Financial Planning 2008-2017 Summary of residents comments Prepared by Charles Cardinal, Chief of Communications Diane Beauregard, Acting Archivist July 2007 Communications Department
1. Context The Municipality has undertaken an innovative project, intended to develop a financial plan for the coming 10 years with residents. This process consists of defining the projects and investments Chelsea needs to accomplish its mission. Two public information meetings were held in April 2007, enabling the Municipality to present residents with an overall picture of the municipal system, along with the role and responsibilities of the municipal structure, a financial overview for 1997 to 2007, major orientations and investment projects for 2008 to 2017, and the financial impact these projects would have on individual tax assessments and the municipal debt. Following these public presentations, Municipal Council launched a major campaign to consult residents. A feedback form was posted online and Canada Post delivered copies to all Chelsea homes. This report is a summary of the responses residents submitted on the feedback form from May 1 to June 29, 2007. 2. Feedback versus survey Feedback is a free form of expression for participants exposed to one or several topics. This idea of free expression is different from a survey, which is normally targeted, with a specific, representative sample. Surveys are more focused on gathering people s opinions on a given issue. It would be incorrect to assume that the comments made during the feedback period represent residents overall opinion. In fact, the data gathered make up a set of ideas, suggestions and recommendations that respondents submitted. 3. Some statistics Here are some statistics to put into context the comments received: Number of forms received: 321 Number of forms received by mail: 172 Number of forms received through the Web site: 149 Number of respondents identifying themselves: 305 Number of respondents giving their address: 294 Number of respondents giving their age: 304 1
3. Some statistics Respondents by sector Sector Number of respondents 294 of 321 questionnaires received gave the address of the respondent. Respondents by age group 304 of 321 questionnaires received gave the age of the respondent. Language of replies to questionnaires Percentage of respondents 1 22 8% 2 30 10% 3 50 17% 4 80 27% 5 48 16% 6 64 22% Age group Number of respondents Percentage of respondents 18 to 24 2 0.006% 25 to 34 22 7% 35 to 44 82 27% 45 to 54 89 29% 55 to 64 61 20% 65 to 74 29 10% 75 and over 19 6% Language Number of Percentage of French 68 21% English 253 79% 2
4. If all the proposed projects were undertaken, taxes would increase by an average of 4.45% over the next 10 years. On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = strongly agree and 5 = strongly disagree), rate your support for these projects. (Question 1) Scale Number of respondents Percentage of respondents 1 (strongly agree) 22 7.5% 2 (agree somewhat) 20 6.5% 3 (agree) 31 10% Total (in favour) 73 24% 4 (somewhat disagree) 46 15% 5 (strongly disagree) 187 61% Total (against) 233 76% 306 of 321 respondents gave their opinion on this topic. 5. Which two projects are the least important in your opinion? (Question 2) A- Construction of Sports and Cultural Complex 137 43% - Use available regional infrastructure - Use existing infrastructure and concentrate on nature - Project should finance itself - No need for project B-Enhancing and Developing Centre-Village 121 38% - No need for project - Project should finance itself - Project only benefits businesses and tourists 3
5. Which two projects are the least important in your opinion? (Question 2) C-Traffic Calming Measures 93 29% - Bollards not a solution - No need for project - More police surveillance - Use speed humps and improved signage D- Construction of Residence for Seniors 67 21% - Private sector and user financing - Not a municipal responsibility - No need for project - Province should pay for this project - Reduce seniors taxes E- Improve Lighting for Baseball Park 65 20% - Project benefits just a few residents - No need for project - Make more use of existing fields - Project should finance itself F- Roads Rehabilitation Programme & Cycle Path Network 37 11% - Enough bicycle trails in Gatineau Park - Pave only major roads - Make road maintenance the priority 4
5. Which two projects are the least important in your opinion? (Question 2) G- Construction of Sewage Networks and Wastewater Treatment Systems 26 8% - Users should pay 100% of expense H- Computer Network 20 6% - No need for project - Do not add to payroll I- Protecting Public Assets 15 5% - Excessive costs - Not an essential project - Improve equipment maintenance J- Full-time Fire Chief 11 3% - Use volunteers - Not enough work - Not needed K- Restoration of Meech Creek Covered Bridge 7 2% - Organize fund-raising campaign 5
5. Which two projects are the least important in your opinion? (Question 2) L- Emergency Preparedness 5 1% M- Electronic Document Management System 4 1% N- Renewal of Master Plan 3 1% O- Maintain H2O Programme 1 0.003% 6. Which two projects are the most important in your opinion? (Question 3) A- Roads Rehabilitation Programme & Cycle Path Network 151 47% - Encourage cycling - Trail maintenance is important - Trails are in poor condition - Road safety is important B- Construction of Sewage Networks and Wastewater Treatment Systems 81 25% - Environmental protection - Protect drinking water - Project benefits business development - Users should pay for the project - Project will help extend the tax base 6
