Powell River residents had an opportunity to chat with a City of Powell River councillor on Sunday, November 25 and share with him their ideas for strategic priorities.
Councillor Russell Brewer was available for people to sit down and talk with him at The HUB in Townsite. He said about 25 people popped by at different times throughout the afternoon. “They brought some good ideas,” he said. “I’ll bring them forward with me later this week.”
Council is having a strategic planning session starting tonight (November 28) and all day tomorrow, but it is in-camera, which means it is closed to members of the public.
Generally, Brewer said, people told him there needs to be an increased focus on reliance by the city on its “soft assets” for solutions and planning over the short- and long-term and on an ongoing basis. “For example, the people and knowledge that exist in Powell River and the somewhat intangible assets, such as initiatives around sustainability, agriculture, arts, culture and recreation and the growing reputation of those initiatives within and outside the community that are drawing people here.”
Brewer said he particularly liked the idea of creating a committee of community groups that could advise council and more council liaison appointments to community groups. “This might be a way to tap into the soft assets,” he said.
Many people said they appreciated the opportunity to talk to him and share some ideas, said Brewer. “It was definitely worthwhile doing,” he said. “Just given the response, so many people appreciated being able to give some feedback outside of a formal meeting, because there’s not really an opportunity to do that.”
Brewer said he plans on being available for further conversations once a month starting in the new year. “It was fun,” he said. “I enjoyed doing it. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but there obviously are people who want to have an opportunity to give some feedback.”
