive and changed dynamic between Councillors.
  • Final costs associated with services supplied by the Integrity Group total $48,000, of which $20,000 (via an agreement) was allocated to working with Council as a whole and will now be paid.

Quotes

"Early in our term, Council agreed to work with the Integrity Group in an effort to improve working relationships. In my opinion Council has made huge strides recently in creating a more positive and productive working atmosphere. While Councillors still vote individually as they see fit, the tone at meetings has been much more cooperative and respectful. I think this is what citizens expect of us as we work together to move the business of the City forward."

Councillor
City of Nanaimo

"I am greatly encouraged by the collaborative approach that the majority of Council is taking along with our Interim CAO and feel confident that we are moving forward in a positive way to do the work we were elected to do."

Councillor
City of Nanaimo

"The service provided by the Integrity Group has been completed. Overall, progress was made by Council, both as individual Councillors and as a group."

City Manager
City of Nanaimo
-30-

Contact:

Bill Bestwick
Councillor
City of Nanaimo
250-713-6876
Tracy Samra
City Manager
City of Nanaimo
250-755-4401

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