STRATEGIC AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE OPEN MEETING Date: Wednesday, May 3, 2017, 12:00 p.m. Location: Second Floor Committee Room, City Hall, Fredericton 1. Committee Membership Deputy Mayor Kate Rogers, Chair Councillor John MacDermid, Vice-Chair Councillor Stephen Chase, Member Councillor Greg Ericson, Member Councillor Steven Hicks, Member Councillor Henri Mallet, Member 2. Agenda 2.1 City Membership in Municipal Associations Administrative Report presented by: • Jane Blakely, Director Consulting and Human Resources ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT To: Deputy Mayor Kate Rogers and Members of Strategic & External Relations Ctee. From: Jane Blakely, Director Consulting and Human Resources Date: April 04, 2017 Title: City Membership in Municipal Associations Copies: Chris MacPherson, City Administrator Michael Baldwin, Assistant Director II&I OPEN OR CLOSED SESSION: Open ISSUE: For many years the City has been a member of three (3) provincial associations and a varying number of national committees. Each membership has provided some value at a particular time. However, the membership decisions have been made over an extended period and in the absence of any real discussion about what the City would like to get out of these memberships. BACKGROUND: Each of the Provincial Associations listed below is further described in Appendix A. Cities of NB Association Union of NB Municipalities Association francophones des municipalities du Nouveau Brunswick Federation of Canadian Municipalities Atlantic Mayor’s Congress Canadian Capital Cities Organization (inactive) Chamber of Commerce This report specifically addresses the three provincial associations DISCUSSION: Cities of NB Association: Memberships limited to 8 Cities in NB Over time the nature of the cities has changed: some of the members have become larger, others smaller. Most cities are members of other organizations. Depending on the issue, there may be greater commonality of interest elsewhere. One F/T bilingual executive director and one P/T assistant. 1 ED forms working committees of senior city staff to prepare position papers, responses etc. to Provincial issues. Organization as a whole adopts resolutions that can be policy level (Finn Report) or issue specific (parking regulation). Union of Municipalities of NB: Membership includes 4 Cities (Fredericton Edmundston, Dieppe, Miramichi) Some of the villages are larger than some of the cities and may share interests with the cities (policing, binding arbitration, urban planning). Most members are small with limited resources and as a result many of the issues are operational (roadway line painting) Members divided up into regions that hold regular meetings and have representation on the Board Largely an English speaking organization although the website is bilingual and the annual meeting provides translation. Longtime E/D and a few working committees made up of politicians and city staff address upcoming issues. Partners with other associations and municipalities to address policy issues. Association francophones des municipalities du NB: Membership includes 7 cities Francophone organization that is fully engaged in the network of Acadian Societies. Very visible in the francophone media. Leading the agenda on Development of Regions. Long term commitment to “complete municipalization”. Relatively well resourced with strong ED and research staff. Partners with other organizations on larger issues (legislative review). General Urban sprawl and a sustainable financial framework for municipalities remain common concerns of all the associations. The recently introduced modernized municipal legislation appears to address some of the ongoing issues regarding land use planning and governance with solutions that have long been advocated by the associations (empowering legislation, natural person powers). The Province considers communicating with and consulting with the associations to be its preferred if not only method of communication with municipalities. o All 3 are represented by ED and President at quarterly Provincial/Municipal Council meetings which include the senior administrators and the Minister of DELG. o All associations are considered stakeholders and invited to send representatives to stakeholder meetings. (The City has used our membership to participate indirectly in many processes including legislative reform, Finn Commission, etc.) o Over the years great efforts have been made to find common interests within and between the organizations. This tends to helpful at the very high policy level and become increasingly difficult to sustain as the implementation details start to become clear. o Population is not considered in decision making in any of the organizations. It is considered in membership fees. 