In late 2014, shortly after the election of the new council, Council organized a public Strategic planning session to decide what should be done during their mandate. As that 2015 to 2018 term comes to a close, CAO Stephen Peacock has written a report on progress as of the end of 2017 and he presented it to Council at their C.O.W. meeting on March 14.
Most objectives have either been met or are well under way to completion. Stephen gave some details and labelled actions as “Completed”, “Underway” or “Outstanding”. Some of the actions planned for this term are now promised for the next although some will be completed during 2018 – notably the report on the Waterfront. He promised it would be online but that has not yet happened – it will be added to the Links below when it is available. In the original plan, there were five objectives but on Feb 8, 2017 Council did a “mid-term review” and added a sixth objective “Develop and Implement a Community Waterfront District plan”. See links below for both the original and updated Strategic plans. Note that the updated plan includes the new waterfront objective but omits the communications objective. Stephen reports on both but uses a fresh set of actions for the Communications objective (#1). The sequence used here is per his report and the actions are generally per the updated plan.
Each action from the updated plan is listed below with Stephen’s comments.
Status
Legend: Completed = green; Underway = orange; Outstanding = red
Objective 1: Ensure Open, Clear and Timely Communications
Actions | Comments |
Broadcasting open meetings of council | You-Tube Channel now live Streams Council Meetings |
Introducing Town-wide Intranet | Completed |
Award-winning redesigned municipal website | Awarded gold for digital strategy, social media and website design |
This is Cobourg Internal communication campaign | Completed |
Elections Campaign | Better Branded multi-faceted campaign |
Branded marketing collateral for various events and campaigns | e.g. Visitor’s Guide |
Objective 2: Support the Preservation and Enhancement of the Town’s Recreation, Arts, Culture and Heritage
Actions | Comments |
Complete building component of vitalization plan, CIP | There are 16 improvement projects approved |
Develop cultural masterplan | Tenders received and steering committee being formed |
Complete Cobourg heritage plan | Plan implemented |
Update Victoria Square | Now construction ready and waiting for upper tier Government funding |
Develop policies for support (including financial) of arts, culture and heritage | New Community Grant process |
Develop implementation plans for Parks Master Plan, CCC Campus plan, and recreation Strategic plan | Plans complete and approved – will see in upcoming capital projects |
Objective 3: Promote Diverse Economic Development Opportunities
Actions | Comments |
Complete business attraction for downtown | “Start Here” Marketing Campaign underway – it’s hoped to roll this out shortly |
Support four seasons tourism initiatives | New tourism partner programs with County and Port Hope |
Establish an economic development hub | