In adopting the City of Powell River’s 2014 annual report, some have characterized the document as a good read.
Councillor CaroleAnn Leishman, at the Thursday, June 18, city council meeting, said that council had received the 2014 annual report and that it was an excellent publication.
“It covered all of the basics that have to be in the annual report, including the audited financial statements, the details on tax exemptions, reports on municipal services and operations, progress reports—it has all of the stuff that is legislated and needs to be in there, but it is also interesting to read,” Leishman said. “It’s a feel-good story when you read it. It’s very user friendly.”
Leishman then read the recommendation that the 2014 annual report be accepted and that the public be invited to make submissions or ask questions regarding the annual report at the July 2 council meeting.
The motion was carried unanimously.
At Tuesday, June 16, committee of the whole meeting, Marie Claxton, city clerk, said the annual report is legislated under the Community Charter.
“I do want to say that staff really looked at this differently this year,” Claxton said. “We tried to make it, to quote somebody: ‘pretty.’ We want people to actually pick it up…and read it.”
The city’s 2014 annual report features a number of photographs and still manages to publish the information that needs to be conveyed, Claxton said. She added the report was presented in positive fashion, strategic priorities were listed and accomplishments were noted.
Claxton said the report is now available to the public and under the legislation, council must provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions or make submissions regarding the report. She suggested the public have an opportunity to speak regarding the document at the Thursday, July 2, council meeting. During the delegations portion of the meeting, people will be given an opportunity to speak regarding the annual report.
Claxton said the annual report was the work of the whole city organization but thrived under two people’s leadership: Patricia Wilkinson and Malonie Shaffer. The annual report was all done in house.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said she thought it was a spectacular job.
“It’s so well done and well laid out,” she said. “I think it’s a document that people will look through.”
Mayor Dave Formosa asked how people could access the annual report. Claxton said the report is online. There is a link to it on the city’s homepage. If people want a hardcopy version they can purchase it at city hall, according to Claxton.
Formosa said he thought the report was a very good job and he enjoyed going through it.
Councillor Russell Brewer, chair of the committee of the whole, said he really liked pages 26 and 27 in the report that featured a breakdown of where the money goes. He said he’d like to see that information included in the city’s tax mailout in future.
