What You Want, What You Get
By 250 News
City Staff have been busy matching up results of surveys with the activities of their various departments. Here are some of the highlights of the report:
Survey says residents (55%) support increasing taxes to maintain services at current levels or to enhance or expand services.
Corporate Services is developing a draft budget for 2006 that would call for a 2.4% increase in general and snow taxes. City Manager George Paul noted the 2.4% suggested hike will no doubt be under intense debate during budget discussion, but that figure was chosen because it represents the rate of inflation in B.C.
Survey says you like user fees and getting money from corporate sponsorships and gaming.
The Finance and Audit committee will be asked to consider a number of user fee increases.
Survey says transportation, road repairs, and a dangerous goods route are your priorities.
City says "department has developed an excellent pavement management system and extra effort will be made to address growth and transportation of dangerous goods."
Survey says air quality is a major concern for 66%.
City is continuing its work with air quality stakeholders through the air quality management planning process.
Survey says public appetite for recycling is growing
City will continue working with Regional District of Fraser Fort George to develop overall waste management plan.
Survey says public supports public Transit
City says it is currently monitoring service performance
Survey says most are satisfied with the parks and trails.
City says it will pursue resources for enhanced trails and parks maintenance, and will set up a trails task force.
Survey says there are issues about seniors mobility and pedestrian infrastructure
City says it recognizes the challenges.
Survey says most residents are happy with Leisure Services
City says there is a clear sensitivity to costs, and Leisure Services needs to be aware of that.
The survey results were based on survey phone calls to 300 residents.
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Posted by: owl on December 19 2005 11:35 PM
Im sure that 55% would support no increase in taxes to maintain services at current levels.
The actual increase in general and snow taxes of 2.4% is unwarranted, however because of this **spend it all** Council they need more money.
User fees are only good to a point after that they become detrimental. Would they dare attach a user fee to the hockey fans at CN Centre. This Centre presently costs $300,000.00 per year to operate. With attendence falling and heating costs rising it can only go up.
Gaming should be a non-starter, in the end it causes more problems that it will ever solve.
Corporate sponsorship is thinly disguised corporate prostitution. It gives Corporations a venue to pretend they are good Corporate Citizens. Its interesting to note that Kamloops Arena got a Corporate Sponsor for 10 years at $1.2 Million ($120,000.00 per year) with an option for another 5 years, while we got one for the CN Centre for $1.3 Million ($86,000.00 per year) over 15 years with an option for a further 10 years. Looks like we need new negotiators.
We all know that road repairs are priorities, we have been telling this to City Hall for years. The Dangerous Goods thing will never happen, because most people in this town couldnt even tell you where or what the Dangerous Good are.
Air Quality Duh?? Recycling Duh??
Public transit is a necessary evil, however it is very expensive, and they should be working hard to find a way to reduce costs.
Is it possible for Opinion 250 to take a survey of 300 people and ascertain what their positions are on these issues when the questions are given by someone other than those associated with the City.
There has to be a better way to get public opinion on some of these issues.