Draft Strategic Plan Update identifies five priority capital projects

eTown Hall to be held next to obtain public input

Summary

The announcement of five proposed capital projects underscore a draft Strategic Plan Update received by Council during their June 27 Committee of the Whole meeting. Selected from a list containing 46 possibilities, the following five projects were identified.

  • 1 Port Drive/South Downtown Waterfront
  • Beban Park Facilities Redevelopment /Master Plan
  • Sports and Entertainment Centre
  • Waterfront Walkway
  • Georgia Avenue pedestrian/cycling bridge over the Chase River

Also identified are two initiatives supporting Affordable Housing and Property Acquisition.

The five projects and two initiatives form part of a Strategic Plan Update which Council began earlier this year using the 2012-2015 Strategic Plan as a foundation. The original vision and four community values (Economic Health, Environmental Responsibility, Social Equity and Cultural Vitality) contained in the 2012-2015 plan were retained while a fifth value, Active Lifestyle, was added. Also added were five defined Council priority areas: Phased Development of the South Downtown Waterfront; Recreation, Culture, Sports and Tourism; Public Safety; Governance Renewal and; Community Wellness.

Link to Strategic Plan: Taking responsibility to be an excellent municipal government.

Key Points

  • The updated plan containing five priority capital projects, two initiatives, five defined priorities, five community values and a vision, has been returned to staff for the purpose of determining the associated budget implications and time lines.
  • As part of the finalization and formal adoption of the Strategic Plan Update, Council has directed staff to organize an eTown Hall event allowing the public the opportunity to provide comments.
  • The five capital projects chosen by Council are supported by existing reports, neighbourhood plans and - in some cases - completed community engagement.
  • The City's previous Strategic Plan expired at the end of 2015. By building on the foundation and public input contained in the 2012-2015 document, the updated draft plan received on June 27 is intended to guide Council's strategic decision-making through the remainder of their term (2016-2018).

Quotes

"I am very pleased with the progress made on this very important initiative. I look forward to the upcoming public dialogue in an effort to hear community feedback."

Mayor
City of Nanaimo

"I am very excited that Council has updated our City's Strategic Plan, identified important community values and strategic priorities, and selected key capital projects and initiatives to focus on in the months ahead. This was a lengthy collaborative process involving Council and staff, and should serve us well as we move ahead with important initiatives for the benefit of Nanaimo citizens."

Councillor
City of Nanaimo

"The Strategic Plan Update is an excellent guiding document intended to steer this Council moving forward, short and long term. I am optimistic the words articulated in the document will become actions in the near future."

Councillor
City of Nanaimo

"A lot of effort, past and present, has gone into this plan and the strategic priorities there-in. I look forward to further input from Nanaimo citizens and to the hard work of moving the plan forward."

Councillor
City of Nanaimo

Quick Facts

  • The chosen five priority projects and two initiatives represent areas of interest where there is agreement amongst Council. These projects and initiatives do not preclude Council's considerations of other interests which align with the priorities and values identified in the Strategic Plan Update.
  • An eTown Hall event will be scheduled during the summer to obtain feedback from the public concerning the five priority projects and two initiatives Council is proposing to focus on.
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Contact:

Philip Cooper
Communication Manager
City of Nanaimo
250-755-4532

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