Post by Kevin on Mar 4, 2008 23:51:32 GMT -5
Here is a great article in todays Standard written by the president and general manager of the St. Catharines-Thorold Chamber of Commerce. It lays out how St. Catharines can build a multi-use aquatics centre, spectator entertainment sports complex and performing arts centre without crippling the city's finances.
Source: www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=928287&auth=Walter+Sendzik
City can't afford to delay a services review; St. Catharines will have to be creative to fund its upcoming big projects
Posted By Walter Sendzik
Posted 17 hours ago
Municipal budgets are more than just about road repairs, stop signs and snow removal. In a city the size of St. Catharines, the budget is an intricate process that must balance core services with that of future growth requirements needed in order for the city to be competitive, vibrant and prosperous. It's never easy - and there are no easy answers.
Last year, the Chamber urged city council to invest in infrastructure projects and economic development as a means to foster a stronger business environment. For example, the traffic conversion of St. Paul and King streets provides the city with the opportunity to seize the economic benefits of a wine route through the downtown core of St. Catharines. With more than 600,000 wine tourists travelling the route each year - and currently bypassing the heart of the city - solid business plans can be generated based on the tourist traffic. The upside of economic development far outweighs the short-term investments required by the city.
In addition to supporting economic development opportunities, the Chamber advocated for a full review of all municipal services as a means to ensure the city is spending its resources effectively and efficiently. This request was in combination with the Chamber's recommendation that the city complete a strategic plan that would guide the city's councillors and staff over the next 10 years. A strategic plan is a necessity for a city the size of St. Catharines - without one the city is bound to be like a rudderless ship.
In terms of economic development, the city in moving in the right direction with its support of the traffic conversion and the Community Improvement Program - which assists development projects in areas of the city that need incentives for revitalization. But there has been limited movement on the services review. The city cannot afford to delay a full services review - any efficiency found or red tape reduced will be a benefit to businesses and citizens.
Looking forward, the 2008 city budget is currently under deliberations. St. Catharines is at a crossroad on a number of important civic projects including the building of a new aquatics centre, a multi-use spectator complex and a performing arts centre - just to list a few of the possible major projects that will define St. Catharines in the years ahead. In today's increasingly competitive environment, businesses looking to locate to communities are placing a greater emphasis on quality of life. Yet, due to a lack of support and investment into civic projects that enhance the vibrancy of the city - and attract economic investment - the city has fallen behind as its quality of life indices are no longer competitive compared to other cities in Southern Ontario.
The Chamber acknowledges that civic projects are not cheap - and that the city has finite means with which to finance these types of projects. It is the opinion of the Chamber that the city can build a multi-use aquatics centre, spectator entertainment sports complex and performing arts centre without crippling the city's finances - but it must become creative. Here is one way.
As part of an accelerated services review, and overall strategic plan, the city must review all of its services and land assets as part of an assessment inventory to determine valuation of services and land holdings. In doing so, the city can then generate capital project revenue by monetizing excess city assets and privatizing certain services as a means to provide the financing for civic projects.
For example, the city should examine its role in maintaining and building parking garages in the downtown. With the Carlisle Street parking garage slated for demolition - and a $15-million rebuild - the city must ask if it should be in the business of building parking garages.
Following the lead of London, the city should develop a St. Catharines Civic Project Fund - financed from the sale of identified excess municipal lands - and begin to reinvest in the city in a way that hasn't been done in the last 40 years. With the building of Brock's Niagara Health and Biosciences Research Complex, a new state-of-the-art hospital and regional cancer centre and an emerging interactive media industry, the city has an opportunity to become one of Ontario's leading urban centres in the 21st century. It will take leadership, creativity and the collective will of the community to realize the bright future that stands before St. Catharines.
It won't be easy - but what is the alternative?
Walter Sendzik is the president and general manager of the St. Catharines-Thorold Chamber of Commerce. His column appears regularly in The Standard.
Source: www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=928287&auth=Walter+Sendzik
City can't afford to delay a services review; St. Catharines will have to be creative to fund its upcoming big projects
Posted By Walter Sendzik
Posted 17 hours ago
Municipal budgets are more than just about road repairs, stop signs and snow removal. In a city the size of St. Catharines, the budget is an intricate process that must balance core services with that of future growth requirements needed in order for the city to be competitive, vibrant and prosperous. It's never easy - and there are no easy answers.
Last year, the Chamber urged city council to invest in infrastructure projects and economic development as a means to foster a stronger business environment. For example, the traffic conversion of St. Paul and King streets provides the city with the opportunity to seize the economic benefits of a wine route through the downtown core of St. Catharines. With more than 600,000 wine tourists travelling the route each year - and currently bypassing the heart of the city - solid business plans can be generated based on the tourist traffic. The upside of economic development far outweighs the short-term investments required by the city.
In addition to supporting economic development opportunities, the Chamber advocated for a full review of all municipal services as a means to ensure the city is spending its resources effectively and efficiently. This request was in combination with the Chamber's recommendation that the city complete a strategic plan that would guide the city's councillors and staff over the next 10 years. A strategic plan is a necessity for a city the size of St. Catharines - without one the city is bound to be like a rudderless ship.
In terms of economic development, the city in moving in the right direction with its support of the traffic conversion and the Community Improvement Program - which assists development projects in areas of the city that need incentives for revitalization. But there has been limited movement on the services review. The city cannot afford to delay a full services review - any efficiency found or red tape reduced will be a benefit to businesses and citizens.
Looking forward, the 2008 city budget is currently under deliberations. St. Catharines is at a crossroad on a number of important civic projects including the building of a new aquatics centre, a multi-use spectator complex and a performing arts centre - just to list a few of the possible major projects that will define St. Catharines in the years ahead. In today's increasingly competitive environment, businesses looking to locate to communities are placing a greater emphasis on quality of life. Yet, due to a lack of support and investment into civic projects that enhance the vibrancy of the city - and attract economic investment - the city has fallen behind as its quality of life indices are no longer competitive compared to other cities in Southern Ontario.
The Chamber acknowledges that civic projects are not cheap - and that the city has finite means with which to finance these types of projects. It is the opinion of the Chamber that the city can build a multi-use aquatics centre, spectator entertainment sports complex and performing arts centre without crippling the city's finances - but it must become creative. Here is one way.
As part of an accelerated services review, and overall strategic plan, the city must review all of its services and land assets as part of an assessment inventory to determine valuation of services and land holdings. In doing so, the city can then generate capital project revenue by monetizing excess city assets and privatizing certain services as a means to provide the financing for civic projects.
For example, the city should examine its role in maintaining and building parking garages in the downtown. With the Carlisle Street parking garage slated for demolition - and a $15-million rebuild - the city must ask if it should be in the business of building parking garages.
Following the lead of London, the city should develop a St. Catharines Civic Project Fund - financed from the sale of identified excess municipal lands - and begin to reinvest in the city in a way that hasn't been done in the last 40 years. With the building of Brock's Niagara Health and Biosciences Research Complex, a new state-of-the-art hospital and regional cancer centre and an emerging interactive media industry, the city has an opportunity to become one of Ontario's leading urban centres in the 21st century. It will take leadership, creativity and the collective will of the community to realize the bright future that stands before St. Catharines.
It won't be easy - but what is the alternative?
Walter Sendzik is the president and general manager of the St. Catharines-Thorold Chamber of Commerce. His column appears regularly in The Standard.
