A real horse race!

The Brandon sun has released a poll that shows Dave Burgess and I tied at 49%. It's going right down to the wire folks!

This poll shows that, while we have been working hard to take the message to people that it is possible to change how City Hall works, that an exciting new vision for Brandon is possible, we still have more work to do. 32% of people still haven't made up their minds, which gives us lots of opportunity.

In the last three days, we'll be reaching out to people on their doorstep, in their mailbox, and on the phone- suggesting that maybe it's time for a change.

If you are

• frustrated with the current mayor- you don't like the way he makes decisions, you don't think that the decisions he's made have been good for Brandon, then it's time for a change.
• Perhaps you are neutral- and just think that eight years is enough, that if Dave was going to do something about affordable housing, about the downtown, he would have done it by now. You believe in a regular rotation- bringing in new ideas and fresh energy, and therefore it's time for a change.
• Some of you are attracted by the platform that we've laid out- you believe in dialogue vs monologue with citizens, think we can improve the transparency and accountability at City Hall, you like the ideas for downtown revitalization, the comprehensiveness of the Housing Strategy, the framework for bringing smart jobs to Brandon. You believe that when we work together we are stronger. Then it's time for a change.

We have three days left before the election. If you're one of the undecided and are still thinking about who you're going to vote for, and would like more information, please call me at 727-2306 or email me at shariformayor@gmail.com. Or if you have ideas for the City, I'd love to hear from you.

First 100 Days

(from media release October 22, 2010)

I am here today after knocking on thousands of doors, and talking to individuals and groups about why I think Brandon can be better and working with you, how I would try to make it better. If people in Brandon decide that they want change in the leadership at City Hall, I would like to flesh out what the first 100 days of a new city Hall could look like.

Process:

• Book and hold the first community town hall meeting
• Book and hold monthly Coffee with the Mayor events
• Develop new media strategies to allow for public input and information sharing
• Establish recruitment process for the city manager position
• Commission a review of City Hall tendering/ operating policies to ensure the systems are in place for openness, transparency, and accountability

Planning:

• Establish Advisory Councils on Housing, Economic Development, Seniors, and Aboriginal and First Nations Issues
• Work with the new City Council to establish a policy for how the city prepares long-term plans
• Meeting with Treasurer and City Auditor to review status of the City Budget and recruitment status of the City Treasurer position

Vision:

• Sit down with YMCA and begin negotiations to allow for the Sportsplex to remain open
• Set a date for an Economic Roundtable to establish economic growth priorities for the City of Brandon 2011-2015 with participation from community stakeholders including Brandon Chamber of Commerce, the Mayor's Economic Advisory Committee, and Brandon Economic Development
• Meet with neighbouring municipal leadership and begin to build bridges between Brandon and western Manitoba, identifying opportunities and discussing issues of mutual concern
• Meet with Provincial and Federal Ministers to lay the ground work for major infrastructure/program supports over the next 4 years and beyond
• Meet with Brandon First to get a status update on the 2017 Canada Games bid

Leadership:

• Leadership means doing the above well. It means taking planning for the future seriously. It means believing that we all have a stake in building a better Brandon
• It starts with respect for the citizens of Brandon, for City Councilors, and for the people who work for the City
• It is sustained by establishing open communication so that people know what the City is doing, and why

Potential of Convergys

(from a media release distributed Thursday, October 14)

I challenge the Mayor and council to STOP making decisions on any of our city's assets until after October 27th.

Specifically, the citizens of Brandon have an asset that, before its sold off for commercial development, should be considered as a way to leverage public investment in a general museum. I am talking about the Convergys Building.

This is a community asset that could benefit the city in ways beyond the highest selling price. Consider:

Museums are about learning. The General Museum group could partner with ACC Collegiate (who currently have an absentee landloard in Calgary on the property they rent on Rosser Ave), Neelin's downtown high school (Brandon School Division rents a building on 10th Street that is up for tax sale later this week), and Westman Immigrant Services (Convergys Building's current tenant) to create a Learning Centre in the Convergys Building. The Convergys Building is well suited physically to this type of conversion, and even with the three partners, the general museum, the community archives, there would still be space left over for a daycare and teashop. ACC, Neelin, and Westman Immigrant Services could pay their market rent to the museum, giving the museum stable, baseline funding.

Convergys is an asset for all of Brandon, and a Learning Centre concept would provide long term benefit to the entire community.

Prosperity Agenda- 3/3 Economic Clusters

(released to the media in Remington's kitchen on October 8th, 2010)

An economic cluster is a geographic concentration of inter-connected businesses, suppliers, and associated institutions in a particular field. Clusters help focus opportunities and organize ideas when developing an economic strategy.

