The First 100 Days as City Manager: Expectations, Observations and Surprises – What are the Key Issues Going Forward? (Part 1)

The City of Lethbridge use the council-manager form of city government i.e. city council makes laws and broad policy decisions for a city manager and staff to carry out. In other words, under the council-manager form of government a city manager fills the role of chief executive officer (CEO) of the government organization. Like a private sector CEO does for a private company, a city manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a city and serves as the chief advisor to city council. In supervising daily operations of a city, a manager is responsible for effective and efficient government service. All city employees ultimately answer to a city manager and such can hire and fire staff as appropriate and allowable by law. As a council’s chief policy advisor, a city manager can recommend city policy for consideration by council. A manager has a professional obligation to give complete and unbiased information to council. A manager should consult with department heads and the city solicitor to ensure the advice he or she gives is sound. Bramwell Strain, Lethbridge’s new City Manager, will describe his experience in Lethbridge (so far) followed by an outline of his immediate and future priorities, as well as his vision for the City of Lethbridge. Speaker: Bramwell Strain, Lethbridge City Manager In his various roles prior to becoming City Manager in Lethbridge, August 2018, Mr. Strain had direct responsibility for more than 2,000 employees in unionized environments and has overseen public programming and capital budgets of up to $1.8 billion. Since 2016, he served as a deputy minister in the Government of Manitoba in the ministries of infrastructure as well as education, training and immigration. Previous to 2016, Mr. Strain had a background with the Federal Government serving as Assistant Deputy Minister for Western Economic Diversification, Regional Director General for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Director General for Service Canada, and Associate Regional Director General for Veterans Affairs. Moderator: Councillor Jeffrey Coffman Date: Thursday, Dec 6, 2018 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required