Question #3: With COVID-19 being an issue both in the present and far into the future, what can the city of Yorkton do to mitigate the damage and help recovery?
Dustin Brears
COVID-19 has created challenges that no community or business normally plans for, and it happened quick.聽 We need to steer the city through the worst of the pandemic and support our citizens and businesses as they navigate this uncertain time.聽 After the pandemic has passed, it will be a different landscape in our city that will require continued support.聽 We need to look at all options including taxes, spending, government programs, marketing and just simply being a shoulder to lean on as we move forward.聽 We need to act in the best interest of the residents and businesses in Yorkton and do whatever it takes to get to the other side of this pandemic.
Ken Chyz
In the 2020 taxation year there were 582 commercial businesses that paid over $10.5 million in taxes. This works out to an average of over $18,000.00/year per business. This cannot continue to happen and must be dealt with quickly.
There are ways to increase revenue without raising taxes. Our city has commercial property (beside the Chamber of Commerce building) that is fully developed has been sitting empty for over 10 years. It is time to get things going there, even if we must sell at a discount. Think of the additional tax dollars that would be generated for our city if that development were filled with new businesses.
A few years back we used to have what was called 鈥淪howcase of Homes鈥�. This was a project where the city would give property to Yorkton home builders with no up-front costs and no property taxes. This would encourage a lot of new building as well. 聽
Dick DeRyk
The city does not have many tools available to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and our options are limited. My proposal on property taxes and city fees is one way to assist those families, individuals and businesses that are adversely affected. I also believe the city should mandate the wearing of masks in all indoor areas accessible to the public. We know that鈥檚 one of the good ways to prevent the spread of the virus. It鈥檚 not complicated if you believe the science -- wear a mask and you protect others. It鈥檚 simple, and particularly relevant in view of the spike we had this month. I fear that may not be the last one. To me it鈥檚 not about freedom, it鈥檚 not about your rights. It鈥檚 about looking after your neighbours. It鈥檚 common sense.
Doug Forster
The world as we know it has changed, even the experts have no idea where we will end up as this pandemic continues its attack, and it鈥檚 evident that the damage has already begun to affect small business. The city needs to embrace the importance of our business community and their contributions to Yorkton, and it starts with contracting local, and spending local to ensure that our Yorkton dollars stay at home. Spending at home can help our small business鈥檚 meet their payroll requirements to keep their employees working, earning, and in turn spending that money in Yorkton. When safe to do so, a well-placed campaign that promotes Yorkton鈥檚 business community, service groups and Tourism, could encourage people from our extensive trading area and beyond to visit, stay, enjoy our events and spend, we have an amazing city and should share with the nation why Yorkton is the place where good things happen!
Randy Goulden
I talk a lot about relationships and working together, because that鈥檚 what it takes to get through challenges, and COVID-19 has shown us that once again. We need to continue working with other orders of government to support those who are struggling, and to work within our community to understand what everyone needs and how we can help one another.
We are due for a new strategic plan, so this is our chance to engage with our community. No single person or group could possibly know all the pieces it will take to make Yorkton the best it can be, so council must seek out feedback and listen to all interested parties as we develop the plan. We will be setting goals and figuring out how to get there, together.
Quinn Haider
I am extremely impressed with the resiliency, flexibility, and creativity our local business owners have demonstrated during our new reality.聽 As a Councillor, I would like to find ways to subsidize costs to upgrade our buildings in order to help attract customers to new and existing businesses.聽 Furthermore, I believe Council could work with Administration to create a temporary tax relief fund to help businesses get through this tough stretch.聽 Yorkton has no shortage of creative, hardworking people who can accomplish anything if they put their minds to it.聽 For example, when it appeared that Remembrance Day services were not going to happen in our schools, I teamed up with members of the Legion, and some of our elected leaders to film a virtual service to be shared with schools and seniors residences in our area.聽 The world has changed, but together we can continue to thrive.
Cam Mehling
The pandemic is a real concern that needs to be taken seriously without it absolutely controlling our lives. We need to continue listening to the Saskatchewan Health Authority for recommendations and best practices. The city should promote safe environments and safe practices throughout our community and the businesses within our community. The city can safely continue to drive our economy and limit the number of businesses and people feeling the impact of the pandemic. Lastly, the city needs a comprehensive and creative shop local campaign like never before.聽 We need to support our peers in order to persevere through these difficult times.
Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes
Our world has changed because of the pandemic and I believe that we have not yet realized the full impact economically. As a city, we need to have a strategy to support people and businesses to recover from the effects of the pandemic. I believe that it is incumbent on City Hall to set the table for businesses to transition and diversify post COVID. There is a lot of potential for business growth in Yorkton and I envision Yorkton to be a place where innovative products are created and services originate in a post pandemic economy.
