Kingston fares poorly... Canada’s best and worst run cities - Mclean's Magazine

[keoadmin]

The following report appeared in Mclean's Magazine on July 16, 2009. Kingston rates 28th out of 29 cities examined.

Are these the most important indicators for the city to consider? Are the assumptions valid?

Is Kingston's goal of becoming "Canada's most sustainable city" achievable in the short run?

-- Kingston Electors

Canada’s best and worst run cities (http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/16/canadas-best-and-worst-run-cities/)

Mclean's Magazine Jul 16, 2009

by Andrew Coyne

http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/16/canadas-best-and-worst-run-cities/print/

This survey, the first of its kind in Canada, provides citizens in 31 cities across the country with comparative data on how well—or poorly—their city is run, measured by the cost and quality of the public services it delivers. (Why 31? We took the 30 largest cities in Canada, added whatever provincial capitals were not on the list, then subtracted a few cities from the Greater Toronto Area for better regional balance. Somehow that left 31.) Though the overall results—Burnaby, Saskatoon and Surrey, B.C. lead the pack; Charlottetown, Kingston, Ont., and Fredericton trail—will be of particular interest, they are less important than the process this is intended to kick off. We aim not merely to start some good barroom arguments, but to help voters to hold their representatives to better account, and indeed to help city governments themselves. For without some sort of yardstick to measure their performance, either against other cities or against their own past record, how can they hope to know whether they are succeeding?

To compile the survey, Maclean’s commissioned the Halifax-based Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, expanding on the institute’s earlier work measuring the performance of municipalities in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Unlike other studies, this does not try to measure quality of life, or which city is the “best place to live.” Rather, it focuses on the contribution of local governments to this end.

This survey looks at a city’s efficiency—the cost of producing results—and the effectiveness of its services, including how well each city does when it comes to things like maintaining roads and parks, picking up garbage and putting out fires.

Overall Results (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/)

Economic Development (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/categories.php?c=economicdevelopment)

Environmental Health (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/categories.php?c=environmentalhealth)

Government and Finance (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/categories.php?c=governancefinance)

Recreation and Culture (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/categories.php?c=recreationculture)

Safety and Protection (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/categories.php?c=safetyprotection)

Taxation (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/categories.php?c=taxation)

Transportation (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/categories.php?c=transportation)

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Technical appendix: how the survey was done (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/docs/NMPRAppendix.pdf)

Raw data tables


Governance & Finance (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/docs/NMPRgovernance.pdf)
Taxation (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/docs/NMPRtaxation.pdf)
Safety & Protection (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/docs/NMPRsafety.pdf)
Transportation (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/docs/NMPRtransportation.pdf)
Environmental health (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/docs/NMPRenvironmental.pdf)
Economic Development (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/docs/NMPRdevelopment.pdf)
Recreation and Culture (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/docs/NMPRrecreation.pdf)

List of outcomes indicators used (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/docs/Outcomes_indicators.doc)

List of input/control variables used (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/docs/Input_control_variables.doc)

Wish list of indicators for future surveys (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/docs/NMRC_Wish_List.doc)

Comparison of local government reporting in selected countries (http://quizzes.macleans.ca/cities/docs/Comparison_Local_government_reporting.doc)

[Lydia]

Geez makes you wonder, With those reports, how many of us are proud to even live here. How proud the Governments in this city are of themselves as well?

It isn't that people have not tried to make themselves heard on these issues. It is the fact that Our Wonderful FULL TIME HIGH PAID consultants who tell us that THEY KNOW MORE THAN US, won't listen to the people who work and live here.

[bstory]

I just joined this group and am quite shocked that there isn't more discussion about the Macleans article. I wrote several notes to the mayor and council and was able to get a "we're looking into it" although they didn't seem to see it as an issue.

We should make this a very big election issue. We're paying significantly more taxes than other communities considering the services delivered.

[Lydia]

Welcome Bstory,

I am interested in hearing more about your posting. Tell us more. What did are they looking into more? Can you illustrate where they are paying more and delivering less.

Trust me on this, I fully agree with you on this matter. List some of YOUR examples of this.

