Thurs Jan 18: Businesses, The City & Community Members Are All Stakeholders in Our Downtown
Plus: Grey Bruce OPP warn of grandparent/emergency scam after nearly $10,000 stolen
As far as public engagement and consultation goes, annual budgets are supposed to be the easy stuff.
Budgets are prepared and approved every year. This process should be like clockwork, with public consultation conducted well in advance and used to inform the budget.
That’s not how the River District Budget public consultation, using the City of Owen Sound’s processes, went recently.
In fact, the way it went down raises questions about why there was a public meeting at all.
Grab a coffee – this one took some sorting out.
Public Meeting Confusion: Clarity Needed Between River District BIA & City of Owen Sound
EDITORIAL There was no plan to consider public input from the River District Board's Jan 10 Public Budget Meeting in any meaningful way. The City is one of several stakeholders with interests in the River District. Why is theirs the only voice we hear?
TL;DR: The River District is not just a cute nickname for downtown. It’s the DIA, an independent, self-funded organization of commercial property owners and tenants who pay the BIA levy.
The City’s partnership agreement with the River District is coming up for review. It’s time to revisit how the City of Owen Sound “supports” our local BIA and define clear boundaries so all voices can be heard.
~ Miranda
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