#1- CONSTELLATION CITY – COMMUNITY OF COMMUNITIES
That the City Council adopt a resolution declaring that the City of Greater Sudbury is a Community of Communities and, that the Constellation City concept and its core values form the basis for municipal policies and decision-making in Greater Sudbury.
The rest of the recommendations are grouped into categories that emphasize their intent to help build Greater Sudbury into a true Constellation City: a city that is Connected, Caring, Empowered and Equitable.
# 2 - MUNICIPAL NEWSLETTER
That the City of Greater Sudbury produce a municipal newsletter on a regular basis. It should be made available both in print and electronically and contain information on subjects such as capital projects, road standards and special events. Efforts should be made to link with and include local information from communities both inside and outside the city core.
# 3 - CITY WEBSITES
That the City of Greater Sudbury establish an advisory group and develop a strategy to evaluate, revise, improve and promote municipal websites in order to enhance usability: www.greatersudbury.ca, www.sudbury.ca, and www.mysudbury.ca.
# 4 - COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
That the City of Greater Sudbury work with other community agencies to create a single directory of community services both in print form and on the Internet. This directory should build upon and link with existing directories of community services.
# 5 - COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE
That the City of Greater Sudbury formulate a strategy to resolve issues controlled by private enterprise that are central to the well being of the city as a whole. These include Bell Telephone long distance charges, cell phone coverage and broadband Internet access.
# 6 - TRANSIT SERVICE
That the City of Greater Sudbury undertake a full review of transit services and explore the potential for expanded intra-community transit, expansion of handi-transit and an end to two-tier fares. Full-year pilot projects should be undertaken to evaluate this potential, starting as soon as possible.
Further, the city should establish an ongoing transit advisory group, using riders from across the entire community.
# 7 - COUNCIL MEETINGS
That the City of Greater Sudbury Council hold at least six meetings per year in communities outside the city core.
# 8 - MUNICIPAL STAFF ORIENTATION
That the City of Greater Sudbury develop orientation training sessions for all staff, new and existing, to be made aware of population diversity as well as the unique conditions and specific concerns of outlying areas in order to be able to communicate in an efficient and sensitive manner with all citizens.
Further, that the City of Greater Sudbury establish a employment transition policy to ensure that knowledge gained through experience is retained.
# 9 - CITIZEN SERVICE CENTRE AND LIBRARY SERVICE REVIEW
That the City of Greater Sudbury review the mandate of Citizen Service Centres and Community Libraries, along with the menu of services available in each. The focus of the review should be on innovations that will improve access to services across the city, considering factors such as the distance residents must travel for service, the potential to expand the number of services available and the potential co-location of additional library and CSCs.
Further, the review should consider the potential for mobile services, additional web services and the potential to enhance a lead staff position to allow that person to be more active and proactive in local community affairs.
# 10 - SUPPORT FOR VOLUNTEER GROUPS AND EVENTS
That the City of Greater Sudbury develop a written Declaration of Support for community volunteer groups and local events. The declaration should clearly delineate the assistance that the city can provide as well as how individual groups and community event organizers can access this assistance.
Further, that the City of Greater Sudbury continue to support growth of programs and services of Volunteer Sudbury/Sudbury Bénévolat and encourage efforts to bring these services to community groups in smaller communities.
Further, the declaration should outline the obligations that community groups might have to meet and provide an updated contact list of staff who can provide support for such groups.
# 11 - REMOVING BARRIERS TO VOLUNTEERING
That the City of Greater Sudbury work with the Greater Sudbury Police Service to reduce or eliminate the fee for police checks for volunteers who provide valuable service for community events, community groups and non-profits.
# 12 - RECOGNIZING VOLUNTEERS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES
That the City of Greater Sudbury review how the City formally recognizes individuals and groups and consider ways to improve recognition in all communities.
# 13 - MUNICIPAL LOTTERY LICENSING
That the CGS review gaming regulations and procedures as they apply to non-profit and volunteer groups and develop options to make the regulations simpler and less onerous. Further, that Council work with the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to lobby the provincial government to make changes to provincial regulations to provide more flexibility for use of funds and simpler reporting standards.
