A progress report on Council’s strategic priorities indicates that six of the priorities Council established a year ago – 15 per cent of the total – have been completed or are on track for completion by the end of this year.
Two of Council’s high-priority projects have been achieved: the introduction of 20-minute Transit service, and approval of the Solid Waste Management Master Plan. Projects that will be finalized by December 31, 2008 include the development of a Human Resources strategy; a review of Farmers Market operating policies and by-law; an issuance of debt to fund capital projects; and an update to the City’s Development Charges by-law.
“I am pleased to see this significant progress in the year since Council adopted its list of strategic priorities,” said Mayor Karen Farbridge. “We are moving forward on new initiatives in support of our strategic plan, while at the same time meeting the ongoing service delivery needs of the City.”
An additional 18 strategic projects are on track for full completion by the end of 2010. Fourteen projects have been identified as long-term, with scheduled end dates beyond 2010.
In addition to the completion of two high-priority projects, 20-minute transit service and the Waste Management Master Plan, substantial progress has been made on other high priorities. This includes:
· Integration of the Community Energy Plan with City programs, and more than 60 individual projects underway as part of CEP implementation
· The release of a Request for Proposals to construct the new Organic Waste processing facility
· Council endorsement of the Local Growth Management Strategy
· Collaboration with Provincial officials and local stakeholders on the redevelopment of the York District Lands
· Continuing meetings to review City/County Service Agreements
The priority list consists of special initiatives, linked to both capital and operating budgets, which account for an estimated 20 per cent of staff workload. The remaining 80 per cent of workload is dedicated to the ongoing service delivery requirements of the municipality. For Council’s full priority list, click here.
In spring 2009, Council will hold another priority setting session to review the list of initiatives and confirm future directions. At that time, the priority list to be assessed will have been streamlined from 41 to 27 initiatives, as six projects will be complete and eight projects are being addressed as part of the larger scale, long-term priorities.