As Steinbach changes and grows, so too must the City of Steinbach as an organization.

Currently, the City is organized with a City Manager and ten departments and employs approximately 150 full-time and part-time staff. City management anticipates continued growth and is making plans to change the current organizational structure to better support ongoing residential and commercial development while maintaining its current service levels. A review of the City’s organizational structure is needed given the current demographics of its workforce, the imminent retirement of some senior management employees, and the challenges being faced in meeting community expectations.

“While the current structure has served the organization and community well over the years, it is time to be more proactive and establish a new structure that is more forward looking and fully utilizes the strengths of our employees,” said City Manager, Jack Kehler.

In the longer term, the review will address the needs of all departments, the productivity of departments, staff realignment, human resource allocation, as well as possible consolidation of functions and departments. Phase one of the transition is the establishment of a Corporate Services Department. Corporate Services will be responsible for the financial services both internal and external to the organization, and will include all treasury functions, contract management, communications, budgeting and reporting, purchase and risk management, and information technology, with an overall focus on internal department support and external customer service. Troy Warkentin, current City Treasurer, will be taking on the new role of Manager of Corporate Services.

“Implementing these changes will strengthen the City’s external relationships and will help sustain an organization that is engaged; that is keenly focused on the strategic plan; and that is committed to enhancing communications and more effective, efficient decision making,” said Kehler.

Further changes at the City are planned and are dependent on the reallocation of resources and timing. City management will be focusing on implementation of changes over the foreseeable future. All opportunities for improvements, including corporate culture, leadership, decision-making, communication, and processes will be examined.

Mayor Chris Goertzen also expressed enthusiasm for the review.

“The City currently has an excellent workforce which demonstrates various strengths and delivers great services to the community. Council feels that there are also a number of challenges that can be addressed through organizational change, and City Council supports this progressive initiative,” said Mayor Goertzen.

The last formal organizational review of the City was completed in 1976.