Outgoing city manager Jim Puffalt is leaving city hall with “no regrets” and believes his efforts have helped set Moose Jaw on a positive path for growth.
Puffalt’s first day with the City of Moose Jaw was May 8, 2018; his last day was April 28.
“The five years has gone by incredibly fast. I remember the first week I was here and we were out picking garbage,” Puffalt said during his last council meeting on April 24. “And then High Street was what it was. And it was an extremely hectic first week — and it’s only gotten busier since then.”
In Puffalt’s first year, he dealt with the Downtown Facility and Field House (DFFH), managed Mosaic Place, and acted as the director of the parks and recreation department. Council also tasked him with creating a strategic plan and enhancing the economic development team.
The latter group has been critical to the community’s economic success during the past four years since that plan has facilitated almost $1.3 billion in new investment, he said. That’s 10 times larger than any five years in Moose Jaw, while the second-best year for building permits was 2022.
“I had the privilege of being the lead on a number of these major projects, either (with) negotiations or finding solutions,” said Puffalt.
Some projects included SaskPower’s Great Plains Power Station, the Canadian Tire development, the joint-use school, the North 49/Donald’s Fine Foods sow processing plant, the Holiday Inn Express hotel and a yet-to-be-announced project.
The strategic plan facilitated the new community tagline, “Canada’s Most Notorious City,” and led to the “Get A Life” campaign, Puffalt said.
Furthermore, there were seven economic development-related objectives that the city hall team pursued, including 150 specific efficiency initiatives under the entrepreneurial and civic administration category, he continued.
Some initiatives included an award-winning customer service management system, an award-winning succession planning model and the — just implemented — Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software program.
Puffalt also led the implementation of the climate action plan, started reconciliation efforts with Aboriginal Peoples, revamped the budget process so it was completed by December and ensured completion of capital projects rose to 90 per cent from 60 per cent, and reorganized departments.
“And not to mention, we had a little thing called COVID going on for a couple of years that we had to work our way through,” he chuckled.
Puffalt pointed out that city council, city administration and city staff — and not just him — helped accomplish all these items. Furthermore, he thanked the chamber of commerce, downtown association, Tourism Moose Jaw, the library and third-party groups for finding solutions to improve the community.
“My job on the team was to listen, to be empathetic, (and) to find out what the team needed to be successful such as strategic plans, initiatives, (and) resources,” he said. “(Also), provide an example of commitment to growth and growth of our community.”
Puffalt then thanked many past and present department directors and staff with whom he had worked.
“It has been a huge joy and privilege to come back to Moose Jaw to serve the community for five years. I’ve done everything I set out to do (and have done) everything that was asked of me when I was recruited,” he added. “There’s a tremendous system and team in place to ensure continued success (so) that amazing momentum and growth of the past five years can carry on.”
During a media scrum afterward, Puffalt said he leaves with “no regrets” and had an exciting five years. He thought one external challenge facing Moose Jaw was a shortage of labour and rental accommodations, while city hall was in “really good shape.”
Mayor Clive Tolley commended Puffalt for having had a positive effect, saying his professionalism and knowledge carried the municipality through several difficult stretches. The mayor added that the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators is recognizing Puffalt’s 40 years of service with an award on May 31.
Tolley also thanked public works director Darrin Stephanson for his seven years of work with the city. Stephanson’s last day was April 28.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, May 8.
