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Actions for City Competitiveness: Employment Programs for Aboriginal Youth, a Downtown Parking Strategy and More
Gary Holmes
November 12 2009
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This post is from the draft Call to Action and is now archived. The final version of the Call to Action is now available. Click here to read more about it.
Through SpeakUpWinnipeg, we’ve identified some actions that can be completed over the next 24 months. These actions respond to community priorities and bring us closer to our vision. While we continue to work as a community to complete OurWinnipeg, the City will work with partners to start taking action right away.
The design of these actions is based on an understanding of social (including cultural), environmental and economic sustainability. While the actions in this section may seem most closely aligned with the economic “pillar” of sustainability, social and environmental considerations have also been made. Additional actions in the Safety and Security, Communities and Sustainability sections speak more directly to these other pillars.
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Continue the Conversation: SpeakUpWinnipeg.com
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Maintain SpeakUpWinnipeg.com, a 24-hour information and discussion forum for city planning issues, as a planning tool beyond delivery of the OurWinnipeg plan.
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Growth-based Provincial Funding
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Seek Provincial support for a more predictable, streamlined and transparent funding formula that would be based exclusively on growth revenues and result in more sustainable funding sources for the City.
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Capitalize on the ‘Green’ Economy
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Capitalize on emerging environmentally-friendly economic development initiatives as opportunities to grow a prosperous and sustainable local economy.
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Attract More Business
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Commit to implementing select initiatives to attract more business through on-going collaboration with private sector leaders, economic development agencies, post secondary institutions and other levels of government
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Priority Allocation of Revenue Growth
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Evaluate the merits of dedicating a percentage of new revenue in order to provide a cost-neutral incentive for local job creation, business retention and reinvestment.
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Downtown Cultural Events
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Begin detailed discussions with major festival officials and cultural agencies about the opportunity to increase the number of significant, self-sustaining downtown events.
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Aboriginal Youth Strategy – Employment Opportunities
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With active involvement of the Aboriginal community, develop and implement a range of programs and supports to assist Aboriginal youth in finding jobs and employment development opportunities. For example, Aboriginal youth employment opportunities will occur across various city departments, including providing assistance within an enhanced application process, additional internships, increased volunteer education and awareness, work experience placements, scholarships, access to mentors, transportation assistance, as well as incentives to encourage ongoing participation.
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Downtown On and Off-Street Parking Strategy
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The Winnipeg Parking Authority, with downtown partners, will complete a Downtown Parking Strategy that reflects how on and off-street parking can be an economic development tool; sets minimum development and urban design standards for parking facilities; sets “highest and best use” property assessment values and proposes possible by-law changes.
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Downtown as an Entertainment Hub
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Promote downtown as a distinct and unique entertainment hub and advance additional entertainment proposals in partnership with agencies represented on the Downtown Council and in accordance with CentrePlan.
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Wi-fi Spots in City Parks
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Extend wireless technology to several key downtown parks such as Millennium Park, Central Park, Old Market Square, Waterfront Drive or Bonneycastle Park.
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Downtown Snow Removal
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Continue to provide priority snow clearing in the downtown area in order to promote convenience and mobility during the winter months of the year.
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Service Expenditure Reductions
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Explore additional opportunities to partner with private providers and engage the community where viable in order to provide better and more cost-effective service delivery.
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Alternative Revenues
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Continue to explore revenue diversification through private investment opportunities, innovative asset management and user fee generation where appropriate in order to become a more financially sustainable city.
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Provincial-City Efficiencies
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Pursue a coordinated approach to streamlining service areas that are provided jointly by the Province and the City.
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Strategic Focus
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Focus our economic development efforts strategically based on Winnipeg’s unique strengths and assets, including its culture, geography, history, rivers and its people.
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Sustainable Funding for Infrastructure
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Continue to pursue sustainable funding sources for infrastructure investments that directly support economic growth and opportunity.
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Streamlining Regulatory Approvals
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Continue to aggressively pursue innovative and efficient regulatory approval systems in order to further support sustainable development and economic growth.
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Pursue Creativity and Innovation
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Continue to find creative and innovative ways to address safety, infrastructure, regulation and taxation in support of regional economic development.
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Measuring Results
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Commit to tracking, measuring and reporting economic development efforts on an ongoing basis using manageable and relevant economic indicators.
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Advance Emerging Trade Initiatives
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Continue to work with private-sector focused organizations such as the Winnipeg Airport Authority and CentrePort in order to fully capitalize on future economic development opportunities.
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Build on Economic Development Intelligence
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Collaborate with partner agencies in the gathering of strategic economic development information that will help to proactively promote Winnipeg to the world and advance our economic competitiveness.
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Promote Quality of Life
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Continue to promote investments in our City that will provide an attractive and sustainable quality of life for a creative and talented workforce.
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Parking is currently the 50-year noose around downtown's neck. And we're going to have to make some hard decisions - if we truly want a vibrant downtown, buildings need to start replacing surface parking. There has been lots of big projects downtown over the last 5-8 years, but its been a zero-sum for increased urbanism, as buildings have just replaced other buildings.
Its time to create an incentive & penalty program. Strong incentives for property owners to develop mixed use, pedestrian scaled buildings on surface lots. And increase taxes on parking land-use.
We can't afford to continue to reward property owners who sit on a lot for 20 years waiting for a million dollar paycheque for another government project. We need to get the market moving - in our favour.
mikep Nov 22, 2009 at 2:18 AM
I totally agree with Mike P.
We MUST eliminate surface-level parking lots to create a vibrant downtown.
(Think Boston or Portland, not Detroit or Houston).
It's definitely time to create incentives/penalties for property owners who own these lots.