Clusters have the potential to affect competition in three ways:

• by increasing the productivity of the companies in the cluster
• by driving innovation
• by stimulating new businesses in the field

There are several potential clusters in Brandon, manufacturing, agriculture, life sciences, knowledge transfer. But it might be easier to understand clusters if we look at an example....

Brandon's opportunity from a Culinary Tourism cluster

Brandon has huge potential for culinary tourism. We have valuable assets right under our noses. We have restaurants, grocery stores, farmers markets, and an award winning culinary school. You can also add in hoteliers and food processors into the culinary tourism cluster as well. Simply put- we have the inputs, the outputs, and the trained people to support and grow it.

But we also have a few missing pieces.....

• Showcase opportunities: wine festivals, beer festivals, food festivals- perhaps a Taste of the Prairies? These would be iconic events that showcase Brandon as a culinary tourism destination.
• Develop unique products: We already have Bothwell cheese that is made locally, but this can be expanded. One personal favorite is the idea that ACC has been talking about for several years now since they started running their Beer Festivals- a brewmaster program. Brandon could make its own craft-beer. Many other provinces do this, however there isn't a brewmaster training program in Canada. ACC, because Brandon's surrounded by the raw product, and because of the Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts and the School of Agriculture, is uniquely positioned to offer such training. And of course, a brewmaster would need a brewpub to make and sell beer- and wouldn't the old firehall make an interesting tourism destination?
• A robust investment strategy: Culinary tourism isn't just a marketing opportunity- there needs to be a steak behind the sizzle! A culinary cluster is also about economic development opportunities, not just great places to eat and drink.

What can the city do to support economic clusters?

Establish a solid foundation. Supporting the specific framework of every cluster in Brandon are various attributes and characteristics. these include:

• educational assets- such as the College and University, but also the School Division, the Fire College, the RHA, and the Research Station.
• the physical infrastructure in the City- roads, water and sewer, the airport, IT connectivity.
• Brandon's Quality of Life- aspects such as built heritage, parks, greenspace, housing, recreation, culture, diversity all play a role in attracting and retaining people.
• Partnerships- in a city the size of Brandon, and maybe because of our prairie farm roots, but working together always makes something better. Putting the right people around the table is often the first key to success. The City can be the link between industry and education.

As has been mentioned in other postings, the City can play a lead role in creating an environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. Talent and research are necessary, but it takes entrepreneurship to translate good ideas into successful products and services. the Mayor can support entrepreneurship by supporting the Chamber of Commerce, providing data on the economic environment, and cluster opportunities in the City.

One of the tools used in business is forecasting- what does "next year" look like in terms of economic opportunities, what's happening in Brandon, in Manitoba, in Canada that could impact my business? The City and the Chamber of Commerce could jointly host a forecasting summit every year, bringing in expertise on weather, economy, trends, financial information, and other forecasting ingredients.

Clusters are not silver bullets, but rather one arrow in a quiver of opportunities for economic development. Properly designed and applied, they offer a promising way to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth and can play a key role in establishing Brandon's prosperity Agenda.

YMCA Contract Sportsplex Pool

I am, and always have been, a strong supporter of the YMCA expansion pland in downtown Brandon. It is a great project and it will benefit the community as a whole for generations.

I was disturbed, however, when the decision to close the Sportsplex was made at the last moment and with little debate, and then appended to the MOU contract between the City and the YMCA. Important policy deicisons MUST be made in a transparent fashion and not sprung on the city and City Council at 10:30pm on a Monday night with no notice. It is this kind of secretive ad hoc decision making which weakens a city, regardless of the issue.

If elected Mayor, I will continue to support the YMCA's plan to expand their facility and will continue the cities committment to fund it.

I also remain committed to keeping the Sportsplex open.

If elected Mayor, I will start an open process of discussion between the parties involved. Both of these facilities are needed to fulfill the City's obligation to provide recreation facilities to our citizens, especially youth and seniors.

Brandon is poised to undergo another round of population growth and now is exactly the wrong time to stifle that growth by closing recreational facilities.

I am confident that a compromise can be worked out by negotiation which will satisfy the needs and desires of both groups, and do so inside a budget that we can all afford.

It is always best in my opinion, to be honest with people and to deal with issues like this in a forthright and open manner, and it is my intention to do so.

I remain committed to the YMCA facility and the Sportsplex Pool. At the end of the day, I think everyone will be happy with the solution that can be achieved when all parties are at the table.

Prosperity Agenda- A Responsive Framework

An Economic Development Strategy for Brandon (released to media October 7th, 2010)

The City is responsible for creating an environment that allows the private sector to thrive and expand.

