A lengthy discussion in neighbourhood associations and their connection to Council took place during a committee meeting on Monday, April 26. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

BE RECOGNIZED

‘I want to be assured they have credibility:’ new benchmarks pending for Nanaimo neighbourhood groups

Apr 27, 2021 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — Neighbourhood associations and similar groups representing segments of the community are coming under the magnifying glass at City Hall.

A staff report presented at a governance and priorities committee meeting on Monday, April 26 aimed to lay out criteria for neighbourhood associations in order to be formally engaged on community and development issues by the City.

Mayor Leonard Krog said having a benchmark for these groups would provide clear, useful information to aid in decision making around the Council table.

“We decide on proposals all the time and hear nothing from anybody and we’re going by our guts, by staff recommendations. If we have something from a recognized neighbourhood association, I’ll feel more comfortable in making those decisions.”

Among the recommendations, neighbourhood associations would require an elected executive which meets regularly, an inclusive membership structure, meetings including an AGM and regularly engage with its neighbourhood prior to responding to a City request for input.

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Groups who don’t meet some or all of the criteria would still receive information, but wouldn’t be recognized as representatives of their area.

Nanaimo has 20 active neighbourhood associations or similar community groups. Of the active groups, six are registered non-profits and highly organized, a further eight conduct regular meetings while six are less formal and would not meet the standard under the proposed regulations.

Another seven groups were noted but deemed dormant.

Coun. Ian Thorpe said the issue boiled down to the credibility of input Council receives from the community.

“When we have people coming to address council, usually about development applications, if they claim to be representing a neighbourhood association I want to be assured they have credibility that they are in fact representing an organized association.”

Coun. Erin Hemmens said she would never dismiss public input from an individual or unorganized group, but she said she did “appreciate legitimacy” when it came to organized consultation.

“When a big OCP amendment is on the table, I give weight to a neighbourhood association that I know has some structure, history and a process for engaging with their neighbours to come to an opinion that is then presented at Council.”

Opponents to the preliminary staff report said the recommendations spoke more to governing or accrediting neighbourhood associations, rather than improving communication.

“The question is who does city and council recognize? The answer is simple, everyone,” Sharon Kofoed, a member of the Westwood Lake Neighbourhood Association, told the committee.

“Organizational criteria will not make us better, nor counting out how many residents that stand in front of you waving their banners, nor will a heavy handed approach to recognition add more value to the engagement process.”

Representatives from Harewood, Newcastle and Stephenson Point community associations all wanted the report to go back to staff to invite more consultations with neighbourhood associations and to allow members of groups to have their own say.

During a survey conducted through 2020, 14 of Nanaimo’s recognized 20 neighbourhood associations responded to a City request for input.

A summary of Monday’s conversation at the committee meeting, along with the staff report and its recommendations will be sent out to neighbourhood associations throughout the city.

A unanimous vote deferred any action on the new regulations until September to allow for further input.

The committee also discussed expanding the current Partners in Parks program, which links community members to funding for neighbourhood park and public space improvement.

An expansion of the program, re-branded to Partners in Community, would change the scope of fundable work to include street and mobility improvement, environmental initiatives and neighbourhood beautification.

Staff were directed to return back with a detailed plan and annual budget for Council’s consideration at a future meeting.

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alex.rawnsley@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley