City council has set two main priorities for its term: ensure the development of the waterfront proceeds and focus on improving the city’s infrastructure.
That was the consensus of a 90-minute discussion that followed a three-hour morning meeting Thursday at Swanmore Hall.
All eight city councillors, Mayor Steve Clarke and members of the city’s senior management team participated in the lengthy meeting.
“There was a lot of good and interesting discussion,” Clarke said after the forum. “One thing we were unanimous on was ensuring the development of our waterfront proceeds.”
The previous council, seven of whom were re-elected to the current council, set in motion a key priority from the Downtown Tomorrow plan, to stimulate private-sector development in the old rail lands, re-align Centennial Drive (creating more park space) while improving the infrastructure below the road and creating a public square to help link the waterfront with the downtown.
To help accomplish those goals, council spent over $9 million to purchase the Metro Plaza. The plan is to demolish part of the plaza to punch Coldwater Road through to Centennial Drive, opening up the “viewscape” to the lake.
A public meeting on the zoning changes needed to pave the way for the plan will be held Dec. 21 at 10 a.m. Council could then ratify those changes at its Jan. 21 meeting, effectively green-lighting the project.
“This is a transformational project for the city,” said Clarke. “It will create a beautiful connection between our waterfront and our heritage downtown. It is our No. 1 priority.”
While much of the groundwork has been done, there remains much to do, said the mayor.
“We’ve started to put the pieces together but there is a lot of work to do and it will take a lot of time and resources over the coming years.”
For more on the waterfront plans, the process and its potential impact, watch for a story tomorrow.
Council’s other priority is not as specific or focused. In fact, it has not yet been determined. But, the general consensus was that more work can be done on improving “the basics”.
Clarke said that could mean improved winter control, re-prioritizing road and sidewalk repairs, storm water management issues among other issues.
“The consensus was to complete a strategic plan (likely in the spring) and refine the vision for the next 10-20 years and then develop a corporate plan with a series of concrete (steps) to achieve that vision,” said the mayor.
He said, for example, that might mean investing more in equipment or manpower to help improve winter control or it could mean fast-tracking certain road work.
While it will take some time to refine the plan, Clarke was happy with the first “working” meeting of the new council.
“We have a terrific group and it was a good session,” he said. “The two new members (Coun. David Campbell and Coun. Jay Fallis) bring a lot of enthusiasm and new ideas and provided some really good input.”
He said the mix of new blood and experience should allow for a productive term of council.
“Certainly, I do not think we have any excuse not to be productive,” said Clarke. “I think we have a really good team and people who are driven for the right reasons. I also believe we have a very strong senior management team … there’s a lot of good people around the table.”
The new council will have its first council committee meeting Monday at 1 p.m. The first council meeting of the new term goes Thursday at 7 p.m.
You can find council agendas and meeting information on the city’s website.
