They may not have agreed on where to find them, but residents attending Wednesday night's core services review session all knew there were opportunities for change.
Lively discussion filled upper-level meeting rooms at the Civic Centre as staff from consulting firm KPMG led about 60 people in focused conversations about services offered by the City of Prince George.
This was the first opportunity for real public input on the review process, which is in its third phase.
"Tonight's all about the exchange of ideas," explained KPMG project leader Alastair Nimmons. "Tonight's not about deciding which opportunities are good ideas or bad ideas, but getting the ideas on the table."
Suggestions ranged from creating a competitive bidding process on supplies, to selling surplus land, to mailing out property tax and utility notices only once per year, to looking at how the fire department is dispatched in relation to the ambulance service, to installing water meters on homes.
Staff took notes on suggested opportunities for cost-savings and efficiencies, which will be vetted with other suggestions from meetings with city managers, staff and members of the select committee on a core services review.
But despite the rapid-fire conversation, some attendees felt the process was flawed.
"I don't think it's reasonable to suggest you're going to get valuable input on seven service profiles in three hours," said Jo Graber.
Graber and others also questioned the firm's non-inclusion of staffing levels in various departments in the profiles. They only listed the salaries associated with providing the services.
"It's really too bad we don't have the [full-time equivalents]," said Rosalind Thorn. "It's almost like they're being left out intentionally."
But Margaret and Gerald Bolduc attended to ensure their voices were heard, having found the online survey too complicated to navigate - a problem Coun. Brian Skakun raised at the July 16 city council meeting.
Nimmons stressed that any further input can be made by sending email or post. The online survey will remain active on the city's website (www.princegeorge.ca) until Aug. 3.
Coun. Lyn Hall, a member of the select committee, attended the event with committee and council colleagues Frank Everitt, Albert Koehler and Mayor Shari Green.
He said he was pleased with the overall turnout (which needed an extra room to spill into) and the quality of the conversation.
"The people have done their homework and are very specific in their comments and creating opportunities for the city," he said.
