The last round of committee and council meetings highlighted that the Town’s reserve funds are shrinking and are projected to hit their lowest point during the next term of Council. Since the main causes of this are capital projects being mis-estimated, running over budget, and future infrastructure needs not being accurately forecast, these are areas that need critical consideration in the next budget. This may mean delaying non-essential projects and continuing temporary hiring freezes - but these are not long-term solutions.
Staff proposed a Long-Term Asset Management Funding Strategy at the last meeting for the next Council to consider that involves a 0.25% increase per year to 2% to address the backlog of asset management until more sustainable funding - an idea I think is worth deeper consideration. Either way, prioritization of projects will be important. I prioritize responsible budgeting that considers fiscal responsibility while still balancing priorities related to service levels - short term fiscal strategies should not come at long-term expense, but neither should frugality come at the expense of quality of life.
The community requires clear, concise, accurate, and timely information about what is happening in the Town: not just WHAT & WHEN but HOW & WHY decisions are made, questions are asked, and votes are cast. A lack of this kind of clear communication has led to a marked increase in the spreading of misinformation. As Councillor, I will summarize information for the community following every committee and council meeting in easily-accessible formats including infographics and YouTube talks to ensure that information being disseminated is both accurate and understood.
Two-way communication is also critical to ensure all residents' voices are heard. As Councillor, I will post information for the community on social media regularly and engage with community responses. I will host both in-person and online office hours weekly to listen to and learn from residents, and I will host monthly community chats to ensure that as a representative of the community I have a thorough understanding of residents’ wants and needs.
And finally, I have noticed that there are feedback loops in existing communication - those already active and included in activities, conversations, decisions, and programs tend to be the ones who further engage, creating a feedback loop wherein those already included have a voice and those without access or awareness do not.
Communication is an area where my extensive education, professional experience, and critical analysis & communication skills will serve me well as a member of Council.
Access and inclusion are inherently tied to communication. A community thrives when every community member thrives; for every community member to thrive, every community member must be included. The Aurora community is woven together by citizens with a diversity of abilities, cultural backgrounds, languages, and lived experiences. I believe the fabric of our community is strongest when everyone has access and is both included and informed, so I prioritize communication and collaboration. Every community member must be able to access services regardless of age, ability, culture, language, or socioeconomic status. To achieve this, I will engage community surveys and two-way communication with interest-holding groups to determine community wants and needs, build community partnerships, and propose any changes required to support those wants and needs. Collaboration, co-creation, and mutual teaching and learning with diverse communities will be critical - an area in which my years of experience in collaborative equity work will serve the community well.