The priority list, to be formally adopted at an upcoming meeting, will influence the next two city budgets (2022 and 2023-24) and steer council s policymaking focus for the next two years. Council members narrowed down the priorities at a follow-up to their semi-annual retreat Tuesday night at Innosphere Ventures.
About half of the priorities are environment-related: Improve air quality, aid bird species recovery, get a municipal composting program off the ground, protect and enhance river flows and improve the Transfort network so community members can get anywhere in the city by bus within an hour, among others.
Other priorities include considering a realignment of the municipal election from April to November so voters can participate in the school board and city elections simultaneously, eliminating the sales tax on menstrual products, raising the minimum wage and making child care more affordable and accessible.