Community-Based Budgeting Workshop #1 Wrap Up (PPT + Video)
We hosted our first workshop for the 2023 Community-based budgeting (CBB) last weekend. We extend our gratitude to all those who joined us, shared their ideas and aspirations for their community, and actively participated in the co-creation process. Special thanks to Edmonton Public Library for hosting us at their Mill Woods branch.
There were insightful conversations, brainstorming, and feedback during the workshop, which our team will carefully follow up on. It was wonderful to see people from diverse backgrounds across #WardKarhiio come together. We will be holding our second workshop, DESIGN & DEVELOP, on June 3rd, once again at the Mill Woods Library, from 3:30-5 PM.
If you weren’t able to make it to the first workshop, you can find the presentation here (recorded after the workshop), which includes the information shared during the event, along with highlights and timestamps. We will also have a copy of the presentation available in PDF for your convenience.
BACKGROUND: WHAT IS COMMUNITY-BASED BUDGETING?
What is Community-based budgeting? (Timestamp @ 2:30)
Community-based budgeting is a term that residents who participated in this project last year had coined, but this is inspired by what is called Participatory Budgeting, which is a methodology that came out of Brazil in the late 80s and is now practiced in cities and communities around the world.
What are the goals of Community-based budgeting? (Timestamp @ 4:41)
The goal here is to take the budget decision-making process to the street and seek ideas that we can reinvest these dollars back into the communities. This is a collective decision-making process where people come forward with ideas, and rather than me as the ward councillor saying yay or nay on whether or not a project should go forward, it's really about sharing ideas openly with each other, finding synergy and opportunities for collaboration. The ultimate outcome reflects a community decision, which in my experience tends to be more thoughtful, more robust, and stronger than a decision made by a single person.
PROCESS: HOW WILL CBB WORK FOR 2023?
How do we start? (Timestamp @ 8:28)
The diagram illustrates the general process of how community-based budgeting works. The light bulb starts the brainstorming process. People know their communities best. They can identify what are the strengths of their communities, and where are the places of improvement. It is through these conversations where ideas percolate; sky's the limit, and we encourage people to come up with as many ideas as possible. Much of the outcome really depends on WHO participates, and how many teams submit their ideas.
What’s the timeline for the Community-based budgeting project? (Timestamp @ 12:24)
May 13th was the first workshop and that's where brainstorming started but it doesn't end there. After brainstorming, we move into “design and develop” stage to add more details to these ideas, to align with some parameters that determine the scope of the projects. This next workshop is on June 3rd and we're asking people to start to really develop what they want to do.
Next, people form teams with friends, family, neighbours, or a local group, and submit their idea formally through an online portal, which will be open for a month. Once all the submissions are done, we will share them all for public viewing and voting, which will be from July 1-31. After which, we will announce which projects are funded. From August 1st until the end of the year, folks will implement their project, and the deadline for reimbursement is November 30th for all receipts. As a final stage, we will do an evaluation to understand people's experience (I.e., what was the impact? What did we learn, where can we improve?).
How do our projects receive the funding if voted as a winner? (Timestamp @13:21)
During the May 13th workshop, we heard many questions about funding and reimbursement. Regardless of the project, our team’s role is to wholeheartedly support your moving forward with implementation. The project is intended to be on a reimbursement basis. To facilitate this, it is important to have a community partner involved in your project to play a fiscal agent role. In some cases, these partners also play an active role, whether matching contributions or in project implementation. We kindly ask you to keep track of your expenses by retaining the receipts, and rest assured, we will reimburse you accordingly.
At the same time, we understand that not everyone is able to bear the initial financial burden. Therefore, the community partner role is critical. By partnering with these organizations, we can facilitate upfront financial support, relieving you of some of the initial costs. This flexible approach allows us to adapt to individual circumstances, and we strongly encourage you to reach out and engage in a dialogue with us.
Please note that our policies are not set in stone, and we are open to discussing your unique situation. We are here to support you and help as much as we can every step of the way.
IDEAS: WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES FOR INSPIRATION?