In the last few years, Brandon has experienced a remarkable period of population and job growth. It has led to a booming rel estate market and an expansion in the service sector. This growth has come about primarily because of Maple Leaf and our new immigrant families, and the relocation of 2PPCLI to Shilo.

Brandon is coming to the end of that growth spurt. If we are to keep expanding our tax base and the associated enhancements to City services and quality of life and place, we are going to need to develop a new economic strategy for Brandon.

Every restaurant, entertainment enterprise, print shop, construction firm, legal and accounting practice, all our collective prosperity, depends upon new money and business being brought into the city. The rest is just redistribution.

This economic strategy is based on three complimentary ideas:

1. Building a Smart City (released October 5th)
2. Creating a Responsive Framework (released October 7th)
3. Identifying and expanding competitive economic clusters (released October 8th)

Objective #1: Establish the Mayor's Economic Advisory Council

The City of Brandon cannot create economic prosperity alone. The community needs entrepreneurial leaders who are able to make positive change. The City will create an environment that promotes and supports community-based leadership, where citizens, entrepreneurs and employees alike, can take ownership over economic opportunities.

Objective #2: Develop a comprehensive economic strategy- BLUEPRINT BRANDON

Brandon should have a comprehensive and aggressive economic development plan with identifiable goals and action plans. Blueprint Brandon would provide a clear direction for economic prosperity.

Objective #3: Analysis

Competitive Analysis- An examination of the Brandon and Westman regions strengths and challenges to establish its competitive position. This analysis will utilize quantitative and qualitative date, including stakeholder input through interviews, focus groups, and an on-line survey.

Economic Cluster Analysis- Will assess the unique attributes of the workforce and the region, and the business sector composition. The report will provide quantitative and qualitative research that confirms existing targets and identifies potential opportunities. The region's existing target business sectors will be assessed based on national economic trends, existing regional assets, and an understanding of key competitive advantages such as workforce skill levels, geography, and infrastructure.

Objective #4: Encourage an Entrepreneurial Environment

A significant percentage of economic development arises from those ventures already located within the community. This Economic Strategy recognizes the importance of providing support to those already conducting business in the City so they can maintain their current level of business, prosper financially and successfully expand their business or develop new opportunities regionally, nationally, and globally. It is critical to gather and maintain accurate knowledge of the business community.

Last year, Brandon ranked in the top third of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business' Entrepreneurship Index. Our score was driven by our perspective and attitude, but we fell down considerably on actual performance. Therefore, we need to create an environment that entrepreneurism actually flourishes, rather than just thinking it does. And keep track of the numbers/ benchmarks to confirm that progress is being made.

There are two related tasks involved in creating entrepreneurial cities. First, cities must attract smart, entrepreneurial people. (see the post on One Smart city- Prosperity Agenda 1/3). Secondly, cities must possess an infrastructure that supports creative, risk-taking behaviour. the two tasks feed into each other. Smart, entrepreneurial people will be attracted to good entrepreneurial infrastructure. If those entrepreneurial people come to an area, they will help to build the legal, social, and physical infrastructure they need to succeed.

Ultimately, embracing pro-entrepreneurship policies requires a different mindset for the City. The goal should not be to attract a few big employers. Instead, the goal should be to attract a large number of smart people and then to get out of their way. Unplanned creativity and innovation will be the most potent drives of success. City Hall needs to put its faith in the ability of smart people to build their own economic futures, rather than in the seemingly safer, but ultimately less robust, strategy of attracting mature industries.

Objective #5: Build a new framework

• Achieve a renewed spirit of collaboration and cooperation between the public and private sectors.
• Establish a formal forum and process for dialogue between public and private sector leadership.
• Enable clients to apply for, review, and receive permits online to the highest degree possible.
• Leverage technology to enable city inspectors to send reports wirelessly from the field.
• Engage in annual reviews of departmental permitting processes.

Prosperity Agenda Part 1/3

(released at Brandon University on October 5th)

An Economic Development Strategy for Brandon

In the last few years, Brandon has experienced a remarkable period of population and job growth. It has led to a booming real estate market and an expansion in the service sector. This growth has come about primarily because of Maple Leaf and our new immigrant families, and the relocation of 2PPCLI to Shilo.

Brandon is coming to the end of that growth spurt. If we are to keep expanding our tax base and the associated enhancements to City services and quality of place and quality of life, we are going to need to develop a new economic strategy for Brandon.

This economic development strategy is based on three complementary ideas in economic development, each with its own separate release date.

