By TERRY PUGH
With the population of Warman doubling from 7,100 residents in 2011 to 14,500 in 2026, the city is reorganizing its senior management structure to build capacity to meet additional infrastructure and service needs over the next decade.
Warman City Council voted at its August 24 meeting in favour of a resolution to begin the first phase of a long-term strategy aimed at clarifying and strengthening leadership positions in all departments, as well as increasing coordination and collaboration between departments.
Beginning this fall, the city intends to consolidate two positions (Director of Infrastructure and Director of Planning & Development) into a single portfolio.
In addition, during the first phase of a three-phase plan, the city intends to create four new senior management positions: Director of Corporate Services, Manager of Recreation and Community Services, Senior Planner, and Municipal Engineer. These positions will be implemented gradually over the next two years.
A city administration report to the August 24 council meeting noted that “the recommended positions provide the strategic leadership, technical expertise, and management capacity necessary to support continued growth, strengthen governance, and improve service delivery.”
The report states that these priority positions expand professional capacity in areas experiencing the greatest organizational complexity.
“Administration believes it is preferable to build organizational capacity proactively, before operational pressures begin affecting service delivery,” stated the report, adding that the city “has historically operated with a lean management structure” that relied heavily on individual managers’ dedication, experience and commitment.”
The first phase of the reorganization plan, slated to be launched this fall, is expected to take about two years.
Phase 2 is expected to run from Year 3 to Year 5 and is focused on expanding the city’s engineering, corporate services, information technology, and communications capacity.
Phase 3 represents the longer-term organizational structure expected over the five-to-ten year time frame.
All additional staffing in future years is subject to annual budgets ultimately determined by city council.
The organizational restructuring initiative is the result of a review prepared for the city by an independent consulting firm, the Stratford Group. The review was approved by city council in 2025 and a budget was allocated. The consultants’ completed review was submitted to council at a committee of the whole meeting on August 17.
The consultant’s review recommended a phased approach as the city transitions “from an emerging small city toward an established small city, where increasing organizational complexity requires additional leadership and corporate capacity rather than simply expanding operational staffing.”
The city administration recommended to council “a modified implementation approach that reflects the city’s current operational priorities, financial capacity and organizational needs.”
During discussion of the plan on August 24, councillors expressed support for building organizational and leadership capacity for the future.
Warman Mayor Gary Philipchuk said he appreciated the phased approach suggested in the review, noting it has been a long process that began last year.
However, Councillors Richard Beck and Marshall Seed said they wanted to see more clarification of roles and responsibilities for some of the proposed new senior management positions, specifically the Director of Corporate Services.