Moment with the Mayor: Regional Collaboration in Other Areas

Hi Everyone:

Sunday afternoon at last week’s SUMA Convention started with a good discussion of how other regions are working together to enhance their quality of life and make strategic investments towards the sustainability of their communities and regions.

What follows are some of the highlights from various communities that were represented:

Swift Current

•    Reported some recreation facilities experiencing 50% cost recovery.
•    Swift Current imposed non-resident fees with three outcomes: 1) rural municipalities were offended, 2) tourists were affected, and 3) regional collaboration slowed. The non-resident fees were removed in less than a year.

Brooks/County of Newell, AB

•    Strong personal relationships were leveraged to strengthen county and municipal relationships.
•    Intentionally worked to break down barriers and municipal boundaries, by creating inclusive events for the region, conducting tours of the region, and recognizing and hosting other communities at local events.
•    Developed regional recreation agreements so that all arena schedules are coordinated. One village arena was converted into a field house.
•    The County provides a million dollars per year for communities to enhance their programs or facilities, and it can be spent on capital or operations.

White City/Town of Balgonie

•    Developed the White Butte Planning Committee with voluntary participation.
•    Trying to develop a regional trail system, including Regina.
•    There is revenue sharing.
•    Regina shares both capital and operational costs.
•    Fees for all facilities in the region are the same.
•    When non-residents of Regina register for Regina programs they have to first wait for Regina residents to fill the class.

Gull Lake and Region

•    Gull Lake, two rural municipalities and one hamlet cost-share a recreation director position.
•    Losses on the pool in Gull Lake are split 50/50 between Gull Lake and the RMs.
•    A per capita levy is imposed by the partners to be reinvested in recreation.
•    Smaller communities don't have the resources or the critical mass of tax revenue to provide the same facilities and programs as cities.

Please write or phone if you would like me to discuss a particular topic. If you have any questions or comments, drop me a line at the town office or email me at mayorenns-wind@kindersley.ca. You can also check out my blog at http://mayorjohn.blogspot.ca/. I appreciate your feedback.