Survey says? Environment top of mind for Richmond Hill residents

Results met with mixed reactions from city council

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 1, 2020
Sheila Wang

Environmental protection has come out on top in a recent community survey that asked Richmond Hill residents what priorities and actions they would like to see in the next two years.

More than 800 people responded to the short survey which was conducted by the city in September in order to help develop a strategic plan for 2020-2022.

Close to half of the respondents have selected “protect the natural environment” as one of priorities which claimed the No. 1 spot among 16 choices provided in the survey, according to the initial community results.

Rebecca Sutherns, the founder of Sage Solutions, a consulting firm that specializes in collaborative strategic planning, presented the results to council at the Sept. 22 special council meeting.

Meanwhile, about one third of respondents selected “keep tax increase below cost of inflation” and “maintain and enhance infrastructure” respectively as their priorities, claiming the second and third top spot in the survey, according to survey.

The results were met with mixed reactions from city council.

Calling it "skewed," Coun. Tom Muench was skeptical of the result that placed environment as the highest priority.

“Because the numbers that came up were toward an engagement with others in the ways that decisions are made about planning and environment, I think some of those people that are engaged in that manner are not taking full context of what we have to do and what our roles are here,” Muench said.

The councillor noted the importance to transition from a “rural suburban mentality” to a new kind of urban.

Coun. David West said he was not “surprised” that environment takes top spot in the survey.

“Particularly during the time of COVID, I think people are starting to realize how incredibly important our natural environment is regardless of whether we live in an urban environment or not,” West said.

At the meeting, Sutherns also listed a number of priorities summarized based the one-on-one interviews that she conducted with each councillor.

The priorities that were repeated by four or more councillors included “leverage multiple transit connections,” “improve economic development,” and “deliver value for money for taxpayers.”

City manager Mary-Anne Dempster said the two-year strategic plan will help staff make “tough choices” due to “limited funds and resources” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The final two-year plan is expected to be shared at a public council meeting before the end of the year.