TAMRMS#: B06
6.1
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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Strategic and Budget Public Engagement Redesign
Presented by: Brian Annin, Public Affairs Advisor, Communication and Public Affairs
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
recommendation
That the Standing Committee of the Whole recommend that Council approve increasing the service level for the community satisfaction survey from once every four years to once every two years starting in 2027.
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SUMMARY
As directed by the Corporate Business Plan, Administration is making changes to its approach for providing public participation opportunities related to Budget and Strategic Planning. One of the changes Administration would like to make is to conduct the Community Satisfaction Survey every two years rather than every four years. This requires a change to the Council-approved service level.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
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BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Community insight is currently gathered through several established initiatives, including the Community Satisfaction Survey (CSS), annual budget engagement and project-specific public participation. While each serves an important purpose, these activities have evolved independently rather than as a coordinated system aligned to Council's strategic planning and budget cycle.
Council's 2026 to 2029 Strategic Plan identifies strengthening meaningful, transparent and accessible communication and engagement as a key organizational priority. Administration supports this priority by reviewing and redesigning how community insight is gathered and applied to better inform strategic planning, business planning and budget development.
The current approach presents several limitations:
* Budget engagement often occurs after most priorities and funding recommendations have been developed, limiting opportunities for public input to meaningfully influence direction.
* The Community Satisfaction Survey, currently conducted every four years...
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