‘In a good spot’: Bachynski calls first executive committee meeting a success

Mayor Chad Bachynski said he thought the first executive committee meeting of his term went well.

Regina’s new councillors and mayor gathered at city hall for the first meeting of the term on Wednesday. Bachynski said he felt very optimistic about his first few weeks on the job, saying it’s been a smooth transition so far.

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“It was great to see the collaboration, great questions (and) just the interaction between council,” he told reporters.

“I anticipated drinking through a fire hose, so that has met expectations, I’ll say.”

Council unanimously approved several items at the meeting, including several early items ahead of budget deliberations in March. Budget talks are scheduled for March rather than December to give the fresh council members time to get up to speed.

City administration explained that the early items needed immediate approval to get a start on procurement and requests for major capital projects.

The executive committee approved $92.4 million for 2025/25 general fund capital projects, $131.7 million for utility fund capital projects and $5.6 million for the general operating fund.

“I think it’s going really well, and I think this is important – as stated in there – that we get the money approved for things that we know that have to continue on,” Bachynski said.

“It’s important, and I think we’re in a good spot.”

Some of the advance budget items include the 11th Avenue revitalization, residential road renewal, Vision Zero, and money for the Regina Police Service.

Regina’s executive committee also approved debt financing for the city’s water network expansion project. The measure would require a 1.39 per cent mill rate increase to fund principal and interest payments acquired in 2024.

Meeting schedule unchanged until March

Executive committee and council meetings are set for alternating Wednesdays, with executive committee beginning at 9 a.m. and city council meetings beginning at 1 p.m.

City clerk Jim Nicol explained that these hours were set by the previous council to accommodate the schedules of its members, and said the new council is able to change its schedule if it wishes.

Council unanimously voted to approve the current meeting calendar until the end of March, at which point city staff will return to council for further discussion on what the calendar will look like for the rest of 2025.