In its latest Strategic Plan as part of the Governance Review, council committed to enhance support for roles such as advocacy and engagement.

Council voted at Monday’s meeting to hire Crown Strategic Consulting (CSC) to do this work.

Mayor Chris Spearman says last year’s change in provincial government from NDP to UCP requires a change in approach.

“I think that everyone recognizes that the drug issues and drug-related crime are challenges for cities right across Alberta. Lethbridge being Alberta’s third-largest city, we seem to be missing out on programs that are available in the two larger cities and we need to find a way to make sure our needs are being paid attention to.”

Spearman claims that contracting this work out is actually the more cost-effective means of increasing advocacy.

For a “trial” six month term, the city will pay $5,000 per month plus $1,000 in expenses, coming to a final bill of $36,000.

“If we were to hire a person, we’ve looked at what they’re paid in other cities – over $100,000. You make a commitment and if it doesn’t work out, you’re looking at severance or termination costs, so this way, we can have a defined contract period of six months and then assess whether we want to continue that or hire an individual or whether there’s been any success at all.”

The mayor told LNN that CSC has more than 30 years of experience working with local and provincial governments, which is why the city specifically wanted to hire them.