Information from City of Powell River Council’s in-camera corporate strategic planning session this past summer has been released and public input will be sought.
At the Thursday, September 4, council meeting, Mac Fraser, the city’s chief administrative officer, said on June 26 council met for its corporate strategic planning session. Council voted prior to the meeting to hold the session in camera, although Councillor Russell Brewer attempted to have the meeting held in public. Fraser said as part of the in-camera resolution, council committed, as soon as possible, to share the content of those considerations during an open meeting.
Fraser read from the analysis and impact section of the in-camera report.
Council reviewed and reconfirmed the current strategic priorities, with a consensus to meld the liquid waste management priority into the asset management priority, and to set a priority of enhanced recreational services based upon the recently received municipal recreation service review.
Fraser said there had been considerable discussion centring on the need for a five-year capital spending plan to complete a comprehensive five-year financial plan. City staff presented a draft spending plan for discussion and Shehzad Somji, chief financial officer, advised he would bring a final draft plan to the committee level in August. This was presented at the city’s budget committee on Thursday, August 14.
A hierarchy of municipal plans was presented for the information of the council at the strategic planning session. The discussion identified that the current work of the sustainability steering committee on an integrated community sustainability plan, and of the economic development advisory committee on an economic development strategy, would require insertion of these plans into the city’s hierarchy upon completion.
Under the matter of public consultation, Fraser said in the report, consultation requires an appropriate discussion between interested parties on a proposed course of action before a decision to adopt that plan is made.
An public open house will be held from 5 to 6:30 pm on Thursday, September 18, in the city hall foyer, before the council meeting that day. Staff will be in attendance to answer any questions. In early October, council will be asked to approve any alterations to the corporate strategic plan.
