Warrnambool councillors on Monday will vote on who will become mayor of the city for the next year, but the public and their families won't be there to see it.
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Councillors have decided to limit the numbers for the event again this year, given coronavirus restrictions, but the meeting will be live-streamed.
Outgoing mayor Vicki Jellie, who stepped up to the role during her first term as a councillor, said she had enjoyed her time in the city's top job.
"The community part of it I've loved," Cr Jellie said.
She said she had enjoyed getting to know the other councillors and the council staff, but meeting with different community groups and engaging with the public had been a highlight.
Cr Jellie was one of seven new councillors voted in to office in October last year, and she said they had all learned together.
"It's been great for the whole team," she said.
Cr Jellie said securing funding for a new boat ramp for the harbor had been one of the biggest achievements of the past year.
"The boat ramp has been on the agenda for a long time with previous councils," she said.
Other projects such as the Reid Oval redevelopment and the new library and learning hub were also projects that were nearing completion or were well under way.
Cr Jellie said a lot of the year had been lost to the pandemic whether it was from lockdown or regulations forcing things to be cancelled.
"It has been difficult, but we've still had a positive year. We're not out of the pandemic stuff yet, as we know, but it is what it is and we've dealt with it accordingly," she said.
"It's been a great year with some bumps a long the way."
Cr Jellie said she had made contact with businesses that were caught up in the recent COVID outbreak in Warrnambool, and was impressed with how the community had rallied.
"That's where my heart is, with the community and businesses forging forward. We are looking forward to a great summer," she said.
"Everyone will have to be still careful."
Cr Jellie said she was also so proud of how the community had stepped up in big numbers to get vaccinated.
Monday's meeting starts at 5.45pm.
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