It remains to be seen whether the city’s residents associations will get a helping hand from city hall.
Through the residents association forum, representatives from the various neighbourhoods provide the city with input on various issues. The group recently put forward a motion that council consider providing grant funding to residents associations to assist with miscellaneous expenses, such as the cost of hosting meetings.
A staff report stated that a regular concern raised at the meetings is about the lack of affordable or free space where the associations can hold their meetings. They suggested the city could consider an annual contribution of between $150 and $200 to each association to help with these costs.
“We work hard to try and assist them in finding facilities, but it is not always possible,” said Coun. Chuck Puchmayr. “I think that they play a really key role in how communities operate. They are certainly a very important part of our community. I think this is a small token of appreciation for that. I will support some funding for the residents associations.”
Coun. Bill Harper said the recommendation was intended to provide some stability to the associations.
“It’s a valid resource,” he said. “For me, the few dollars we are talking about, it’s money well spent.”
Some council members, however, expressed concern about having a lack of clarity about the details of the proposal.
Instead of defeating the recommendation, council referred it back to staff for more information.
Mayor Jonathan Cote said he believes the city has a role in trying to help them because of their contribution to the community.
“I think this needs to get fleshed out a little bit more,” he said of the proposal. “It’s a little bit vague in the details as to: does every residents association automatically get this funding, do they have to apply for it, what’s the criteria?”
