1. Participatory Budgeting in Guelph
Janette Loveys
Manager of Community Development
City of Guelph
          

2. City of Guelph’s & Community Development
Background Information
Municipal Staff’s role
Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition
Participatory Budget Process
Outcomes
Lessons Learned

4. Background Information
Momentum comes from grass roots
neighbourhood groups.
Neighbourhoods becomes part of the solution.
Becomes a more cost effective service
delivery model.

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

6. The Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition
The Coalition is made up of community members who represent their neighbourhood group, agency partners and sponsoring agencies who have a vested interest in building communities.
Sponsoring Agencies; Family and Children Services of Guelph Wellington, Guelph Community Health Centre, and the City of Guelph.

7. Participatory Budgeting
Participatory process was introduced three years ago by City staff.
Utilizing the existing framework of the Coalition
Neighbourhood appointed rep’s and sponsoring agency rep’s only – otherwise the meeting is closed.

8. Funds come from various sources including; municipal, regional and provincial governments.
NSC core budget funding has 3 stages; local groups determine priorities; rep’s bring requests to Coalition; NSC Board approves recommendation.
Removing barriers is very important.

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

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

11. Waverley Neighbourhood Rep.
“This is the hardest thing to do; there are a lot of emotions here at the table”
Waverley Neighbourhood Rep.
“Each group is individual but yet when we come to this table, we need to advocate and make decisions based on the good of the whole” Two Rivers Rep.