[run2010]

This is one of my goals that i have. Lost of mis- manageing of fund ( consultants a big on)

Please check out this section of my website on how to handle this particular issue.
http://kingstonelection2010.com/category/opinions/

I realize it is a 100% solution of the problem but it is start. I will have to research the other issues.

If you do not know whom I am, My name is Harold Hemberger and I plan to run for city council for the Portsmouth district in 2010. Look for my official registration in January

Harold

[Lydia]

""Governments do not create jobs (unless you become a government employee). Governments can only create an environment that either welcomes or chases business away. This is through, taxes, regulations, council approval, etc. If there is an opportunity for jobs coming to Kingston, I sustainability will not be a determining factor when it comes to jobs. It will be treated as a bonus.""

""I believe that with just these two examples we can fulfill a few important goals. 1) Reduce costs and 2) really get the community involved."

"Lets finally act on a third crossing by actually building one"


WOW this is credible snips of what you are saying in your block, Harold. Well done. Although I can't say I support everything you are saying about the 3rd crossing (only because I really don't know the issues well enough) I agree with your idea of STOP TALKING and either created it or never keep studying it.

Great work Harold. Your site is looking excellent.

Lydia

[run2010]

I have had to cross the Lasalle Causeway a number of times (work related). There are times that it can get backed up ( I will be planning a video to show that - maybe even today if it stays nice). From the base, there have been times that it has been backed up to Hwy 2/15 intersection. On the other side I have seen it backed up from Queen St/Clergy to turn onto Ontario St . This does not include the adjacent streets ( Barrack and Princess trying to do the same). Add to that with stop lights that are too close and badly timed and people stuck doing left hand turns in intersections really clogs the intersections.

[Lydia]

That explains to us who don't go across the location often. Many people are not necessarily aware of how bad it true is. (Me included because I don't often cross there. I use the 401 and go south down Joyceville Road)

Seen the problem might UNCLOGG Council. :)

[bstory]

Welcome Bstory,

I am interested in hearing more about your posting. Tell us more. What did are they looking into more? Can you illustrate where they are paying more and delivering less.

Trust me on this, I fully agree with you on this matter. List some of YOUR examples of this.

Thanks, Lydia. The best way I can offer examples is to refer you to the article at http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/16/canadas-best-and-worst-run-cities/

Kingston is rated second to last against 30 other Canadian cities. The Kingston gov't people I spoke with dismissed the study as "flawed" but it would need some very major errors corrected to vastly improve Kingston's ranking. My position with the gov't people I corresponded with was that a city can always learn from other municipalities -- why not take the opportunity to see how Kingston could do things better. Sadly, no response to that.

Bottom line is that Kingston ranks has the highest residential taxes for 2005-07 at $2,728 with the low at $666 and the median at $1,445. So we pay the highest taxes and have near the worst ratings for the effectiveness and efficiency for delivery of services for those tax dollars.

I, for one, would like to hear what our local gov't is going to do to improve this.

-Bob.

[Lydia]

but, OUR COUNCIL listens to COUNSULTANTS who know better than us. :D:D:D STATUS QUO isn't the best way to make our city grow and prosper.


Could that explain OUR situation better? Those other cities listen to counsultants and then COMPARE them with what the citizens say. Somewhere in the middle is the real solution and the other cities follow the middle solution.

Excellent example.

Lydia

[run2010]

Come On Lydia: We do not know what we want in Lake Ontario Park. We need someone to tell us.:p

[Lydia]

EXACTLY, we need a consultant to tell us what to do in a park. :D:D:D


By the way, Did I just advise you. that will hummmmmmm how much money for that advise

[run2010]

Is this the posting your are refering too?


http://kingstonelection2010.com/consultants/

Harold Hemberger
Candidate - Portsmouth District 2010

[Florence]

Kingston is built on limestone - this gave us wonderful, durable buildings BUT it also gave us a very high cost of services. Perhaps there are other reasons as well. I think we have a high standard of service- for instance, how many shelters are there for the homeless in Ontario?

[Valley]

Shelter costs in Kingston (relatively few people are in shelters) are a drop in the bucket compared to the high costs of operating money losing operations such as the K-Rock Centre.