Time might be right to make changes at IPG
Mayor Shari Green envisions a productive partnership between the city and its economic arm, Initiatives Prince George.
A major change at IPG, the resignation of CEO Tim McEwan with Heather Oland taking on the position as acting CEO combined with the election of a new mayor and council might provide opportunities to re-align objectives, however.
"As a new council we've had an information sharing session with IPG," Green said.
This, she said, occurred the day following the internal shift at IPG, so the session took place with Oland as acting CEO.
"It was a change IPG made," she said. "It allows us to create new opportunities. We may choose to move forward in the same direction, or go in a different direction with them. It was our first face-to-face meeting in some time and it gave us a solid opportunity to talk about the city's direction and our shared desire for prosperity."
She said there is a lot of positive momentum going forward. Funding levels for IPG will stay at the 2011 level, however, a decision council made after a requested report from staff set out options regarding keeping the proposed tax increase between two and four per cent.Further savings, Green said, would be appreciated.
"Any opportunity to lower the budget would be welcomed," she said.
Green and Oland recently spend a day in Vancouver providing a presentation on Prince George as the strategic service centre for northern B.C.
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