Plans to create a strategic plan for the City of Victoria have changed after Mayor Lisa Helps abandoned her original recommendation last Thursday.

Initially, Helps expressed interest in hiring a $55,000 consultant to help develop the four-year strategic plan. After pushback from several councillors, Helps amended her motion to have current city staff develop the strategic plan instead.

“I was attempting to bring a new set of thinking tools, but maybe that’s down the road,” said Helps. “My number one job right now is to build a strong team at the council table, and part of that means that I’m open-minded even when I put forward an initiative.”