The Mayor of Steinbach says City Council needs to come up with an action plan for its next step regarding recreation and cultural facilities.

Chris Goertzen made that comment Friday morning, ten days after City Council decided to drop plans for a multiplex and instead move ahead with a downtown performing arts centre. Since that

(Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen)time, councillors Cari Penner and Michael Zwaagstra have stated it is best for a performing arts centre to be built downtown and that a large arena and other recreation facilities be built elsewhere. While, Deputy Mayor John Fehr has gone on record as saying he hopes the city will develop a workable plan for new recreation and cultural facilities at one site.

Goertzen says council has made a decision to move forward, and though councillors are not in agreement over what direction to take, they have a responsibility to come together and carry on.

"As Mayor, obviously I'm going to lead Council in making sure that we reflect the community and what they want to see," notes Goertzen. "That we make sure that we reflect what Council wants to see and I look forward to working with them in the next number of weeks to finalize more of the details of the next steps."

Goertzen says City Council has made it clear that it wants to move forward with a performing arts centre in the next year if funding is available. But he says an action plan is needed.

"I look forward to working with Council," says Goertzen. "Despite the differences that we've had, we can do very well for our city."

The topic came up Friday morning at the Mayor's monthly open door session. He says residents just want to know where City Council is headed. He says Council will clearly define that as it moves forward.

"We have a number of resolutions and we're going to respect those resolutions that Council passed," says Goertzen. "We're going to set that vision moving forward and Council will be able to clearly define that in the next number of weeks."

Goertzen says Council must think big picture and look long term.

"I'm confident that Council will come up with a plan that will be satisfactory to majority of people in our city, that will be cost effective and reasonable," he says."

Read More:

Two Steinbach Councillors Ready To Move Forward On Arts/ Recreation Planning

Steinbach Deputy Mayor Not Giving Up On New Recreation Facilities

Steinbach City Council Kills Multiplex Plan