Council has revised its strategic priorities, committing to launch a number of projects by the end of 2012.
The Master Servicing Concept plan, the Infrastructure Priorities Review, the designs for Phase 2 of the downtown revitalization project, a downtown Area Redevelopment Plan and a council remuneration review were all approved as the highest priority items for the town to tackle. The updated list of projects was approved at the Oct. 9 council meeting unanimously and will get underway before January.
“We initiated this program when we were all elected a few years ago,” said Mayor Jim Romane. “It certainly has its results. It keeps you on track.”
The Master Servicing Concept, to be prepared by Tagish Engineering, will set out exactly what it will cost to service town growth areas, said CAO Helen Dietz. The purpose of the Infrastructure Priorities Review is to help keep the town developing responsibly within that plan.
Because the strategic priorities are part of a “living document” which is continually updated, council members indicated it was a great tool for reflection.
“We've done a lot of stuff as a council,” said Coun. Jason Heistad. “We've worked as a group so I'm pretty proud of that.”
Coun. Derek Baird said the document has been a great way to show council members have been very active this session.
“As a council I always feel we're a little bit more hands on,” he said.
The council remuneration review will present an opportunity for the public to weigh in on what town officials should be paid through a committee to be established.
In addition to the main priorities, a broader list of duties has been spread out among town staff to keep progress moving along for items that were not as prominent on the master list, such as a community services fee review and a cemetery bylaw review.
Coun. Brian Spiller said he's particularly looking forward to item number three, the downtown Innisfail redevelopment Phase 2 designs.
“Let's get at the second phase,” he said.
