The reason for the decision is obvious: COVID-19 restrictions. City Manager Randy Patrick made the recommendation at council to cancel the formal tour. He explained that the province had just dropped the maximum outdoor gathering size to ten people. This posed a major logistical challenge in setting up the event. Normally, the Twinkle Tour attracts upwards of 400 people. But Patrick noted there are issues when those taking part in the tour would get out to take pictures at some of the more notable displays. To handle the crowds, the city would have required a large contingent of staff “which we don’t have for this, we never have, to keep the crowds under control,” said Patrick.
The presentations from all the city departments have now wrapped up. The feeling from council is they should meet again Thursday night for some final discussions, as they consider whether to go ahead with the administration proposal of a one percent property tax increase for 2021, or adjust it up or down. That deliberation session is scheduled to begin at 6:20 p.m. Thursday evening, and is again open to the public on ZOOM. It will be held right after council meets for an in-camera matter. The latest three-hour-long budget session covered a lot of ground. One discussion right at the start was a holdover from Monday’s discussion: whether money could be found for the “unfunded” additional CSO position so it could be included in the 2021 budget.