December 5, 2011 [updated December 28, 2011]: Whistler, BC –The RMOW has released the Service Review Program Report, the document detailing the recommendations from the internal service review that was conducted in the past year. The service review findings were adopted by Council at the October 18 Council Meeting. The report outlines the details of the recommendations for budget reductions, efficiencies and fee adjustments which will be implemented in a variety of Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) program and service areas.
The implementation of the recommendations from the review will see a budget savings of $1.14 million through service efficiencies and staff changes including the estimated reduction of the equivalent of 14 full time positions. The total estimated savings have been reduced from $1.2 million since the original October report to council further to a couple of changes in the recreation area including not moving forward with the level of reductions to cross-county trails originally planned for the Nicklaus North area of Lost Lake Cross Country. Savings and staff reductions will be achieved in 2012. Several items have also been identified for closer analysis for future savings.
The service review process, which began in Winter 2011, included a review of the organization’s largest departments—Community Life, Environmental Services and Park Operations. It was undertaken to evaluate how to best deliver municipal services to residents and guests in the most fiscally responsible way to reflect the trends, environment and changing needs facing the organization and the community at large.
An independent consultant was engaged by the municipality as a third party to help facilitate the review process. The fees were $105,153 for work on the service review between November 2010 and November 2011. This followed the initial organizational assessment work in 2010, which cost $21,715.
A review of the organizational structure is currently underway for all departments. It will identify the optimum management structure for the organization, with the goal to streamline the management structure and achieve additional cost-savings.
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About the Resort Municipality of Whistler
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is Whistler’s local government led by an elected council and administered by an executive team and staff on behalf of 10,000 residents and two million annual visitors. The RMOW manages municipal planning and development, park and Village operations, sports facilities and recreation, public utilities and environmental services, bylaws and enforcement, fire rescue, fiscal planning and financial services, legislative services, human resources, communications and the administration of the Whistler2020 Comprehensive Sustainability Plan and Whistler’s Official Community Plan.
Whistler’s vision is to be the premier mountain resort community as it moves toward sustainability. Whistler was the proud Host Mountain Resort for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.