Town of the Blue Mountains

Community Priority Setting Exercise

April 27, 2007

Table of Contents

Facilitator: …………………………………………….3

Participants: ………………………………………….3

Agenda …………………………………………………3

3. Part 1: Issues ……………………………………...4

3.1. Communities most pressing issues identified? …………4

3.2. Important Factors Creating issues..………………….…4

4. Part 2: Activities/Services/strategies/Resources: 8

4.1. What is working well in the community? ……………….....................8

4.2. What do we need to improve or add that would make a difference? ...9

5. Ranking Of Issues …………………………………………10

Our Thanks to the Trillium Foundation for Funding this Project

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Facilitator:

Mrs. Marg Sheben-Edey Real Estate Agent

Participants:

Cathy Belford

Norine Baron

Carolyn Letourneau

Dennis McCalla

Peter Powell

Barbara Downie

Catherine Sholtz

Cathy Smart

Agenda

1. Welcome & Introduction

2. Brief Review United Way of South Georgian & “Community Matters” project

3. Part 1: Issues – Turbo Brainstorming

3.1. What are your communities’ most pressing issues?

3.2. What are the most important factors creating these issues?

4. Part 11: Discussion

4.1. What is working well

4.2. What needs improvement

4. Dotmocracy regarding issues

5. Discussion regarding sharing of info

6. Closing Remarks

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Part 1: Issues

3.1. What are your communities’ most pressing issues?

3.2. What are the important factors creating these issues?

3.1. Communities most pressing issues identified

3.1.1. Affordable Housing

3.1.2. Youth Programs

3.1.3. Growth & Development

3.1.4. Transportation In General & Accessibility

3.1.5. Affordable Recreational Programs

3.1.6. Senior Programs

3.1.7. Shortage of Family Physicians

3.1.8. Environmental Pressure

3.1.9. Lack of Demographic Balance

3.1.10. Lack of volunteers

3.2. Important Factors Creating Issues

3.2.1. Affordable Housing

People with money move here
Lack of subsidized housing
Land and homes are selling at high prices, and wages don’t match expenses to maintain an owned home
Taxes and other costs are rising
Lack of government support. Provincial government hasn’t put money into subsidized housing.
Only 2 apartments in the community

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No Grey County support
Lack of year round jobs (seasonal work)
Young families are being pushed out of the community because the above issue of wage rates vs. inflated house prices. And the few rentals that are available, are out of town, which brings back the transportation issue.
Expanding infrastructure is being paid for by the residents
Seasonal residents are creating an imbalance
No political will-through zoning, and land restrictions
Affordable housing committee is advocating with Habitat for Humanity

3.2.2. Youth Programs

Funding
Lack of Leadership
Lack of co-ordination of programming
Children’s programming is very expensive
No YMCA
No drop in centre
Lack of activities for the age group of 13-18year olds
Busy families
Hockey, soccer, baseball, girl guides, and scouts are still running, however there is still leadership needed to run these organized sports
Lack of interest
Many 5-year-old children are missing out in programming. As an example most day camps have an age restriction of 6 years old and up.
An alternative is needed to organized sports
There are lots of activities going on, but people aren’t always aware of it. Better promotion and communication to the community in regards to upcoming events.

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3.2.3. Growth & Development

Seasonal residents
Community is changing because of the senior demographic community
The weekenders are not contributing to the community, but they are taking all the benefits on weekends when they are here
Loss of farmland
Impact on the natural environment. What is the development doing to our lakes, streams, and animals? And what kind of products are the builders using?
Pressures is on the landfill
Alternate energy development
Sustainability of development (How much more can we handle?)
The more people that come into the community, the more infrastructure you require. Eventually we lose the very thing that brought people here in the first place.

3.2.4. Transportation In General &Accessibility

No public transit available (not because it isn’t needed)
No accessible vehicle for people with disabilities
Isolation of rural population. This is a huge issue, because people don’t know where to go for help. Then the families are heavily relied upon. The families then become frustrated and exhausted.
Lack of awareness
Geography of area
BVO can’t accommodate or service a disabled person
3 years ago there was a transit bus called “The Helping Bus.” It wasn’t relied upon heavily because the demand at that time wasn’t there.

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Voices are not being heard
Universal access
The need for a bus service has increased since “The Helping Bus” stopped operations, and will only become more of a demand in time as the senior population ages.
There needs to be something available for people to use, to get them where they need to go

3.2.5. Affordable Recreational Programs

Refer to Youth Programs ref # 3.2.2. on page 5 of this report for discussion points. Affordable Recreational Programming, and Youth Programming are two issues that tie in together and therefore the factors relating to the issues are the same.

3.2.6. Senior Programs

Funding
Lack of leadership
Lack of awareness/communication with seniors in regards to activities, and upcoming special events
Seniors feel a “disconnect”
Lack of transportation & Accessibility
Lack of co-ordination
Lack of a voice

3.2.7. Shortage of Family Physicians

> Ran out of time to discuss

3.2.8. Environmental Pressure

Ran out of time to discuss

3.2.9. Lack of Demographic Balance

> There isn’t a balance between young families, middle aged families, retirees, and seniors

> The young families are leaving the community because they can’t afford to live there.

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3.2.10. Lack of Volunteers

Not enough volunteers to run programs

4. Part 2: Activities/Services/Strategies/Resources:

4.1. What is working well in the community?

4.2. What do we need to improve or add that would make a difference?

4.1. What is working well in the community?

4.1.1. Beaver Valley Outreach

4.1.2. BVO – strong leadership, friendly, great volunteers

4.1.3. Weekenders support the clothing depot @BVO through donations of clothing

4.1.4. Fundraising is going well because of good solid donors

4.1.5. There are lots of volunteers nationally, but locally there needs to be an improvement

4.1.6. Community is active in fundraising

4.1.7. Lots of activities and special events for people of all ages

4.1.8. Events are well attended and supported by the community

4.1.9. Huge community spirit

4.1.10. Churches - lots of outreach and activities. Churches will open their doors easily.

4.1.11. Marsh Street Centre

4.1.12. Geography – fresh water, escarpment and the Beaver Valley

4.1.13. Great community support in regards to re-opening the library more days during the week

4.1.14. Media & Newspaper

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4.2. What do we need to improve or add that would make a difference?

4.2.1. Start a volunteer bank

4.2.2. Volunteer mentoring program

4.2.3. Rideshare website (to share transport)

4.2.4. Address transportation issue

4.2.5. Awareness of needs

4.2.6. Search for someone to offer taxi type service with support from the community

4.2.7. Add a 599# for United Way services

4.2.8. Drop in centre for youth

4.2.9. Municipality needs to make a decision on the Growth & Development issue

4.2.10. Band together to have your voices heard. Perhaps a rate payers association could be developed

4.2.11. Create a natural corriander for wildlife

4.2.12. Advocate concerns to local politicians

Ranking Of Issues

Achieved Through The Dotmocracy Process.

3.2.1 Affordable Housing ooooo

3.2.2. Youth programs oooo

3.2.3. Growth & Development ooo

3.2.4. Transportation in General & Accessibility oo