# 14 - SUPPORT FOR LOCAL EVENTS
That the CGS nurture the creation and support the operation of a special events group that can share expertise on managing of major/minor special events.
# 15 - ATV BY-LAW
That Council continue the development of a comprehensive by-law to govern the use of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) within the CGS.
# 16 - ROAD SALT IMPACT
That the City of Greater Sudbury continue to investigate the environmental impact of current road salting practices, research alternatives and propose a strategy to reduce the impact of road salt or mitigate the damage it causes, while ensuring traffic safety.
# 17 - WARD BOUNDARY REVIEW
That the City of Greater Sudbury undertake a full review of the number of municipal wards and their boundaries in order to better recognize the diversity and the large geographic size of the City of Greater Sudbury. The intent of this review is to allow better representation and a more natural grouping of communities of interest in each ward.
Further, the Community Solutions Team recommends that the geographic boundaries of the former towns of Onaping Falls and Capreol each form the basis for a single ward in any new system.
# 18 - INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL PRIORITIES LIST
That the City of Greater Sudbury create a full list of municipal infrastructure along with a transparent list of capital priorities and criteria for support and that this list is made available to the public on an ongoing basis.
# 19 - INFRASTRUCTURE INVENTORY
That the map-based inventory of existing services infrastructure throughout Greater Sudbury be updated and promoted to the public for the purposes of indicating the ability of the infrastructure to support expansion of current subdivisions or new development.
# 20 - ANNUAL UPDATE ON MAJOR STUDIES
That the City of Greater Sudbury conduct an annual review and produce a written report on the status of all major studies undertaken by the municipality since 2005.
# 21 - USE OF CONSULTANTS
That the City of Greater Sudbury adopt a policy on the use of consultants which ensures better use of existing expertise and establishes clear criteria for the use or retention of consultants.
# 22 - STRONGER COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORKS
That the City of Greater Sudbury continue to encourage the development of Community Action Networks at the local community level. Further, that the CGS establish Terms of Reference for 12 Area CANs across the city. These Terms of reference are to include a role for Area CANs in the following municipal areas:
- Planning Public Consultation
- Economic Development
- Community Development, including funded projects
- Municipal Newsletter and communications
- Pre-Budget Consultation including capital planning
- Assisting with full utilization of existing community spaces
- Building links with community policing efforts
Further, that the territories of six of the Area CANs have the same boundaries as the former municipalities of Onaping Falls, Walden, Capreol, Valley East, Rayside Balfour and Nickel Centre and, that the territories of the six remaining Area CANS encompass the area of the former City of Sudbury and, that the former unorganized townships annexed in 2001 be added to the territory of the adjacent Area CAN.
Further, that the City of Greater Sudbury provide meeting space and a basic office for Area CANs and itinerant municipal staff within local community buildings.
Further, that the City of Greater Sudbury designate an individual employee as the staff liaison for each of the Area CANs and that each employee so designated be responsible for no more than three Area CANs and that these employees spend at least 25% of their time working in the Area CAN locations.
Further, that the City of Greater Sudbury establish a key contact list, by municipal section, for each Area CAN and, that staff from all municipal sections be encouraged to attend CAN meetings, work out of Area CAN locations and also have the requirement to follow up on issues raised by CANs or liaison staff.
Further, that the City of Greater Sudbury establish a base annual budget for each Area CAN to cover the costs of communications, office supplies and local projects. The recommended amount is two dollars per resident of the Area CAN’s territory.
Further, that the City of Greater Sudbury establish a formal protocol linking the Area CANs to each other and to Council, and that each municipal department business plan contain a Departmental Statement of Relationship to Community Action Networks.
Further, that the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation establish a framework to link Area CANs to the GSDC Board.
Further, that Area CANs be given the right to appear before the Priorities Committee of Council and to be placed on the Agenda without delay.
# 23 - RE-ESTABLISH LOCAL COMMITTEES
That the City of Greater Sudbury foster the development of local committees to work in a support or advisory capacity with city staff on issues including recreation, libraries, museums, and parks.