2 o The creation of regional and rural communities has shifted the conversation about municipalities in NB. Interests are now are “urban” or “rural”. UMNB and AFMNB memberships are overwhelmingly rural. o The creation of the Regional Services Commissions has also added a layer of complexity within the organizations and in their relationships with the Province. Things to Think about In what order are decisions made? Is it the association taking a position on an issue or is the membership directing the association what position to take? Because of the consultation model, time is often very short and responses from members can take a long time, if they happen at all. Membership in more than one organization brings with it the risk that the City could be a supporter of two opposing positions. There has been a great deal of effort put into preventing this, which begs the question: “how valid and useful has the input of the associations and thereby the city been if it’s always based on compromise?” How do we link our resources to results? The city has done more than its fair share supporting the efforts of the associations and that has given us access to local government through consultations and joint project work. Has that been successful? Are there other ways to deploy the same amount of energy that could provide a better return on investment? FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION: Cities of NB Association $26,000.00 Union of NB Municipalities $10,000.00 Association francophones des municipalities du $ 7,500.00 Nouveau Brunswick Subtotal: $43,500.00 Federation of Canadian Municipalities $ 7,500.00 Atlantic Mayor’s Congress $ 500.00 Canadian Capital Cities Organization $ 250.00 * not current Chamber of Commerce $ 1,100.00 Total: $52,850.00 LEGAL CONSIDERATION: N/A SPOKESPERSON: Jane Blakely RECOMMENDATION: Prepared by: Jane Blakely Approved by: Chris MacPherson 3 Appendix A Administrative Report to Strategic & External Relations Committee April 2017-04-04 NB Municipal Associations 4 CITIES OF NEW BRUNSWICK ASSOCIATION: “8 Cities, 1 voice…” WWW.CNBA-ACNB.CA The Cities of New Brunswick Association was founded over thirty years ago and currently has the eight cities of the province as members. Our vision is that cities are the pillars of our province and that we need to ensure they have the tools to enable them to continue to thrive and contribute to the socio-economic development of the province of New Brunswick. The mission of the Association is to promote the exchange of information among members, to co-operate and liaise with other agencies and associations having a municipal interest, and to strive for a united front in all matters pertaining to the realization of municipal goals as may be requested or deemed advisable from time to time. Members & Population Moncton 71,889 Saint John 67,575 Fredericton 58,220 Dieppe 25,384 Miramichi 17,537 Edmundston 16,580 Bathurst 11,897 Campbellton 6883 Priorities (identified November 2015) Legislative Framework (25 votes) Communication (17 votes) Engagement of mayors (17 votes) Administration (12 votes) Governance (8 votes) Relationship with government (6 votes) Strategic / action plan (5 votes) Unity (2 votes) Partnership (2 votes) Engaging agenda (2 votes) Collaboration on procurement and services (0 votes) Action now (0 votes) 5 UNION OF MUNICIPALITIES OF NEW BRUNSWICK WWW.UMNB.CA VISION Strong, Sustainable and Viable New Brunswick municipalities and rural communities MISSION A strong association working with members collaboratively, on behalf of municipalities and rural communities to advocate for government policy that will better enable them to become and remain financially viable and able to provide quality, sustainable services to their residents. PILLARS 2016 - 2021 Advocacy: To increase and strengthen, on behalf of member municipalities and rural communities, UMNB’s advocacy role to government on important municipal issues Communications: To increase communications between the UMNB Board of directors and its members Leadership: to increase and maintain membership Organizational Effectiveness: to increase the Administrative capacity of the Association See membership other side 6 Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 *Blackville *Alma *GrandBay – Westfield Bouctouche Cap-Pelé *Hampton *Chipman *Dieppe *Norton Cocagne Rural Community *Dorchester *Quispamsis *Doaktown *Hillsborough *Rothesay *Minto Memramcook Saint John *Miramichi *Petitcodiac *St. Martins Néguac *Port Elgin *Sussex *Rexton *Riverside – Albert *Sussex Corner *Richibucto *Riverview Rogersville *Sackville Saint-Antoine *Salisbury Saint-Louis-de-Kent *Shediac *Upper Miramichi Zone 4 Zone 5 Zone 6 *Blacks Harbour *Cambridge Narrows *Aroostook *Grand Manan *Fredericton *Bath *St. Andrews *Fredericton Junction *Canterbury