Kincardine Council held a special meeting to begin discussions about the municipality’s ideas for a new strategic plan.
The purpose of this strategic planning process is to engage Council and the senior management team to revise the goals, priorities and achievable actions for the remainder of this term of Council.
The municipality hired Linton Consulting to complete the process, which asked staff and residents what they’d like to see in the community.
When asked what they liked most about Kincardine, 74% of residents said that the waterfront was their first answer, followed by 42% agreeing that outdoor spaces, parks and trails made the municipality a great place to live.
Many residents said that they’d like to see improvement to municipal services to households, fire and emergency services, and maintenance of the waterfront and outdoor spaces as their main priorities.
When it was staff’s turn to rank their priorities during the remainder of this council’s term, their responses were to invest in municipally owned facilities, along with housing affordability.
Linton Consulting also summarized four big-picture goals:
Goal 1: Financial Stability
– Establish a strong financial foundation enabling the municipality to meet the needs of the community now and in the future
Goal 2: Welcoming & Vibrant Community
– Foster a sense of community and provide an exceptional quality of life
Goal 3: Strong Local Economy & Healthy Growth
– Pursue smart growth reflecting our rural small-town character and support opportunities to live and work in the Municipality of Kincardine
Goal 4: Organizational Effectiveness
– Provide residents with good value for services and maintain an accountable and professional working environment
Council has directed staff to come back with a draft of the proposed strategic plan to be discussed in January.