Mountain View County council has approved the municipality’s 2019-2021 strategic plan. The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
An update of the 2018 plan, the plan outlines five areas of preferences to move the municipality forward during the plan’s time period.
One area calls for the county to be built principally from within.
“Council has a stated preference that internal plans be prepared for areas that may be involved in collaborative plans in advance of the collaborative planning decisions,” the plan states.
“The council would prioritize the growth of current businesses and the creation of new businesses within the county over the attraction of businesses outside of the county.
“New and external businesses should be assessed for how well they ‘fit’ with the current communities, strategies and citizens of the county rather than appraised purely on the net growth implications.”
A second area calls for an expectation of a return of county investments.
“The county is an attractive place for businesses and has developed several resources over the last several years, such as water access. With the high desirability and access to resources, the county is able to be selective over what businesses they will attract and support.
“As such the county will maintain the policy that developers must pay for development, though flexible terms, such as payment timing, may be possible for desired development. In addition, the county expects to be compensated for use of the resources that county investments were used to secure.”
A third area calls for clearly articulated strategies and directions.
“The senior management team of the county leverages policy to guide day-to-day operations and have the primary role in enforcement. Council has stated that they prefer to only make exceptions to policy in exceptional cases.
“If a shift occurs that leads to policy being less relevant, council expects the senior management team to support them in identifying the issue or decision, articulating the implications, and laying out the options that council can consider.
A fourth area calls for high alignment on social and environmental issues.
“In the issues that have been reviewed by council, there is high level alignment on social and environmental issues as they tie directly to strategic implications and outcomes.”
The fifth area calls for budget allocation to be made in key areas.
“There is a large number of competing initiatives and service to allocate resources to. To ensure that all areas get sufficient support, council has decided that spending should be allocated at a high level (and) a budgeting and reporting system to reflect these allocations (are) to be reported when directed.”
The plan also outlines a number of strategic priorities for action over the next two years: statutory and policy framework; asset management; economic development; and communications and public engagement.
Regarding statutory and policy framework, the plan states, in part, that, “council, supported by the senior management team, will continue to review and update policies as required and ensure that the statutory and policy framework remains relevant and supportive to the county. Immediate areas for focus are land use, collaboration, and current interconnected issues.”
Regarding asset management, the plan states, in part, that, “council is prioritizing having full knowledge of current significant assets and ensuring long-term asset management plans are in place to ensure the resources and capital necessary to meet expected service levels will be in place long term.”
Regarding economic development, the plan states, in part, that, “in order to identify high-level objectives and themes for economic development in the county, an expanded understanding of businesses within the county and a clear strategy for future development is required.”
Regarding communications and public engagement, the updated plan calls, in part, for “policies and programs that are appropriately communicated, and that the public has appropriate opportunity for feedback and participation.”
The plan’s updated vision statement reads: “An engaged rural and agricultural community inspired by the unique and diverse qualities of our people and environment.”
Deputy Reeve Angela Aalbers said, “The updates reflect council’s direction.”
All councillors voted in favour of accepting the 2019-2022 strategic plan. Reeve Bruce Beattie was not present for the May 22 motion vote.