# 24 - RESTORING RURAL ROAD STANDARDS
That the City of Greater Sudbury establish clear and transparent standards for road improvements as well as summer and winter road maintenance and, that these standards be set by road segment and that this information be made public and available online using GIS technology.
Further, that the City of Greater Sudbury make every effort to determine the standards and service levels for road maintenance that existed prior to amalgamation and ensure that this information is made available in the same manner as current standards for comparison purposes.
Further, that the City of Greater Sudbury ensure that driving condition assessments and decisions on winter control call outs are decentralized so that the municipality can better respond to variations in weather across the city.
Further, that the City of Greater Sudbury proceed with the implementation of a 311 telephone customer service tracking system and that the performance reports and issue summaries resulting from this system be made public on a quarterly basis. A similar system should be adopted for Internet-based communications.
Further, that the City of Greater Sudbury equip all public works vehicles with web-enabled GIS transponder technology to allow citizens to view the locations of plows, sanders etc. on the Internet in real time. Such a system is already in place in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
# 25 - ACTION TO REDUCE ILLEGAL DUMPING
That the City of Greater Sudbury eliminate tipping fees for home or personal garbage, as well as the surcharge for tires, and, that the City of Greater Sudbury increase the minimum fine for illegal dumping to $500 (the maximum permitted under the Provincial Offences Act). Further, that the City of Greater Sudbury continue to promote proper waste management and look for ways to increase public awareness.
# 26 - COMMUNITY FACILITY RATES AND LIABILITY COSTS
That the City of Greater Sudbury establish a fair rates policy for the use of community facilities and fields across the CGS. Build upon the 2004 report of the Community Halls Solution Team and establish a harmonization rates review process for facility use, user fees for recreational programs and liability insurance costs for community groups. In determining fees, consideration should be given to community outcomes of fee changes and liability rates. The original intent of the facility as a focal point for community gatherings and celebrations, or as a recreational resource, should be weighed in the balance.
Further, consideration should be given to establishing a dedicated staff position to coordinate and market facilities to maximize use and value to the community.
# 27 - COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT DOWNTOWNS
That the City of Greater Sudbury designate specific downtown areas in appropriate communities. Further, that the city commit to improving the development of downtowns in outlying areas and ensure that city programs that are established for the improvement or enhancement of downtowns and target areas be made available across the city.
# 28 - PARKS AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE
That the City of Greater Sudbury improve maintenance standards and beautification for local parks, arenas, downtowns and neighbourhood entrances.
# 29 - GREATER EQUITY AND ACCESS FOR YOUTH AND SENIOR SERVICES
That the City of Greater Sudbury review the availability and type of services available to youth and to seniors in our city. Further, that the CGS develop a strategy to ensure that senior and youth services are more accessible and equitable across the city. Finally, the CGS should ensure that youth and senior representatives play an active role in the development of the respective strategies.
# 30 - REVIEW OF DECENTRALIZED SERVICES
That the City of Greater Sudbury investigate and report by department the potential to decentralize services with the intent to improve these services and service levels across the entire city. Potential changes should improve access while maintaining efficient use of municipal resources.
# 31 - AREA TAX RATES LINKED TO SERVICES
That the City of Greater Sudbury undertake a full review of tax rates in remote areas and establish rates that are more closely based on services provided.
# 32 – PUBLIC STRATEGY ON ELECTRICITY SUPPLIERS
That the City of Greater Sudbury work with citizens and CANs in areas served by Hydro One to determine a position and strategy on unification that is in the best interests of those affected.
# 33 - COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION ON BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
That the City of Greater Sudbury adopt a policy whereby communities of interest are considered for representation on city panels, committees and boards
# 34 - AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
That the City of Greater Sudbury formally recognize the importance of the local agricultural community, ensure that the preservation of viable agricultural land is a priority in development planning, and establish an Agricultural Advisory Committee to provide input on farm-related issues.
# 35 – IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW
That Greater Sudbury Council commit to a public review of the recommendations of the Community Solutions Team on an annual basis for the next four years and that a full report on the implementation and status of these recommendations be undertaken in 2010 and made public by September 1 of that year.
