Transcript Slide 1
Westmeath and District Recreational Association
Strategic Planning Initiative
Meeting # 6
September 26, 2011
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Discussion Topics
Facility Management 101
Strategic and long-term planning
Master planning
Operational budgeting
Recreational trends now and in the future
Funding
Tips and tricks
Q & A
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Facility Management 101
Understand your business “Who are we and why are we
here?”
Understand who your customers are?
Understand your costs and liabilities?
Real costs or true costs of doing business/providing service
Business approach – try not to get personal, its about dollars
and cents (sense)
Legal responsibilities that come with your business - ORFA
Whether volunteer or paid staff, still providing a service to
the community
Level of responsibility/expectation by residents for sound
and safe facility. No facility – no service!!
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Strategic and Long Term Planning
“Fail to plan – plan to fail”
“Plan the work and work the plan”
Informed decision-making
Planning future costs and expenses – no surprises
Begin with high level planning – needs of the community,
needs of facility/infrastructure
Work towards long term detailed plans – operating and
capital plans over 5-10 years.
Paint a picture of where you are currently and where you
will need to be long-term
Set goals – annual workplans
Establish objectives (projects)
Accountability
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Master Planning
Petawawa Parks and Recreation example
Answer questions like:
what services should we be providing?
Are our facilities adequate now and in the future?
Trends/demographics/ cultural shifts?
Answer to questions like “who are we?”
Vision, mission statement and value system
Where we are at, where we want to be and how do we get
there.
Broad look (high level) at all aspects of your business
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Operational Budgeting
Detailed budgeting key to success
Plan operating budget over a number of years – watch
for trends
Measure your business – cost per….
Understand true costs vs. subsidized cost
Rates determined by balance of acceptable rate of
subsidization and market analysis.
Work with user groups – understand each others
business and challenges
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Recreational Trends
Now and in the Future
Aging population
Economy
Information technology
Decreasing youth populations
Active older adult population boom
Volunteerism shifts
Family dynamic
Movement to non-structured leisure pursuits
Active transportation/ trails/ non-motorized
Active and healthy lifestyles
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Funding
Tax base – becoming more reliant/ Ratepayers taxed-
out
Grants – expectation to cover portion of costs
Many types
Specialized
Applications differ, sometimes quite onerous
Ontario Trillium Foundation – capital needs
Loans – debt financing becoming more of a reality
Fundraising – becoming more challenging
Typical scenario – combination of above.
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Tips & Tricks
Federal and Provincial agendas – accessibility, health
sector, decaying infrastructure, aging population
Know your grant agency friends
Business is about relationships
Think outside the box – more than ever
Don’t be afraid to be creative
Leadership is critical – ME generation, NIMBY’s
Know your limitations – don’t promise what you cannot
deliver. Understand abilities and resources
Know your business and be prepared to defend your
decisions/ actions. Manage your risks.
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Thank-you
Q&A
Kelly Williams
Manager of Parks and Recreation
Town of Petawawa
[email protected]
613-687-5678 ext. 25
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