Last month, Council received the final report outlining the new municipal Corporate Strategic Plan for the next five years.
It was developed by Town Hall Consulting Inc. which was awarded the contract to develop the plan last June. The purpose of the plan is to identify and incorporate key community priorities into municipal decision making over the next 5 years. It provides guidelines to help the municipality operate more efficiently, more proactively, and with a clear sense of direction to achieve specific goals.
The project was undertaken at a moment of significant growth in the community which brings both opportunities and challenges. Having a plan will help guide sustainable infrastructure development and steps that support local economic development in ways that align with provincial requirements outlined in legislation such as the Provincial Policy Statement of 2024.
The six strategic priorities identified were financial sustainability, community vitality, environmental sustainability, community engagement, economic development, and customer service.
Public feedback was collected through a variety of in-person and online methods in a few key engagement activities designed to maximize participation and feedback. During the in-person Open House Monopoly Night, residents allocated $5 million in Monopoly money to strategic projects to specific projects or ones of their own creation through an open feedback board. An Online Survey and Fund It Monopoly Tool was available over a five week period allowing residents to participate on-line. During this time, residents were invited to allocate $5 million of virtual dollars to initiatives they deemed most important. These activities provided valuable insights into community priorities. Focus groups with key community leaders and representatives from local organizations also provided input. These feedback mechanisms helped develop a plan that reflected issues that mattered most to residents of Cavan Monaghan.
This research identified six priorities. Financial stability was top of mind, as residents looked to Council to make decisions that ensured the municipality will continue to meet its current and future needs by making decisions that are fiscally responsible. To that end, the plan indicates that municipality will focus on expanding its tax assessment base, aligning goals with the Asset Management Plan, exploring alternate funding opportunities, and enhancing long-term planning. Annual contributions to the Asset Replacement Reserve fund will be maintained at a minimum of 80% of the asset depreciation each year.
Another priority identified was community vitality. Participants sought a thriving, healthy and connected community offering recreational opportunities and key annual events to strengthen community bonds. They hoped to see support for health services with a new or expanded medical centre supported by fundraising, physician recruitment efforts, increasing housing options for seniors. Feedback also encouraged more community engagement to build trust by fostering connections and informing citizens through diverse outreach methods.
The municipality was encouraged to nurture economic development by attracting and retaining local business, promoting innovative agricultural opportunities and increasing serviceable and employment lands to create welcoming environment for business. It was also suggested that more flexibility be introduced in to zoning by-laws. The final priority was to improve customer service delivery by retaining skilled staff, leveraging technology to improve service delivery and host staff open house events. This roadmap will help Council and staff demonstrate their commitment to responsible decision-making, improving collaboration, and utilizing innovation as they move forward with fiscally-responsible initiatives that reflect the community’s values and vision for the future