Participatory Budgeting in Participatory Budgeting in GuelphGuelph

Janette LoveysJanette LoveysManager of Community DevelopmentManager of Community Development

City of GuelphCity of Guelph

          

City of Guelph’s & City of Guelph’s &

Community DevelopmentCommunity Development

Background InformationBackground Information Municipal Staff’s role Municipal Staff’s role Guelph Neighbourhood Support Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition Coalition Participatory Budget Process Participatory Budget Process OutcomesOutcomes Lessons Learned Lessons Learned

Background InformationBackground InformationMomentum comes from grass roots Momentum comes from grass roots neighbourhood groups. neighbourhood groups.

Neighbourhoods becomes part of Neighbourhoods becomes part of the the solution.solution.

Becomes a more cost effective Becomes a more cost effective service service delivery model. delivery model.

Municipal Staff’s RoleMunicipal Staff’s Role Non-traditional role of municipal staff. Non-traditional role of municipal staff. Less control of decisions and outcomes.Less control of decisions and outcomes. Municipal staff become facilitators and Municipal staff become facilitators and enablers. enablers. Assisting in creating an environment for Assisting in creating an environment for changechange and collaboration.and collaboration.

The Coalition is made up of community members The Coalition is made up of community members who represent their neighbourhood group, agency who represent their neighbourhood group, agency partners and sponsoring agencies who have a vested partners and sponsoring agencies who have a vested interest in building communities.interest in building communities.

Sponsoring Agencies; Family and Children Services Sponsoring Agencies; Family and Children Services of Guelph Wellington, Guelph Community Health of Guelph Wellington, Guelph Community Health Centre, and the City of Guelph.Centre, and the City of Guelph.

The Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition

Participatory BudgetingParticipatory Budgeting

Participatory process was introduced Participatory process was introduced three years ago by City staff. three years ago by City staff.

Utilizing the existing framework of the Utilizing the existing framework of the CoalitionCoalition

Neighbourhood appointed rep’s and Neighbourhood appointed rep’s and sponsoring agency rep’s only – otherwise sponsoring agency rep’s only – otherwise the meeting is closed. the meeting is closed.

Funds come from various sources Funds come from various sources including; municipal, regional and including; municipal, regional and provincial governments.provincial governments.

NSC core budget funding has 3 stages; NSC core budget funding has 3 stages; local groups determine priorities; rep’s local groups determine priorities; rep’s bring requests to Coalition; NSC Board bring requests to Coalition; NSC Board approves recommendation. approves recommendation.

Removing barriers is very important. Removing barriers is very important.

Outcomes Outcomes

Democracy, Equity, Community Democracy, Equity, Community Involvement, Transparency and Involvement, Transparency and Efficiency. Efficiency. Local groups represents over Local groups represents over 1100 residents on average. 1100 residents on average. 460 different programs offered 460 different programs offered in previous fiscal year. in previous fiscal year. Process is getting better with Process is getting better with time. time.

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned Municipal staff’s in a facilitator’s Municipal staff’s in a facilitator’s role role Community access to decision Community access to decision makers makers The creation of policies and The creation of policies and proceduresprocedures Neighbourhood leaders speak firstNeighbourhood leaders speak first The use of language The use of language

          

““This is the hardest thing to do; This is the hardest thing to do; there are a lot of emotions here at there are a lot of emotions here at the table” the table” Waverley Neighbourhood Rep. Waverley Neighbourhood Rep.

““Each group is individual but yet Each group is individual but yet when we come to this table, we when we come to this table, we need to advocate and make need to advocate and make decisions based on the good of the decisions based on the good of the whole” Two Rivers Rep. whole” Two Rivers Rep.