How the COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping plans to build a new city hall
CTV
Council is reconsidering city hall’s long-term need for office space after the pandemic accelerated work-from-home opportunities for civic employees.
Council is reconsidering city hall’s long-term need for office space after the pandemic accelerated work-from-home opportunities for civic employees.
“It seems like we’re turning what was a very difficult and challenging situation into a potential positive,” explained Deputy Mayor Josh Morgan.
An update to city hall’s Master Accommodation Plan (MAP) determined that maintaining alternative work strategies will reduce the amount of work jspace needed to deliver municipal services by approximately 20 percent (56,000 square feet)
In an accompanying report, the city treasurer writes that the alternative work strategy enacted during the pandemic, “has resulted in no significant impact to service levels.”
An internal survey of more than a thousand municipal employees found that those who working at home feel more productive and prefer the flexibility.
The treasurer recommends a gradual approach.
Councillor Steve Lehman agrees, “I like the use of pilot (projects) to test the waters on such things as employee satisfaction, productivity, and cost savings.”
