Strategic plan update comes forward

By Timothy Schafer

Council has added a few new facets to its overall vision for municipal governance in its strategic plan update.

Several key ideas are being entertained in the updated City of Grand Forks’ strategic plan as council realigns its priorities.

Council has added a few new facets to its overall vision for municipal governance in its strategic plan update, but it has also begun to assemble a wish list of projects that could move the city forward as well.

City of Grand Forks chief administrative officer Doug Allin tossed out some ideas for council to consider as it prepares for discussion andadoption of its strategic plan amendments next week.

He acknowledged there was a desire on council to borrow money and undertake a significant paving project in the community.

“There is a substantial backlog of paving that needs to be done in the community, but this involves some costs,” he said.

Allin also noted discussions about the construction of a new community centre had arisen, and previous ones about a major waterpark facility as well.

“What does that (community centre) look like? Does council want to embark on that and make this come to life in the community from an overall perspective?” he asked. “Or does council want to develop a multi-million dollar waterpark and have the community become a destination point?”

The city does have some property up on the hillside that could be utilized for a waterpark, he added.

“The idea was to put that on the table for the community to see what council was talking about,” he said.

Allin also explained that about $35-$40 million in infrastructure work still needs to be done throughout the city, but money needs to be borrowed to do so.

A strategic plan is a plan that council, when elected, would use as a guiding document for itself and for city staff, providing direction in the decisions they make and the work they do. It is also used as part of the process for evaluation of the work the city does.

In 2015 a strategic plan was developed that included four strategic guiding principles: fiscal accountability; economic growth; community engagement; and community livability.

Allin said the strategic plan is reviewed annually with council and senior city managers to ensure the municipal organization was on track. In November of 2016 the plan was reviewed and a few changes were recommended by council.

The changes include:

• The city will continue to retain its natural assets as a public trust;
• and it will blend business values and social impact objectives through social procurement.

The city will also develop a sustainability charter, as well as consider alternative types of business and diversify target markets to include not-for-profits when promoting land development.

In addition, the city will aim to promote the region’s excellent health services to residents and potential residents, and continue to discuss shared funding of the Municipal Airport at the Boundary Economic Development Council table.

The city will also ask the community what is important to them and bring supporting resolutions forward at the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Government meetings.

The strategic plan report was referred to the Jan. 16 city council regular meeting for decision.