AND NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS
Quote: (Douglas Magazine – Sept/Nov Issue)
“A primitive definition of power is ‘us against them’ so if I’ve got information you can’t have it because information is my power. A far more sophisticated definition is this: the more connections you have, the more influence you have; the more information you share, the more problems you solve, the more power you have . And that power comes from collaboration”.
The Good News:
Our new Mayor and Council members are to be credited for bringing for the first time in many years, the Annual Budget Process, to a Council Committee of the Whole meeting on December 3, 2018. This was a much better venue for the public to provide Council with their viewpoints on this important subject,
Additionally the $30,000 staff proposal to hold a premature Satisfaction Survey died on the floor with Councillors Appleton, Braithwaite, Green, Paterson and Zhelka declining to support a Council member’s motion to approve it. If approved, it would also have meant delaying the January Council Priorities session(s) and significantly setting back the Oak Bay Annual Budget Process. This is already late compared to most other municipalities.
Positive Annual Budget Process recommendations ranged from:
Council members recommendations and opinions on an improved Annual Budget Process was supported by residents who also provided many useful suggestions. They recommended more detailed understandable budget information, copying other comparable Districts’ award-winning annual budget processes (i.e. Central Saanich and Colwood), and redirecting funds to address critical District concerns. Among these, infrastructure improvement, dealing with the over-densification problem and, preserving trees were emphasized.
All in all the indications were: we have a Council that will share information, allow full public engagement and collaboration, and take action on the most important outstanding issues facing the Distinct. We can also expect that they will implement many of the existing recommendations we have been professionally and expensively advised to accomplish.
Oak Bay Watch will continue to keep you informed on Council’s progress to prioritize and: get taxes under control; improve transparency; address the infrastructure; save mature trees being lost to development; provide effective policies and guidelines and implement efficiencies (We have some cost-effective suggestions).
Quote: (Douglas Magazine – Sept/Nov Issue)
“A primitive definition of power is ‘us against them’ so if I’ve got information you can’t have it because information is my power. A far more sophisticated definition is this: the more connections you have, the more influence you have; the more information you share, the more problems you solve, the more power you have . And that power comes from collaboration”.
The Good News:
Our new Mayor and Council members are to be credited for bringing for the first time in many years, the Annual Budget Process, to a Council Committee of the Whole meeting on December 3, 2018. This was a much better venue for the public to provide Council with their viewpoints on this important subject,
Additionally the $30,000 staff proposal to hold a premature Satisfaction Survey died on the floor with Councillors Appleton, Braithwaite, Green, Paterson and Zhelka declining to support a Council member’s motion to approve it. If approved, it would also have meant delaying the January Council Priorities session(s) and significantly setting back the Oak Bay Annual Budget Process. This is already late compared to most other municipalities.
Positive Annual Budget Process recommendations ranged from:
- The Chief Administration Officer’s power point Annual Budget presentation: allowing residents to understand what Council was discussing.
- Councillor Appleton’s point: residents should be provided with understandable relevant information before holding town hall meetings and surveys,
- Councillor Braithwaite’s continuing call for more public engagement opportunities, supported by Councillor Green‘s and Councillor Zelka’s similar theme – Council cannot keep endlessly talking about enhanced public engagement: action is required.
- Councillor Paterson’s excellent request for measurable outcomes and performance on priority and budget initiatives, and aligning the Budget with Priorities, the Five Year Financial Plan, and the Annual Report.
Council members recommendations and opinions on an improved Annual Budget Process was supported by residents who also provided many useful suggestions. They recommended more detailed understandable budget information, copying other comparable Districts’ award-winning annual budget processes (i.e. Central Saanich and Colwood), and redirecting funds to address critical District concerns. Among these, infrastructure improvement, dealing with the over-densification problem and, preserving trees were emphasized.
All in all the indications were: we have a Council that will share information, allow full public engagement and collaboration, and take action on the most important outstanding issues facing the Distinct. We can also expect that they will implement many of the existing recommendations we have been professionally and expensively advised to accomplish.
Oak Bay Watch will continue to keep you informed on Council’s progress to prioritize and: get taxes under control; improve transparency; address the infrastructure; save mature trees being lost to development; provide effective policies and guidelines and implement efficiencies (We have some cost-effective suggestions).