Like you, city residents – including those invited and not invited to the meeting – are new to public engagement in Owen Sound because we haven’t done much of it.
We are discovering through trial and error, that building civic engagement to solve problems requires skill along with multiple and frequent approaches that foster collaboration, empower community members, rebuild trust in local institutions and move beyond facilitating public dialogue, to genuine partnerships and shared decision-making.
We had some big opportunities to share frustration and dissatisfaction and move forward to action planning during the 2024-2025 Owen Sound Future Vision 2050 Project.
Joel, as a facilitator with the Vision Project, you will recall the Project asked the same questions about safety and downtown revitalization as the recent stakeholder meeting. More than a 1000 residents answered the Vision survey and hundreds more attended in-person meetings. A clear plan emerged from the ideas brought forward.
The plan called for the development of an innovative community-led leadership team, inclusive of content experts, along with local government and civic organizations, healthcare and learning institutions, businesses and non-profits – all of us who care enough to show up.
In June, the promised strategic plan Vision was delayed by a unanimous vote of council. The $90K plan and its $100K 2025-2026 budget for implementing community-led actions was not mentioned at your stakeholder meeting or by Councillor Merton in her recent comments published in The Current.
Not acknowledging this massive investment in dialogue and problem-solving with residents, not demonstrating to our community that our feedback was heard and tied to an action plan, is a missed the opportunity to show the value and reward of participating in public processes.
Describing frustration as scapegoating deepens existing divisions within the community, making it harder to find common ground.
But the most damaging consequence is the lost opportunity when residents are repeatedly asked what we think while ignoring what we’ve said.
With elections just a year away, voters can start asking candidates what they plan to do with what they’ve heard from us and how they plan to act on the Owen Sound Future Vision 2050.
I've been following the story of this meeting and the letters written about it. It's great that everyone got together and expressed their concerns and ideas. Unfortunately, ideas are a dime a dozen. The real work comes in the implementation. Time and time again, this city asks for "input from stakeholders", and then appears to ignore it. At least, little comes to fruition. Having a brainstorming meeting is a good start. But without follow-up, there will be no implementation. To suggest these problems should be solved by the stakeholders without the city is asking a lot of the businesses in the River District Area. Owen Sounders already pay more per person in taxes than any city of a similar size. On top of that, businesses in the River District pay an additional tax above and beyond what other businesses in the city pay. It is the city's duty to show leadership in this area. They must ensure laws are followed, can help ensure services aren't duplicated, and can provide budgets where money is needed. Business owners are trying to run businesses. They shouldn't be serving the city, the city should be serving them. When downtowns are healthy, the whole city thrives. Enough with conversations, let's get to action plans.
My husband Don was an expert in group organization and process. Small groups! How to build them and use them? Once I experienced axlarge group meeting in the library auditorium here split up into small groups to discuss the issues and put them forward. These were read and duly noted. BUT were not followed up on as Don taught me is essential. Had the receiving body acted on any of the ideas? Was a continuing structure put into place to follow-up on concerns, arrange to meet again, etc. At 97 I am not part of the “boots on the ground” so may be off track here.
Like you, city residents – including those invited and not invited to the meeting – are new to public engagement in Owen Sound because we haven’t done much of it.
We are discovering through trial and error, that building civic engagement to solve problems requires skill along with multiple and frequent approaches that foster collaboration, empower community members, rebuild trust in local institutions and move beyond facilitating public dialogue, to genuine partnerships and shared decision-making.
We had some big opportunities to share frustration and dissatisfaction and move forward to action planning during the 2024-2025 Owen Sound Future Vision 2050 Project.
Joel, as a facilitator with the Vision Project, you will recall the Project asked the same questions about safety and downtown revitalization as the recent stakeholder meeting. More than a 1000 residents answered the Vision survey and hundreds more attended in-person meetings. A clear plan emerged from the ideas brought forward.
The plan called for the development of an innovative community-led leadership team, inclusive of content experts, along with local government and civic organizations, healthcare and learning institutions, businesses and non-profits – all of us who care enough to show up.
In June, the promised strategic plan Vision was delayed by a unanimous vote of council. The $90K plan and its $100K 2025-2026 budget for implementing community-led actions was not mentioned at your stakeholder meeting or by Councillor Merton in her recent comments published in The Current.
Not acknowledging this massive investment in dialogue and problem-solving with residents, not demonstrating to our community that our feedback was heard and tied to an action plan, is a missed the opportunity to show the value and reward of participating in public processes.
Describing frustration as scapegoating deepens existing divisions within the community, making it harder to find common ground.
But the most damaging consequence is the lost opportunity when residents are repeatedly asked what we think while ignoring what we’ve said.
With elections just a year away, voters can start asking candidates what they plan to do with what they’ve heard from us and how they plan to act on the Owen Sound Future Vision 2050.
I've been following the story of this meeting and the letters written about it. It's great that everyone got together and expressed their concerns and ideas. Unfortunately, ideas are a dime a dozen. The real work comes in the implementation. Time and time again, this city asks for "input from stakeholders", and then appears to ignore it. At least, little comes to fruition. Having a brainstorming meeting is a good start. But without follow-up, there will be no implementation. To suggest these problems should be solved by the stakeholders without the city is asking a lot of the businesses in the River District Area. Owen Sounders already pay more per person in taxes than any city of a similar size. On top of that, businesses in the River District pay an additional tax above and beyond what other businesses in the city pay. It is the city's duty to show leadership in this area. They must ensure laws are followed, can help ensure services aren't duplicated, and can provide budgets where money is needed. Business owners are trying to run businesses. They shouldn't be serving the city, the city should be serving them. When downtowns are healthy, the whole city thrives. Enough with conversations, let's get to action plans.
My husband Don was an expert in group organization and process. Small groups! How to build them and use them? Once I experienced axlarge group meeting in the library auditorium here split up into small groups to discuss the issues and put them forward. These were read and duly noted. BUT were not followed up on as Don taught me is essential. Had the receiving body acted on any of the ideas? Was a continuing structure put into place to follow-up on concerns, arrange to meet again, etc. At 97 I am not part of the “boots on the ground” so may be off track here.