The guiding document for the 2022-2026 term of Bradford West Gwillimbury is set for approval, with 18 actions on tap to accomplish before the next election.
Councillors got their first look at the town’s 2022-2026 strategic priorities - what Coun. Peter Ferragine called the town’s “bible” for the next four years - during committee-of-the-whole March 21, recommending the work plan be adopted.
The strategic priorities are the result of a day-long workshop held earlier this year where councillors established their vision, a mission statement and set five objectives as their key priorities for this term, including:
- Community safety/traffic congestion
- Infrastructure/major road access
- Economic development
- Downtown revitalization/older parts of town
- Recreation and leisure facilities and services
For each of the objectives, councillors also developed strategic priority actions, which outline how the town will be successful in its goals. Those activities, which can be as broad as “upgrade key arterial roads” or specific as “build around the Leisure Centre/Library campus for adult, youth and entertainment,” were then drilled down further by town staff over the past few weeks to determine just how the plan can come to fruition.
“A number of really great ideas were generated,” said Geoff McKnight, Chief Administrative Officer for the municipality. “One of the really neat things to have watched through that process is that department staff didn’t just focus on items that would traditionally or typically fall under their set of responsibilities. They thought about ideas that other departments could participate in and participate toward.”
The work plan, provided to council during committee-of-the-whole, seeks to identify “discrete deliverables,” McKnight said, focusing on the most achievable items. From there, which department is responsible, how much it will cost and when it will be completed is outlined.
“Upgrade key arterial roads” is part of the infrastructure/major road access objective. Staff first had to set out how the municipality will know it’s been successful in reaching its goal. In this case, at the end of the term, travel time through the town will have been reduced, the cost of capital improvements will be shared by multiple jurisdictions and a variety of spin-off benefits will be seen, including reduced emissions and improved quality of life.
As part of this action, staff highlighted five activities to undertake in order to check that off the list, including developing a sequencing plan for the upgrades to Holland Street, Line 8, Line 6 and Sideroad 10, complete required environmental assessments, establish a strategic projects advisory committee and lobby the County of Simcoe to accelerate the Bond Head Highway 27 bypass construction.
“At the end of the day, we had dozens and dozens of different ideas that all reflected those priorities that you had set,” McKnight told council.
Councillors around the table were happy with the document in front of them, but noted it’s not an all-encompassing document as to what residents can expect from the town during the term.
“Some residents have asked for things they don’t see in this strategic plan, but there are other things we’re going to be doing in the next three-and-a-half, four years, that’s beyond this document,” said Coun. Ben Verkaik. “There’s lots of things we need to do outside of this plan.”
Coun. Nickolas Harper knows the plan could have been much larger, but was happy in the unity seen among councillors about what they felt was the top priority.
“There were a lot of things that were on the list (and) we could only get to so much,” he said. “I’m pleased to see community safety and the traffic committee being the number one response from everyone here on council. It really shows true value to listening to the residents here in (Bradford West Gwillimbury).”
There are also variables beyond the town’s control that could shift the priorities throughout the term.
“This is a living document; as we move through the program, as we move through the four years, we’ll have opportunities to change or adjust based on what we get put in front of us,” said Mayor James Leduc. “We still have some areas that the province has to come down with. Bill 23 has to come through; Bill 39; we have to look at OPA 7. As those documents come down from the province, (they’ll) either help with this plan or readjust this plan.”
The plan also includes some “relevant but incomplete items” from the 2018-2022 strategic priorities into this new plan, as well as front-loading the schedule with the highest priorities, to allow for a more “manageable workload,” the staff report indicated.
While not official at the time of budget deliberations, the strategic priorities did help guide council in its spending decisions for 2023. Staff indicated many of the activities outlined in the document can be “undertaken with existing resources and new funding approved that has been approved in the 2023 budget.”
A midterm report will be presented in late 2024, giving councillors an update on the implementation status of the strategy and potentially reaffirm the town’s priorities.
“I believe we have the right people in the right places and we’re going to make things work in our community,” Leduc said. “I think it’s going to be a great four years of hard work, but I know you are all excited to do it.”