Further, it has been said that municipalities are on the front lines of recovery for businesses post COVID.
That is a heavy burden and that kind of front-line work cannot be assumed through property and business tax dollars alone. Therefore, it will be imperative to explore and forge innovative and collaborative strategies with other levels of governments and stakeholders.
Jordan Rosluk
I believe the City of Yorkton can provide much needed relief and stability to the business owners and citizens of Yorkton by avoiding property tax increases until after 2021. I also believe that in these uncertain times halting any major building projects will keep us from committing the City to any long term debt. It will take some time before we in Yorkton, in Canada and across the globe will understand the full extent of the aftermath of COVID-19, and I believe Yorkton will be in a stronger position having not spent money unnecessarily on huge building projects.
CV Sastry
In my guest centric job, I ensure that I lead my team from the front, coming to work every day and ensuring the safety of my guests and staff. I think the city needs to be more responsible with rules and guidelines with respect to COVID-19 as regulators. Strong leadership is required to see our city through these unprecedented times. I see some individuals/businesses following rules diligently and paying the price for it while others have acted as if there was no issue with little or no consequences. I believe in fairness and consistency will guide citizens to take COVID-19 more seriously without creating animosity amongst each other. With the ever changing dynamics of this pandemic, we need to strategize our growth and recovery with everyone鈥檚 safety and wellbeing in mind. If planned properly, damage control, recovery and growth all can happen simultaneously, not one after the other.
Terry Schneider
The City can assist with economic recovery caused by COVID-19 by:
Being a catalyst for economic, population and taxable property Growth. Significantly lowering the sale price for vacant residential and commercial property the City has in inventory can serve as this catalyst measure. York Colony and Riverside Terrace residential lots are currently priced at $66,500 to $135,000 per lot and the commercial Round House subdivision lots by the Chamber of Commerce office are priced at $1.3 Million to $1.8 Million
Reducing the price of these lots will allow for new builds which equates to Construction Jobs, Sales of Materials at local hardware stores, Population Growth, Increase Enrollment in Schools, and grow Yorkton鈥檚 Taxable Property Base
Please refer to my website TerrySchneider.ca to learn more about this initiative
Scott Sharpe
COVID-19 effects are going to be felt for some time into the future.聽 It has been so amazing to see the resiliency of local businesses and residents. I genuinely believe the best way the city can limit the damage is by supporting the citizens and local businesses and listening to their needs as they know best what they need to succeed. By doing this we promote business growth and that will drive the job growth and bring new people to this great city. We need to find new ways to support our local charities and non-profits as they protect some of our most vulnerable citizens. As a city, we must look after the people so the people can look after the city.
Calvin Tokarchuk
Promotion, Creativity and Support is how we will weather this storm called COVID-19.
We have already gotten a glimpse of the creativity of our Local business owners during COVID, by expanding their presence online and online sales as well as offering more COVID safe shopping options like curbside pickup or home delivery.
With large gathering restrictions on events like Sunflower, Rhythm and Ribs and so many more, that bring people to Yorkton. We now are tasked with finding new, innovative ways to keep our events going. We can and we will.
It will take our entire City and the surrounding communities working together, supporting and promoting our Businesses, Non Profits and Events to show the rest of the world we will not just get through COVID but we will succeed regardless of COVID.
Chris Wyatt
The city does not have the resources to financially help businesses or residential homeowners, it just doesn鈥檛. The city can work with our taxpayers to defer taxes over a set period of time with no penalty. As for health and safety precautions the city will be looking to the province for leadership and help enforce the rules in place. Personally I believe extra precautions should be in place for our most vulnerable, nursing homes and retirement communities. In saying that, the rest of us have to keep working and living our lives. We cannot afford another shutdown of our businesses, the cost of that would be devastating.
Darcy Zaharia
Communicate with residents, businesses and associations such as YBID and the Chamber.聽 These partners each have their own networks to draw on for expertise, experiences and ideas.
Collaborate with all participants to develop a plan that fosters support and growth.聽 Partners can provide support through sharing expertise or the City could possibly provide some level of support in order to help businesses survive, maintain or thrive.
Rejuvenate downtown through incentives or tax relief.聽 Help strengthen operations of current businesses and encourage growth from within as well as attract new commercial interests.
Have all participants help develop a Shop Local Strategy and communicate that plan.聽 Dollars spent in Yorkton would be recirculated within the community by these local businesses.聽 Those dollars would result in investment in the community and that would turn into increased tax revenue.
Revisit, revise and expand the plan to make Yorkton a destination for all of Canada!
