An Afternoon with Summerside Planning Officer, Thayne Jenkins

Joey (Q):

Good Afternoon Thayne. Could you tell us about what generated the Community Engagement Project that is currently happening in Summerside?

Thayne Jenkins (A):

Well, every five years we are required to review our official plan. Our five years actually came up in 2011 and that's when we started this review. It's taken more time then what we had hoped but that is pretty normal. Many types of reviews take longer then we think. Back to your question, it is a five year review and council has said that they want it completed by October.

Joni (Q):

What is it that you personally hope to accomplish with the community engagement project?

Thayne Jenkins (A):

Most of all we want to educate residents about what an official plan is and work to create a vision for the community. Hopefully some people will be interested in the process and want to follow the process and contribute to the process. When we gather and listen to people's ideas it allows them to become involved in the process. I think there are some people who feel no one is going to listen to them so why bother to contribute.  So the message we want to send is that we want to hear everyone's comments. We want to hear their ideas and we want everyone's help to create a new vision for Summerside for the future.

Joey (Q):

Summerside's population in 2011, according to census was a little under 15,000. Have you received much in the way of feedback from Summerside residents ?

Thayne (A):

I have received feedback at the farmers market  but certainly there is room to receive more. At our Roundtable on April 23rd we hope to receive a lot more feedback or at least provide people an opportunity to become more aware of the process.  

Interesting point you bring up about our population. Since the 1995 amalgamation the population of Summerside has only grown by 250 residents which is not very much. We have to grow our population. A concern we are hearing from some people, a "What's Red Alert", is a concern that we are losing our youth. How do we keep our youth here? I think one possible way of increasing the population is to try to attract immigration to Summerside. 

Joni (Q):

Have you had time to go through all the feedback that was passed in so far or are you waiting for the feedback from the April 23rd Roundtable talks at Credit Union Place?

Thayne (A):

I have had a chance to go through some of the comments after each time at the farmers market.  In general people are saying that the Boardwalk is a great asset so obviously then a lot of people feel that way. But the purpose of this review is to try to get a general overview of what people are thinking. There maybe ideas expressed that we never even thought of at all and that's what I want to hear too.

Joey (Q):

How much weight will the feedback that you get from Summerside residents carry in future changes to the city?

Thayne (A): 

I am hoping that it does carry a lot of weight. It will depend on the nature of the comments but I am thinking the comments should get a lot of weight I will pass them along to Council and we will try to develop policies from their comments. Ultimately it's up to Council wheher they want to except, modify, deny or just refuse whatever the policy is but I am also trying to engage Council to learn the process as well because they have to listen to their constituients as well and hear from them.   I did extend the invitation to Council  and was happy when Councilor Desroches and Councilor McColeman joined me at the Farmers Market.

Joni (Q):

Will the information be made available to the general public?

Thayne (A): 

That's my hope. I want to have this on the city's website and perhaps social media.

Joey (Q):

Will the suggestions that come from the majority of the people who take part in this project be the suggestions that are given priority?

Thayne (A):

I think we will have to take everyone's suggestions and put some kind of ranking priority on them if we can and certainly any comments that apply. There could be questions that partly apply to other departments, may be parks and recreation for example, and those suggestions will certainly be given to those departments.

Joni (Q):

In carrying out this project, have you surprised by anything?

Thayne (A):

I was surprised that the reaction that I got at the farmers market actually because I had no idea what to expect and until you try, you really don't know what's going to happen. The purpose of the colors is that colors always attract people and because people see them and the colors engage them.  However, it's not just the words, its the graphics, how you present your display and how you frame the question. It should be easy for people to understand.  I am only looking for people to put down one or two words. We are not looking to write an essay.

Joey (Q):

What are the "one things" that you would list under each of your created categories; golden, rust, blue, and red?

Thayne (A): 

I did start putting down my own comments and for me what was golden is being that I am a big walker, I would say the boardwalk. I think what I put down for being rusty was Reads Corner. As you come into Summerside I think I would like to see a more attractive intersection. What was blue to me would be to have bike lanes. I am not a big biker or anything but that is something I would definitely do in the future. For a red alert,  I see the loss of youth as a concern, as well, concerns about retail. We are losing a lot of our retail from our downtown and that is a concern. I am a big believer in downtown.