Waterloo pledges public involvement in budget on the heels of secrecy criticism

therecord.com
Feb. 3, 2015
By Paige Desmond

On the heels of criticism of its secret budget meetings, the City of Waterloo is pledging to get the public more involved in its 2016-2018 budget.

Councillors received a staff report Monday that suggested consulting the public online when it prepares its three-year budget after draft survey results showed public interest in getting involved.

"Two thirds of people who want to be engaged with the city want to do it online," Mayor Dave Jaworsky said.

He hopes residents will give feedback on the things they care about.

"People need to be focused they need to pick something that's important to then, drill down in that one area and bring us information as opposed to them drill down in that one area instead of looking at the whole $170-million budget," he said.

Council is currently preparing its strategic plan and hired an outside company to survey citizens by telephone starting Dec.8, 2014. The survey was discontinued Jan.18 once it reached 500 people.

According to a staff report on draft survey results not yet vetted by the company, 44 per cent of participants said they would be willing to get involved in the budget, with most preferring to do so online.

About 93 per cent of participants rated city services as very good or fairly good.

Coun. Brian Bourke expressed concern about whether those opinions might vary depending on current events, for example, after a major snowstorm.

"I just wonder if we get a different answer from people if we call them last week or we call them last night," Bourke said.

Full results of the survey have not yet been published but are expected to be released in March.

The plan for new way to get residents involved in the budget comes less than two weeks after the city was publicly criticized by Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin for secret budget meetings politicians held with staff.

Marin called the practice "contemptuous of the rule of law."

The 10 meetings were limited to three councillors at a time to get around open meeting laws prescribed in the Municipal Act, which governs councils, the city clerk said.

As well, Coun. Bob Mavin was forced to file a freedom of information request after he was told he would need a majority vote of council to get his budget questions answered.

The city budget chair and chief financial officer said they decided earlier that day that any questions requiring staff research would need a vote. Jaworsky said last week the city's code of conduct justifies the request for a majority council vote.

He also cancelled the secret meetings when Marin weighed in and time for budget questions has been added to council agendas.

The city budget is expected to be approved Feb.9 with a 1.5 per cent tax hike and $72-million capital budget.