Council update, November 23 2008

What's coming to council tomorrow?

Council's agenda is very light for the regular council meeting on Monday -- you can see the agenda package by clicking here:  http://www.banff.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=1785

The two main items are a presentation on the Mental Health Capacity Building Project (there is no advance written material, so I can't tell you anything about the content of this presentation at this point), and the upgrading of the Crandall/Peck cabin on Buffalo Street from a B-listed heritage resource to an A-listed heritage resource.  The report, which you can read in the package, gives historic background on the cabin, including the fact that the building of the cabin actually pre-dated the building of Buffalo Street.

What's happening with the budget?

Wow, what a difference a week can make!  Last Wednesday, at our scheduled budget meeting, Mayor Stutz brought forward several motions:

• to ask administration for a draft budget with a zero percent overall tax increase
• to freeze town staff and council wages at the 2008 level for 2009
• to make the same contribution to capital reserves in 2009 that we made in 2008
• to bring back all the new initiatives that had been already discussed for reconsideration

Council recognized the intent behind these motions and passed them unanimously.  This does not mean that the final budget will look exactly like that -- it just means that administration will bring us back a draft with those parameters.  That draft will come to us tomorrow, in a special budget meeting set for after the regular meeting. 

The mayor mentioned that he was bringing these major changes to the table because of the dire predictions for 2009, and the actions that most employers in the town are already being forced to take in preparation for what could be a very quiet year in our one industry, tourism.  I know that it was very difficult for John to present these motions, because he has always been extremely supportive of staff and wants them to feel valued and well compensated for their work.  However, as we look around and see the economic concerns unfolding for our friends and neighbours -- business owners and employees alike -- it becomes impossible to imagine taxing townspeople to provide a raise to town council and staff that the taxpayers will not be getting themselves.

I applaud John for making a series of difficult proposals in order to provide leadership in these tough economic times.  If things loosen up faster than expected, we will be able to respond to that, but this precautionary approach is warranted right now, with the predictions we are hearing.

There will be further discussions around this budget.  The actual tax level may end up being different from the draft that will come to us tomorrow.  For example, personally, I want to examine the proposal about capital reserve transfers very closely, to ensure that we continue to save for and plan for the maintenance and replacement of our essential infrastructure.  I'm concerned about this because I know that failing to maintain capital transfers can put future townspeople and councils into a financial hole that becomes more and more difficult to dig out of.

In summary, though, the playing field has shifted completely with the request for this new draft, and the budget discussions will be very different than they would have been a week ago.

Door-knocking is done for the year

I've decided to finish my door-to-door project for now, and pick it up again next fall.  With days getting so short, and people preferring not to have a knock on their door after dark, it is getting harder and harder to door-knock at a time when anyone will be at home!

I've done somewhere in the range of 710 doors, and covered the south side of the river, plus most of the residential west of Banff Avenue.  Next year, I'll need to complete Bighorn, part of Marten, Whiskey Creek, and the residential areas east of Banff Avenue.

Has it been worthwhile?  You bet!  Although it took a lot (a lot!) more time than I had anticipated, I learned so much and benefited so much.  Some of the key outcomes:

• I heard from people all over the political spectrum.  Most of the time, we talk to people that we know, and chances are that they are people who share many of our own opinions.  This way, by visiting everyone, I heard a broader range of points of view.
• I continued to learn about neighbourhoods - what they're like, who lives in them, what the hot-button issues are in different parts of town.  There is no better way to learn about this town than to walk the sidewalks, roads and trails.
• I was reminded that a candidate is very different from a councillor.  Last year, door-knocking conversations were very short: "thanks for coming by, I'll think about voting for you".  This year, people were anxious to talk about the issues that concern them.
• I'm so glad that I asked people to tell me one thing they like, as well as one thing they're concerned about.  It's human nature to come up with the concerns first, but the positive comments were equally illuminating, and they help me support the programs that people are most happy about.
• It was fun to solve problems.  There were a few minor requests that only needed to be brought to the attention of town staff -- I was able to do that quickly and easily through the "action request" feature on the town's website, and it was great to see the fast response.
• The symbolism of going door-to-door was important.  I wanted a way to say to people that in our municipal democracy their individual opinions and concerns matter, not just at election time, but all the time.  Going door-to-door on foot was the best way I could think  of to illustrate that. 
• I am heartened and encouraged by the warm welcome that many people gave me, and how pleased they were to have me show up at their door.  It was the best possible reminder for me of why I want to do this job, and has filled me with enthusiasm for the year ahead.

The fine print

As always, this blog represents my personal point of view and does not purport to represent the opinions of Town Council or of the Town of Banff.