Strategic Priorities
City Council has identified seven priorities for the coming months representing the issues Council wants to see immediate action on. The seven priorities focus on homelessness; affordable housing; council decision making; public communication; harm reduction; infrastructure; and downtown late night issues.
At the end of March 2009, City Council will hold a full day planning session to finalize the long-term strategic plan for the three year term of Council. This plan will be shared broadly with the community and will contain short and long term performance measures that will guide City operations for the coming years.
COUNCIL'S IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES:
1. Homelessness
Council's top priority. Everyone who needs a home and support should have one.
- Continue working with the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness and community partners on
identifying opportunities and service gaps
- Explore funding opportunities with other levels of government
- Continue to facilitate current projects underway - Humboldt Valley, Ellice Street
2. Affordable Housing
Victoria will be a community of mixed-use, mixed income neighbourhoods with a vacancy rate higher than 4%.
- Launch secondary suite grant incentive program and adapted zoning regulations
- Pursue tax incentives for strategic affordable housing initiatives
- Expedite municipal approvals for affordable/social housing projects
3. Enhance Council Decision Making - Governance
Enhance decision-making process and governance model to achieve meaningful input on community issues.
- Introduce new governance model
4. Enhanced Communications
Enhance communications with the residents and businesses in the City and Region to make information easier
to access and understand, and provide more opportunities for citizens to provide input and participate in City
initiatives.
- Develop a public engagement strategy - a toolkit for effective public engagement on a variety of issues and
initiatives
- Produce newsletter three times per year for all Victoria residents
- Redevelop City's website
- Pursue options for web streaming Council meetings
5. Harm Reduction
Improve the overall health and safety of community. Advance substantial progress - not displace problems.
- Pursue distributed needle exchange model to address immediate health risks
- Consider findings of VIHA-led committees on locations for fixed sites
- Advocate for increased detox and treatment services in the Region
6. Quality Core Service Delivery - Infrastructure
Prioritize opportunities, funding and urgency of projects. Provide quality services now and for future generations.
- Determine immediate infrastructure priorities in 20 year capital plan
- Create Department of Sustainability and Finalize Sustainability Framework
- Submit project request to federal and provincial government
7. Downtown Late Night Nuisances
Work with key stakeholders to identify strategies to support a robust and vibrant economy and ensure people
are safe downtown.
- Strike Downtown Late Night Task Force
- Determine design and technical feasibility for public urinals
Corporate Strategic Plan
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