1. Building a Smart City (October 5th)
2. Creating a responsive framework (October 7th)
3. Identifying and expanding competitive economic clusters (October 8th)

No doubt you've heard people refer to the New Economy, but what does that mean? Simply put- we are moving towards a knowledge-based economy (brain over brawn, better over cheap) where the keys to jobs and a higher standard of living are innovative ideas and technology. Good jobs have become technologically complex and are demanding sophisticated work skills. Jobs based on simple, low level work skills are diminishing.

Brandon cannot build a prosperous economy on low skill-low wage jobs.

Brandon is well positioned to thrive in the New Economy. We have the College and University graduating a thousand students a year, well equipped to build a future for themselves. We must tap into that potential to build a future city that offers a great quality of both place and life. We just need to figure out what to do with these incredible assets, and have a City leadership that understands that, in fact, these are assets.

What does all this talk of New Economies and Creativity have to do with the 2010 civic election in Brandon? Its about a stance, a way of thinking. The mayor is the City's civic leader. Does this person embrace change? Look for opportunities? Have a curious mind? Encourage innovation vs the way we've always done it? Because these are the characteristics that will drive a successful economy or business in the 21st century, and they are also the characteristics that will drive a successful city.

In Brandon's future, intellectual capital is a commodity and innovation is the driving force behind economic recovery and future success.

I believe that because of the new technologies and the acceleration of change, knowledge and creativity will be the centre of success in the new economy. Concentrations of skilled people, rather than raw materials, are the engines of growth.

Brandon is well positioned to maximize opportunities in the New Economy because of our university, the community college, the research station, the RHA among other assets. Access to well-educated pools of creative people (entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, artisans, designers) is what counts.

Human capital, centres of innovation, research institutions are key assets in Brandon's future. Fostering the connections between them and the business community is critical, and the Mayor can play a lead role putting the right people around the table.

The city is one player in a complex economy. Its role in economic development is to find ways of supporting, attracting, and mobilizing the investment required to deliver increased employment, income, and assessment.

What Can Brandon Do?

Brandon needs to think about quality not quantity in terms of economic development. Just because the economic recession, globalization, new technological advances have changed the rules, doesn't mean that Brandon can't learn the rules and win the game.\

The City must act as a catalyst for other organizations, firms, and stakeholders to play their role in building an economy for the future. The economic development function of City Hall must focus on:

• developing, attracting, and retaining talent
• fostering innovation and entrepreneurship
• fostering connections that link people with ideas to talent, capital, and markets
• supporting new economic clusters, such as knowledge creation, life sciences, culinary tourism.

The City needs to champion transformative capital projects such as Brandon University's Wellness Centre, and ACC's expansion to the North Hill. These are building projects that transform who we are and how we think of ourselves as a city.

The needs to include quality of life and quality of place as assets in economic development. Our cities must be livable to attract the creative and skilled people that fuel the economy of Brandon's future. Studies show that quality of life and place are more important to attracting technology firms for example, than traditional factors such as land costs and taxes. Cultural life, diversity, environmental quality, and digital infrastructure are the magnets for economic growth in Brandon. We are a lovely, safe, clean, beautiful city.

And do those qualities have value? Imagine a commuter stuck in rush hour traffic in Toronto. Maybe it takes them an extra hour to get home that if they were doing that job in Brandon. An extra 50 minutes in each direction, 250 work days a year, 40 work years equals 1 million minutes wasted in a car. What would a person do with an extra million minutes? That can be the difference between living to work and working to live. Imagine giving back 16,667 hours to yourself, your family, your community by making a decision to live in a community life Brandon vs Toronto. And imagine the costs to operative the cars for those million minutes, and the impact on greenhouse gases. Brandon is well positioned to capitalize on our size.

• Cities are the key to economic growth- the Federal government and the Province aren't going to care as much as we do about Brandon thriving in the new economy. We have to take ownership of this ourselves.
• There is a new knowledge-based economy. We are training (and exporting) graduates for the new world where brain vs brawn is king.
• Building community capacity will be critical for success; in our people, in our infrastructure, in our competitiveness. We have all the raw ingredients; we just need to be "smarter" in how we deploy them.
• Strategic planning and allocating resources will be key in how we move forward as a city. How will we use capital assets like the Convergys Building? How will we use technology assets like the MRnet (broadband fibre optic cable that surrounds Brandon and increases our connectivity to the Internet)? How will we use the graduates from our educational institutions?
• How will we nurture local competitiveness? Winnipeg used to be the primary threat to Brandon's growth, but other communities in rural Manitoba are now stepping up to the plate and fixing Brandon a run for its money. Russell, Neepawa, and Portage are expanding the toolbox for economic growth; Morden Winkler Steinbach will soon have larger populations than Brandon. Brandon has been resting on its laurels and now our rural neighbours are seizing the advantage.