They've closed the book on the committee, but the core services review work will carry on, according to the mayor.
The city's select committee on a core services review held its final meeting Wednesday afternoon.
"This committee was a facilitator to work with KPMG on the project and the project in its formality has concluded," said Shari Green, who chaired the committee struck in January 2012 to serve as a project manager for the core review process. "So the committee doesn't need to continue to sit and if council wishes to work on a specific item or give some direction to staff, it would be in staff's role and realm to look after it and bring it back directly to council."
The bulk of the committee's work was finished some time ago, the mayor added, with the group last sitting down together on Jan. 18, 2013.
Before they could vote to disband, the committee - which also included councillors Frank Everitt, Albert Koehler and Cameron Stolz - dealt with an outstanding item centred on whether council should establish a business advisory committee.
That suggestion was part of a package of recommendations stemming from a 2012 select committee on business report.
The recommendations were forwarded to the core review committee but back in June 2012, the committee decided to postpone their consideration until after the KPMG-led project wrapped up.
On Wednesday, the committee received a report reviewing the council's economic and social development policies and strategies, as well as a recommendation from staff that an advisory committee on business is not required nor are changes to the policies necessary.
"Council receives advice on business from a number of sources, including its economic development corporation Initiatives Prince George, the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown and Gateway Business Improvement Associations," said a report from policy initiatives manager Wendy Nordin.
The select committee on business, comprised of members of the business community, was created in December 2011 to propose ways to reduce red tape and make city hall more accessible.
"I think you heard today that we're very comfortable with the progress that's been made and some incredible improvements in our development services department and you're seeing that reflected in the climate of the community with new investment happening," said Green. "So I think we're very pleased with where we're going."
There is still more that could be done, especially in terms of communicating to the community how the city is doing, said Stolz.
He suggested having the planning department report to council on a regular basis on the turnaround time for processing licences and development applications and industry response and satisfaction.
It's those types of ongoing projects that will fuel further core review work, said Green.
"It's measuring our success and for me that falls under continuous improvement - that we're always evaluating our level of customer service and continuing to adjust where we need to," she said.
- See editorial on page 6
