City Council Strategic Priorities - 2010-2014
Over two days in February 2011, Cornwall City Council
met to establish strategic priorities for the current term
of Council.
The sessions were open to the public and included
reviews of various reports including, but not limited to, a Financial Sustainability Review, Solid Waste Management Program and the 2011 Five Year Capital Forecast. The Strategic Priorities adopted during the previous term of Council were also reviewed. This report summarizes
the priorities and objectives established at the meeting.
It is expected that these objectives would be expanded
and revised as necessary over the next four years.
Council established two guiding principles that will govern decisions and actions over the next four years:
- Fiscal Affordability
- Sustainability
These guiding principles will help direct efforts that fall
within three strategic priorities:
- Economic Development
- Social Development
- Environmental Stewardship
Fiscal responsibility
It is imperative that fiscal issues be considered as municipal programs and services are developed and delivered. There is a clear recognition of the need to keep municipal taxes as low as possible, and the responsibility to ensure expenditures are efficient and affordable.
On June 21, 2011 Council met to establish a goal of minimizing any future tax increases over their four year term. Having recently passed the 2011 budget which resulted in a 1.1% increase in the tax levy, future tax increases over the next 3 years will be capped at 7% net of any new assessment growth. This will allow residents and businesses to effectively budget, knowing that the overall objective will see Cornwall taxes continue to remain at or below the rate of inflation.
Council and administration acknowledged that financial decisions, procedures and reports need to be transparent and accountable.
In June 2011, a brochure explaining the 2010 City budget was distributed to all City tax payers. The brochure can also be found in a printer-friendly format on the City website.
Long term planning with regards to both operational and capital budgeting is a fiscal model that is desirable.
Sustainability
Programs and services need to be developed with regards to ongoing sustainability to ensure that decisions do not have a negative impact on City operations in future years. Cornwall needs to be developed in a manner that is sustainable, from an economic, social and environmental point of view.
Objectives
Council also identified a number of objectives that could be established in order to meet the strategic priority goals. Action/business plans will be identified and developed that can be implemented to meet those objectives.
Economic Development Priority Objectives
- Taxation Level
- Police Audit
- Prov/Fed Tax Revenue - Business Park Development
- Airport
- Waterfront Development
- Infrastructure
- Asset Management - Port of Entry
- CBSA - Bridge
- Development Charges
- Population and Business Growth
- Regional Interaction
- Tourism
- Communication/Image
Social Development Priority Objectives
- Arts and Culture
- Medical Recruitment
- Skills Development
- Education
- Literacy - Population Growth
- New Residents
- Immigration
- Retain Youth - Accessibility
- Recreation
- Communication
Environmental Stewardship Priority Objectives
- Solid Waste Diversion
- Energy Efficiency
- Water Efficiency
- Land Use Planning
- Brownfield Program
- Infill Development
- Housing Stock
- Property Standards - Environment Sustainability Plan
- Active Transportation
- Urban Forest
- Communication
As action/business plans are further developed, they will be submitted to City Council. During the term of Council, regular reports will also be provided to Council with updates on work associated with the strategic priorities.
