CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE
Community Association Strategy
City Council Presentation
December 19th, 2016
Agenda
• Purpose for the Strategy
• About the Community Associations
• Current City Supports
• Research Undertaken
• Recommendations
• Implementation & Resources
Purpose
•
Community Associations are experiencing varying levels of success which
is reflected in volunteerism and program delivery.
•
Current system is ~40 years in the making with significant changes over that
time.
– Includes a reduction of 23 Community Associations (linked to schools) to 7
(linked to broad neighbourhood areas).
•
Community Associations offer valuable recreational programming/services
and community events. It is important to examine the system and look for
ways to ensure sustainability.
•
2014 Community Recreation Services Plan recommended to,
“Pursue a consultative process to assess options and improve the effectiveness
and efficiencies of the Community Associations in order to ensure a durable
cost-effective service delivery system.”
About the Community Associations
•
7 Community Associations
(down from 23)
– Beaverly
– Blackburn
– College Heights
– Crescents
– Hart
– South Bowl
– West Bowl
•
CAs are volunteer
organizations that deliver
recreation programs and
community development
activities that strengthen
communities within a specific
geographic area.
Current City Supports
• Active Living Guide
• Outdoor boarded rinks – assistance, training,
funding
• Provision of space - Shared Use Agreement with
School District #57
• General liability insurance
• Membership in Volunteer Prince George
• Support for online program registration
• Grant opportunities
• City staff time (~0.4 FTE)
Research Undertaken
Public Survey
Public Survey
Recommendation #1
The City of Prince George will offer supports to the
Community Associations as they deliver their
programs and events.
– City continues with supports currently offered to CAs.
Additional supports may include:
• Volunteer recruitment and retention initiatives and strategies.
• Board development initiatives and strategies.
• Resource banks which may include lesson plans, bylaws,
and promotional templates.
• Community needs assessment.
• Communications and promotions.
• Planning assistance.
Recommendation #2
Develop partnership agreements between the City and
Community Associations.
– Will define the nature of the relationship between the two
and will be reviewed annually.
– Examples of elements to include in the agreement are:
• Access to School District #57 facilities in accordance to the
Shared Use Agreement between the School District and the
City.
• Supports as identified in Recommendation 1.
• Liability insurance.
• Outdoor ice rink operations.
• Volunteer support.
Recommendation #3
Formally recognize that the Community
Associations are the face of the community.
– This function for the CAs should be formally
recognized and included in the partnership
agreement.
– This role could include:
• Recreation programs & special events.
• Beautification projects.
• Neighourhood clean-ups.
• Fundraising.
• Town hall meetings.
• A sounding board for various issues / concerns.
Recommendation #4
Examine how to best meet the needs of areas of
Prince George that are not currently represented
by a Community Association.
– Not all areas of Prince George are currently
represented by a CA.
– There are a number of options to explore:
• Look at existing boundaries of the current CAs to
determine if they could be adjusted to incorporate
areas currently not covered by a CA.
• New CAs could be established.
• Areas without a CA could maintain that status if
residents prefer.
Implementation & Resources
• Interaction and communication between City and
CAs.
• Partnerships with external organizations.
• Internal partnering.
• Funding (~$20,000).
• Increased staff resources.