Council Reaction to Resident Survey

Wednesday, 18 July 2012 07:34

City Councillors have their work cut out for them. Woodstock residents have identified revitalizing the downtown is the most important issue facing Woodstock in the next 5-years. That's according to a survey of city residents as Woodstock embarks on a new Strategic Plan. Over 800 residents participated in the survey with 93% saying Woodstock is a good place to live. Mayor Pat Sobeski says there was an underlying reason why. "People like the small town feeling of Woodstock. That came out as a strength. And when we were asking about concerns, people were afraid of losing that small town feel. That was the one thing that sort of stood out." However, residents identified lower taxes as the top item that would make living in Woodstock more enjoyable. That was followed closely by more recreation programs and facilities for children and youth. That charges city council with the pressure of making needed improvements to city services, while lowering taxes. Councillor Bill Bes isn't sure that's possible. "You cannot improve services, or invest in your community and lower taxes at the same time. It's almost a Mission: Impossible." City Councillor Ron Fraser says what he's seen in the report coincides with some of his priorities for the city. "My heart is always laying with developing programs for youth, certainly that was identified (in the report). I also would like to see us bring in more industry and more retail, particularly in the downtown core. Try and get people to invest in the downtown to make it more vibrant than it is now." When it comes to revitalizing the downtown, Councillor Bes believes a made-in-Woodstock solution is in order. "You have to have a reason for people to invest in the downtown...that's the big challenge that we have. What will work for Woodstock? We're not Stratford, we're not Brantford. What we have to look at is what is unique to Woodstock, and how can we tap into that?" The 857 residents that took the survey identified safety and crime reduction as the most important use for tax dollars, followed by rec programs for youth and kids. Arts and culture ranked lowest on that list. The survey results will be drafted into a final report and will be presented at a future public meeting. It will be "fine tuned" according to Sobeski, and the Strategic Plan will be presented to council in October or November. Click here for a summary of the survey.