LWF Ratepayers Association

The following email was sent to area rate associations on Friday.

Please be advised that the new Area Rate Administrative Order Report is on Council’s agenda this Tuesday July 30th.

I have attached a copy, as well as provided the link for the full day’s agenda, and the link to view Council live on Tuesday.

Also attached is an Contribution Agreement for those few Associations who fund other non-profits through their funds.

Based on Council’s approval, this Agreement will need to be signed and returned to me asap, to be submitted with their 2019-20 Business Plan,

going to Council on August 13th.

Please note that Contribution Agreement’s can only be used to fund those items that are showing as allowable expenses in the new Admin Order.

These items are described on the Contribution Agreement for easy referral.

Thank you for your patience during this review.

Further communication will be emailed, based on the recommendations from Council

Barb

BARBARA J WILSON, CPA, CMA
SR. FINANCIAL CONSULTANT

FINANCIAL POLICY & PLANNING

HΛLIFΛX

PO BOX 1749

HALIFAX NS B3J 3A5

T. 902.490.4280
F. 902.490.6030

Please find attached the document shared with area ratepayer associations on May 27 from HRM. It was part of a discussion HRM hosted for limited number of representatives of area rate associations.

https://lwfra.ca/?attachment_id=272

February 28, 2019

Steve Stretch

PO Box 1749

Halifax NS B3J 3A5

Dear Steve,

After attempting to reach you to confirm your availability for a community meeting on March 11, 2019 on January 6 and January 25 we are forced to cancel this consultation. As referenced in both my letters it was your suggestion that you would support a community meeting. Despite our best attempts to reach you by mail, by email and through the Clerks’ office we have received no response.

You requested we ask you formally to fund a community communication to ensure the greatest possible attendance. You did not respond.

The LWF Ratepayers Association provides recreation and community-based activities that enhance where we live.  Our primary partnerships support the Windsor Junction Community Centre (WJCC), the Lakeview Homeowners Association (LHA) and Keloose. There is also a history of supporting local seniors’ associations, groups that create opportunities for active living, sport and recreation, service organizations and community groups. Increasingly our relationships include opportunities to enhance accessibility for all in our communities.

Our February 4, 2019 contact with Financial Policy and Planning Office of Halifax indicated we could expect public consultation on any revised policy related to area rates in early in March 2019. Our meeting was intended to match that timeline. Based on Bruce Fisher’s commitment of a public consultation we will proceed with or without you as required by the process. Your absence in the process will be noted.

Sincerely,

Marni Tuttle

President, LWFRA

Cc: Barb Wilson, Bruce Fisher, Halifax Clerks

January 6, 2019

Dear Councillor Streatch,

I am writing to invite you to LWFRA Community Meeting that we are holding on 11th March 2019 tentatively scheduled for 7pm.  As you are aware we have an active community who are interested and concerned about the future funding for many programs in the local area as a result of the actions that you and HRM Council have taken over the past year.  You have made assurances to myself, the LWFRA Board and HRM Council that the local community will be engaged in the proposed changes so that the full impacts of decisions made by the council are transparent to the local community.  The community meeting should provide a good forum for you to engage a significant proportion of the local population and articulate the proposed changes and the impacts on community programming.

Your participation will be greatly valued by myself and the LWFRA Board as you will be able to clarify points of concern that have been raised in the past and hopefully provide answers to those organizations that are directly affected so that they are better positioned to plan for the future and continue to support the needs of the community.   

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.    

Yours sincerely,

Marni Tuttle

President – LWFRA

CC LWFRA Board

CC Halifax Clerk

This letter was just sent to our Mayor and cc’d to all Councillors to explain why it’s important to defer the agenda item 14.1.6 Area Rate Review until the next meeting. 

Mayor Mike Savage,

I write to you late tonight to request that you work with council and staff to defer the motion Item No 14.1.6 – Area Rate Review until HRM has followed their own due process.

This request is based on the three most pressing issues:

1. the recommendation fails to follow HRMs own process for changing, removing or amending an existing area rate with an active ratepayers association.
2. there are errors in the report that are relevant to the discussion.
3. the failure to consult or inform the affected communities of changes designed to come into effect immediately.

I would expect other ratepayers associations will have similar concerns, but like us, were not informed that this report was completed in February and would be coming forward tomorrow.

While those issues listed above apply to more than one area rate, the changes recommended for 2018/19 for the LWF Rate include reducing the collected funds to $169,400 when the operating funds committed to for the current fiscal come to $174,923, assuming no grant expenses and disbursements.

None of the impacted ratepayers associations or the programs, events and facilities they support has had an opportunity to evaluate the implications of these changes and are already 3 months into the operating year.

Area rates were not passed until July 18^, last year, so you have the latitude to defer this decision and let our communities share with you why they want and value area rates.

Trusting in your good judgement and faith in respect for community,

Marni Tuttle

President, Lakeview-Windsor Junction-Fall River Ratepayers Association

Cc:  Councillors, CAO

2018-06-18 Area Rate Ammendment letter to Mike Savage