Let's stop squabbling about tearing down buildings when we have a surplus of under-developed land in the form of parking lots!
jac7890 Nov 24, 2009 at 1:06 AM
The following comments were e-mailed to the OurWinnipeg group, and permission to post them was granted:
Definitely maintain the Speak Up Winnipeg site ( but should be changed though), as it could be a good way to keep with the pulse of the city, plus react quicker to change. See comments about the site below.
Most definitely fight for the Growth-base Provincial funding, and even if you only get half a percentage that would be a start. It was also interesting reading to see the new revenue growth priority, but I could already see the provincial government thinking if you have that, why do you need our tax that you request. Will definitely have to keep both separate yet strongly indicate what they will do and how. As Winnipeg grows, it will be a very hard thing for the Province to continually say no all the time, yet how much in grant money are they willing to spend? There have to be limits on both.
As for the Aboriginal Employment Opportunities, I'm sure the city is doing that now. It would be interesting to see if you could have some special areas selected such as water and waste, so that these newly trained individuals could take this information to their communities if they so wish. I realize that this may seem out of place, and I do not wish to have any racial overtones here, but with 64 centres in this province, even if you had 1/3 of them apply various techniques and methods, it could bring back pride of self and of area. Water is a key component for the future, and this has to be treated carefully, and with the least waste possible. Environmental issues will become more important as this world shrinks in capacity.
Apparently these communities have massive amounts of aluminium cans scattered about and why can't they set up a recycling centre in their areas as well? Provide a can crusher if they are not too expensive and when ever a truck load is ready, bring it in. It could be done on a part time basis or even a youth volunteer group. This money could be used for recreational activities for their areas. Milk is not the common drink up north, so just imagine the aluminium that is up there. What do they do with it? These centres are paying the recycling fees too when they purchase the drinks, and something should be provided in return.
This may seem weak, but if you are to educate the youth for tomorrow, and they come to Winnipeg later to learn or live, they will know to keep it cleaner. We should take pride in our province regardless of where we live.
I know that is not your call, but this earth belongs to all of us, and to take pride in it has to be something that would be understood. It would provide employment and a small amount of revenue possibly. I'm sure the federal government wouldn't object as it just betters that area and lowers costs for them. With many centres having water issues, if and when the systems are running someone still has to know how to run and maintain the equipment. Perhaps, this is something the Elders and the Chiefs might consider doing, learning here in Winnipeg, taking the knowledge back to their communities, and cleaning or tidying them up. If you are proud of your place called home, shouldn't one show it? The federal government may provide inadequate funding for housing and repairs etc, but if the communities themselves showed that if they cared, it might convince the Federal government to be more forthcoming with capital.
Definitely do something about the parking in this city please, and the fewer surface parking lots the better. Need to reduce these eyesores, and if you have to do mixed property methods it can only add to the character of this city. Really have to push transit in the years ahead, if you want parkades to become fewer in number, unless you are planning on building much larger complexes. But with the costs of parkades increasing annually both for construction of new and repairs of old ones, one does see the increased importance of public transit.
This third section hit home the strongest for me, and many of the things on here are very favourable and if you could do them in two years, that would be great. One thing you might want to consider in future drafts is having some graphs included, to indicate strong trends that will be resulting such as the demographic changes both culturally and age wise. You refer to Regina for growth as well as the Aboriginal levels, and the senior changes. All of these will have repercussions for this city, if not handled properly.
With Centerport being one of the most dramatic events to occur for the future, the regional economic factors and indicators are going to be crucial. I still maintain, that this has to be the key factor to concentrate on, so that the other areas can be done. It always comes down to the money, but how it is found and then utilized are what matters.
Ian Hall Nov 26, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Not to worry, the WPA is well aware of the blight created by surface parking lots, they are bad for optics, they bring down property values, and they are symptomatic of a neglected city. In Winnipeg, most of these are owned by private individuals or corporations, and we will need the support of the public to transform them into more productive space. WPA is planning to work with the private sector to get some more multi purpose structures in place, and to work with active transportation alternatives, so as to reduce the need for surface parking and eliminate some of these facilities. Please be attentive, we have some experts from other cities coming to visit us in January, and we will be holding public meetings. Come on out and let us know your opinions!
Parking Guy Nov 27, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Explore additional opportunities to partner with private providers and engage the community where viable in order to provide better and more cost-effective service delivery.
This is probably not going to be more cost effective and better services. We are talking about Neighbourhoods Alive here, right? Incredibly disappointing. They lack the skills and talent to manage communities, but they have a direct connection with public funds via the Provincial Government. There is a reason why the Province does not let the City have these funds. It is not about sound planning, it is about bad politics. Take a look at the NA Zones, after 10 years of this programme running in the Downtown what do we have? A few unsustainable box gardens on infill housing lots. Cost... millions of dollars of public funds. But the NA agencies call this Community Economic Development so it has got to be ok.
Very disappointing that the NA Zones have been cut adrift to float aimlessly in the waters of our present governments political agenda. With the City's approval. Help, we need help here, and we are not getting it. We need to get rid of NA and give the money that the Province funds them with directly to the City. Otherwise, the City should move out of the NA Zones altogether and call a spade a spade. NA is mismanaging the downtown, in order to achieve a political agenda. NA has little if anything to do with sound land use planning, but they are doing it anyway. If they get land from the City for $1 to build infill housing they should do that. These are legal agreements that gave them this land. The City should make them stick to it. People in our communities are very disappointed that the City is turning a blind eye. Give the land to someone who will build houses. Besides the funding from the Feds for housing has dried up for now, so the NA agencies are chasing another funding stream. Community Economic Development.
karen Jan 2, 2010 at 11:27 AM
Comments now closed
Call to Action for OurWinnipeg: Visions & Directions for the OurWinnipeg Plan Released!
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