Parry Sound has approved the addition of the 2023 Strategic Action Plan to the town’s 10-year plan.
Clayton Harris, Town CAO says no additional comments were made by residents after staff put a call out for feedback on the action plan over the past month.
He says as a result, the plan presented at the July 4 meeting will be the one added to the 2020-2030 plan.
Harris says once it’s approved, the next step will be to incorporate the 28 action items in the plan into the town’s quarterly reporting.
“[Quarterly reports] are how we communicate that with staff. We report back to council quarterly, that’s available to the public and you can track progress quarter over quarter. Reporting back and making this a living document. It needs to be part of our everyday culture when we’re doing reports, when we’re making decisions,” he says.
Harris says the strategic plan has to be part of the decision-making process and the quarterly reporting keeps it in front of all of us.
The 28 action items focus on supporting three core priority areas, economic growth, quality of life and organizational excellence. They are as follows;
- Develop an Investment Attraction Strategy
- Increase Engagement and Communication with Businesses
- Continue to Support Downtown Revitalization
- Continue to Update and Align Community Improvement Plan
- Continue to Support Workforce Development Training
- Strengthen Connections with Partners to Support and Strengthen Newcomer Recruitment and Programs
- Develop a Youth Outmigration and Engagement Strategy
- Research MAT Tax Feasibility
- Support and Strengthen Tourism Sector
- Review and Update Waterfront Master Plan
- Continue to Invest in Infrastructure Improvements
- Establish an Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) Reduction Strategy
- Develop a Housing Strategy
- Continue to Advance the Master Recreation and Cultural Plan
- Develop a Tree Canopy Enhancement Plan
- Continue to Strengthen Efforts Towards Truth and Reconciliation
- Enhance New Resident Program
- Support a Regional Transportation Plan
- Develop a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan
- Support and Strengthen Community Culture and Events
- Develop a Community Pride-of-Place Campaign
- Continue to Advocate for and Support Education
- Undertake an Organizational Review
- Review and Update Official Plan, By-Laws and Policies
- Continue to Pursue and Apply for Funding Programs and Revenue Sources
- Develop Framework to Increase Community Engagement
- Conduct Continuous Improvement Review of Processes
- Continue to Engage and Communicate with Staff