On Tuesday -- WL Council will conclude the process that started in March 2012 to develop 10 Strategic Priorities which was led by Paragon Strategic Inc. who have offices in Vancouver, Victoria and the Okanagan which led to a question in my mind...
For what City of WL taxpayers' paid last year for Brian Carruthers's salary/expenses (this was $170,771.39 in 2011) and the fact that he is undergoing schooling to become certified as the City's Chief Administrative Officer and given he trumpeted his education while developing the City's Citizen Survey -- why not have him lead WL Council's Strategic Planning Session and thereby saving taxpayers' money by not hiring a consultant to do the same thing...
Meanwhile -- Council's proposed Strategic Goals break down into two sections as follows:
General Themes:
1) Good Government
2) Community Livability
3) Diverse/Stable Economy
4) Well Managed/Maintained
WL Council’s 10 Strategic Goals (proposed) are:
1) Planning for growth by taking a long term, strategic approach to meeting the needs of our community
2) We will continue to develop relationships with First Nations Governments on issues of joint interest
3) We support investment in recreation amenities to provide a high quality of life for residents and visitors
4) The City plays a leadership role in strengthening the social fabric of the community
5) We will actively market the City to businesses, tourists and new residents
6) We will support development of industrial lands in the City
7) We will become the 'Mining Capital of BC'
8) We will continue to implement our BEAS strategy
9) We will ensure a strategic approach to the development, maintenance and replacement of the community’s infrastructure
10) We will address the environmental objectives prioritized within the OCP Implementation Plan
One of the disappointments I found is the chart that outlines the smaller goals - it didn't say who was responsible for the goal and when. I find those details useful when looking at goals at the beginning and then again at the end to see if that person did what they were tasked to do and if they didn't -- ask them the appropriate questions. Was it lack of time, not enough information to complete the task, no resources to do the work, etc....
Inside of these 10 Goals are smaller goals like:
1) Advocate for the Cariboo Memorial Hospital 2nd Floor redevelopment
2) Facility Plan for Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex
On #1 - I don't think you would find anyone objecting to this item as I suspect all residents' of Williams Lake and the Central Cariboo all want a modernized 2nd Floor at our local hospital
On #2 - While discussions are underway about the Sam Ketchum Pool - I wonder if this is a 'missed opportunity' to have a honest discussion about the entire Complex and engage the public over what they want for the Complex short, medium and long term -- both for the Pool and also the Twin - Ice arenas and other recreational needs at the Complex that the public wants and is willing to pay for.... I also wonder if Mayor Cook has informed the Cariboo RD on this goal as Recreation is suppposed to be joint-decision making, given the City provides the service while the Cariboo Regional District owns the land that the Complex currently sits on
The only local government in the Cariboo-Chilcotin that hasn't done strategic planning yet (was planned for previously) is the Cariboo Regional District which plans to do its' own Strategic Planning Sessions later on this year in November
Read the report from the City of WL CAO on this subject here
No comments:
Post a Comment