6. Which two projects are the most important in your opinion? (Question 3) C- Construction of Sports and Cultural Complex 55 17% - Quality of life /sense of belonging - Central location - Encourage activities for teens - Chelsea needs a community space - Encourage healthy lifestyles D- Construction of Residence for Seniors 46 14% - Encourage seniors to stay in Chelsea - Project needed - Share costs with partners - Allow for the construction of additional granny suites - Project should finance itself E- Maintain H2O Programme 34 11% - Good return on investment - Protect drinking water - Environmental protection - Public health F- Traffic Calming Measures 30 9% - Road safety - Lower speed limits on our roads - Promote safe bicycle riding - Important but a bit expensive 7
6. Which two projects are the most important in your opinion? (Question 3) G- Enhancing and Developing Centre-Village 25 8% - Develop tourism potential - Promote business - Diversify the tax base - Revitalization would help businesses H- Emergency Preparedness 23 7% - Public safety - Risk management I- Full-time Fire Chief 22 7% - Essential services - Prevention - Expertise in fire safety and prevention J- Protection of Public Assets 16 4% - It is important to maintain our assets K- Restoration of Meech Creek Covered Bridge 7 2% - Conservation of cultural heritage 8
6. Which two projects are the most important in your opinion? (Question 3) L- Computer Network 4 1% M- Improve Lighting for Baseball Park 3 1% N- Renewal of Master Plan 3 1% O- Electronic Document Management System 1 0.003% 7. Are there other projects we should have included in this presentation? (Question 4) A- Recreation and Culture - Sport programme (maintenance of athletic fields) - Smaller community centre (Chelsea Foundation) - Bicycle trail (in the wild, rail track, mine, Route 105) - Trail network (multiple use, connecting Hollow Glen to Chelsea, Village Centre to Chelsea Foundation) - Groom rail track in winter for cross-country skiing - Snowmobile trail - Service cabin for cross-country skiers - Sports centre in Farm Point - Sell the community centre - Municipal park along the riverbank (former sand pit) - Construction of an arena - Provide more resources for the library (books) - Maintain and build neighbourhood parks - Large municipal park - Public access to the Gatineau River - Crafts display and sale area in the Library - French classes 9 - Construct early childhood building - Funding for volunteer group activities
7. Are there other projects we should have included in this presentation? (Question 4) B- Finance and Administration - Suggest revenue sources - Assistance to lower-income families (taxation) - Reduce taxes (private roads, seniors) - Financial accountability - Make municipal administration smaller - Define essential services - Debt reduction plan - Pool services (NCC, Quebec) - Comparative study (senior residences under private sector or municipal control) C- Public Safety - More police patrols - Civil protection plan - Establish a resident/police committee D- Environment - Chelsea plan to control greenhouse gas emissions (climate change) - Promote sustainable landscaping - Develop a community vegetable garden - Idling regulation - Generate renewable green energy - Drinking water regulations - Hazardous waste collection - Composting - Dog-strangling vine control - Hire a sustainable development coordinator - Clean up the Lac des Montagnes - Develop a wind energy farm - Improve waste collection - Hire a full-time coordinator for H2O Chelsea - Environmental issues - Protection of the Gatineau River - Light pollution control - Liaison with H2O Chelsea - Future installation of wastewater treatment system E- Urban Planning - Steps to protect and conserve wetlands - www.oneplanetliving.org sustainable multi-use pilot project - Protect nature/access to trails - Village Centre development plan - Affordable housing - Strategic development plan 10
7. Are there other projects we should have included in this presentation? (Question 4) F- Public Works/Roads - Consider asphalting secondary roads - Bring water system to Old Chelsea - Improve public transportation - Second exit for Link Road - Asphalt all roads - Municipality to take over private roads - Remove graffiti - Beamish Dam - Other traffic calming measures - Lamp posts on all paved roads - Clear road shoulders for cyclists - Improve railroad crossing - Eliminate lamp posts on Route 105 and reduce speed to 50 km/h - Restore Pine Road - Clear land (Carmen Road to Morrison s Quarry) G- Economic and Tourist Development - Build a shopping centre - Medical centre (CLSC/Quebec/private) - "Welcome to Chelsea" sign - Support Old Chelsea Market - Light rail (Chelsea-Hull-Ottawa) - Directory of local businesses and services - Encourage small business development - Attract new businesses to Chelsea - Tourist development project H- Miscellaneous - No new projects (30 respondents) - Coordinate facilities with NCC - Broadband Internet (Farm Point) - More buses - Hollow Glen-Chelsea school bus - Set up a food bank NOTE: The headings and topics are in no fixed order. 11
8. If the Municipality organizes more financial planning meetings, what topics would interest you most? (Question 5) Sport and cultural complex Bicycle trails Recreation and culture Playing fields Access to the Gatineau River Road network Improved public transportation Traffic calming Snow clearing policy Police patrols Emergency preparedness More details about the municipal organization chart Reduce municipal debt Details and costs of each project Economic development Tax reduction measures Presentation of a basic plan including essential services Economic scenarios Involve residents in annual budget process Review the 10-year plan User fee policy Tax assessment Comparison of Chelsea with other municipalities Awareness- raising programme for municipal budget Environmental programme Reducing our carbon footprint Community agriculture in Chelsea Summertime waste collection Development plan review Housing for seniors Protecting Chelsea s rural character Investment in the Village Centre Ideas to encourage businesses Chelsea computer network Note: The topics are presented in random order. 12