Executive
Summary
As
part of the City of Ottawa’s Budget 2005 consultation process, advisory
committees, community groups, community associations, and other resident groups
were invited to organize their own consultation sessions to discuss and provide
input into the budget deliberations. This participation option was promoted on
the City of Ottawa Web site, through advertising in the daily and community
newspapers and e-mails to a master list of approximately 1,000 addresses.
Three
community-led consultation meetings were held and resulting meeting summary
reports submitted. The host
organizations included: Gallery 101, a joint public forum with the Health and
Social Services, Accessibility and Poverty Issues Advisory Committees, and
thirdly, the Riverside South Community Association.
Issues
discussed at the three community-led consultations were diverse. However, the main recommendations that emerged
from the three community-led consultation meeting reports are that budget
directions should honour the Ottawa 20/20 Official Plan, community grants
should be restored, and that social assistance should be a priority.
Consensus
at Gallery 101 hosted the community-led consultation with the arts community
was that 2005 Budget Directions should honour the Ottawa 20/20 Arts and
Heritage Plan which includes the role of the City as grant-maker, planner,
developer, initiator, convener, researcher, communicator, partner, keeper and
deliver of the arts.
A
joint consultation meeting held by three Advisory Committees also provided
recommendations that the 2005 Budget directions reflect the values and
principles central to the Ottawa 20/20 Official Plan. Social program expenditures are sound investments in a
sustainable and inclusive city.
Finally,
consensus at the Riverside South Community Association community-led
consultation was that the 2005 Budget priorities should include improvements to
transportation infrastructure, and increases in childcare and recreational
opportunities in the South end of the city, potentially through the restoration
of community grants.
Table of Contents
Executive
Summary ................................................................................... 1
Section 1 –
Report Overview ................................................................... 3
Section 2 –
Arts and Cultural Community-led consultation............. 3
2.1 Meeting
Details................................................................................ 3
2.2 Key
Recommendations................................................................... 4
2.3 Additional
Priorities and Requests................................................ 4
Section 3 – Advisory
Committees Community-led consultation.... 4
3.1 Meeting
Details................................................................................ 4
3.2 Key
Recommendations................................................................... 5
4.1 Meeting
Details................................................................................ 5
4.2 Key
Priorities.................................................................................... 5
Section 1 – Report Overview
As
part of the City of Ottawa’s Budget 2005 consultation process, advisory
committees, community groups, community associations, and any other group of
residents were invited to organize their own consultation sessions to discuss
and provide input into the budget deliberations. This participation option was promoted on the City of Ottawa Web
site, through advertising in daily and community newspapers and e-mails to a
master list of approximately 1,000 addresses.
A
meeting toolkit consisting of a facilitation guide, workbook for reporting, and
Budget 2005 information package was provided to assist with the consultation
meetings. Following the meetings, each
group submitted a report detailing the meeting results and recommendations to
the City.
Three
groups hosted meetings and submitted meeting summary reports. The host organizations included: Gallery
101, a joint public forum with the Health and Social Services Advisory
Committee (HSSAC), the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) and the Poverty
Issues Advisory Committee (PIAC), and thirdly, the Riverside South Community
Association. More detailed information
on the meeting demographics is included in the respective report sections to
follow.
A
meeting summary report for each of the community-led consultations was
submitted by the respective host organizations. These meeting summary reports were posted on the City Web site in
the language in which they were received.
This
report is based on a synthesis of the summary reports prepared by the
respective host organization or group for each community-led consultation. The discussion is summarized using the
language of the participants.
Section 2 – Arts and
Cultural Community-led Consultation
2.1 Meeting Details
Several
arts and cultural organizations gathered at the community-led consultation
hosted by Gallery 101 on October 6, 2004 at 236 Nepean Street. Directors, art administrators, board and
members from various organizations attended to voice their opinions on the 2005
Budget Directions. There were 28
participants in attendance, representing the following organizations:
2.2 Key Recommendations
The
consultation meeting identified the main issues affecting arts and culture in
the City of Ottawa. Three key
recommendations were provided.
1.
Restore and increase
funding to the arts. Opposed to any
cuts to art programs and services.
2.
Support implementation
of 20/20 Arts and Heritage Plan. Expect
City Council to respect their previous motions to address outstanding arts
issues including an increase in the per capita allocation to the arts.
3.
Recognize and make
changes to correct inefficiencies in the existing system due to program
duplication and lack of understanding about existing programs offered by art
organizations and community. By
preventing duplication of services by the City costs for these services would
be reduced.
2.3 Additional Priorities and Requests
The
meeting summary report submitted following the Art and Culture community-led
consultation provided further recommendations, priorities and requests for the
City as follows.
Section 3 – Advisory
Committees Community-led consultation
3.1 Meeting Details
In
order to recommend 2005 Budget Directions to Council, the Health and Social
Services Advisory Committee (HSSAC), the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC)
and the Poverty Issues Advisory Committee (PIAC) invited interested groups and
agencies to present their recommendations at a community-led consultation held
on Thursday, October 7, 2004 at City Hall.
No information was provided on the number of participants at the
meeting.
3.2 Key Recommendations
The
recommendations produced as a result of the consultation meeting are as
follows:
Section 4 – Riverside
South Community Association (RSCA)
Community-led consultation
4.1 Meeting Details
The
Riverside South Community Association (RSCA) led a community consultation process
to solicit input from its residents on the 2005 Budget Directions. The meeting was held on Tuesday, October 12,
2004 at the Rideauview Community Centre.
No information was provided on the number of participants at the
meeting.
4.2 Key Priorities
The
RSCA identified three key priorities for the 2005 City Budget as it pertains to
the Riverside South community and to the City as a whole. These three priorities are of critical
importance for the ratepayers (residents and businesses) in the southern area
of the City of Ottawa.
1.
Transportation Infrastructure
2.
Childcare Services
3.
Recreational Programs & Services – Park & Greenspace Maintenance