Unlike last year where we welcomed all ideas in a very open way. This year, we encourage you to think about projects that will activate public spaces in either a temporary or permanent way. Here are some examples from last year and others we know from other jurisdictions, that we hope to get your creative juices flowing.
Benches (Timestamp @ 15:48)
Benches are an essential amenity that our team frequently receives feedback about. The demand for seating areas, whether along walking paths or in the park, always seems to exceed the available supply. Recognizing this need, a dedicated group of seniors from Charlesworth took the initiative to address the issue. Collaborating with a youth group, they successfully secured an opportunity through the Community-base budgeting 2022 to make a positive change.
While the current benches may not be permanently installed, they are conveniently stored in the park's storage room. Whenever the benches are needed, they are retrieved from storage and put to use. Although the arrangement is temporary, it ensures that the community can enjoy the benefits of seating whenever required. Moreover, the project led to further conversation with the developer for the neighbourhood who is looking to install permanent benches.
Pride walkway (Timestamp @ 17:01)
This pride walkway at Mill Woods Transit Center stands as a testament to our community's vibrant spirit. As a public art project, it proudly holds the distinction of being the first pride walkway outside of the well-established neighborhoods, directly on public property. The collaboration between the project team and ETS has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. ETS generously provided the paint and granted permission to paint this property, resulting in a project that required minimal expense. This smart allocation of resources has created opportunities to channel funding and resources towards other impactful projects.
As we reflect on the success of this project over the past year, we acknowledge that the paint has endured some minor chipping. Therefore, if we see a public art project in this year’s submission, we invite you to consider sharing some of the paint to revitalize and uplift this walkway.
Community pantry/fridge (Timestamp @ 18:16)
This is a community food fridge initiative in Community-based budgeting in Ward Nakota Isga, with whom we partnered last year. The essence of this project lies in providing a platform for sharing the abundance of your garden's harvest or any non-perishable items you believe could benefit others. This group addressed food insecurity but also fostered a sense of community and support at a neighborhood level. It's a powerful way to extend a helping hand to one another while breaking down the stigmas associated with food insecurity.
Tree planting project (Timestamp @ 19:14)
This tree planting project took place in Hillview. Normally, the city follows a dedicated tree planting schedule each year. For these three trees in this cul-de-sac had to be removed because they are diseased, the plan was for the City to replace them the following year according to the schedule. However, the children in this neighbourhood were eager to see new trees thrive as soon as possible and requested their installation as part of Community-based budgeting 2022 submission. Thanks to their enthusiasm and the community-based budgeting initiative, the project secured funding for two new trees, and the City’s Parks and Roads team added a third.
Bike rack project (Timestamp @ 20:22)
While this bike rack project was not part of the community-based budgeting, it is a popular idea across the city. This NAIT bike rack project was designed by student artists, yet another type of project that can be implemented through the Community-based budgeting initiative.
Public art mural (Timestamp @ 20:51)
We’d love to see more public art projects like this one in Mill Woods Park that involve a variety of people.
Chess in the Park and Puppet show storytelling (Timestamp @ 21:04)
A few other ideas:
Chess in the Park is a group that meets regularly every Sunday in Jackie Parker Park over the summer time. To engage children in chess, the project team got a large chess set like what you see in Churchill Square.
The Magpie Puppet Club is partnering with pop-up coffee shop in a Nakota Isga neighbourhood to put on puppet shows and storytelling.
PEOPLE AND PLACES (Timestamp @ 21:49)
A place is vibrant not because of the place itself; but because of the people that come and gather in these spaces.
This year, we want to be intentional about supporting teams in deepening their skills in relationship building and facilitating conversations within the community, figuring out what is it like to talk to strangers you haven’t talked to before, with neighbours you haven’t interacted with, and asking how can space and public place activation help bring different people together.
WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK! (Timestamp @ 24:33)
Some questions we would love to hear from you:
What do you think of the name Community-Based Budgeting?
Does the order of events and the workshops make sense to you?
What are your thoughts on the size and scope of the projects?
How do you want the voting to work?
Do you have any ideas brewing in your mind?
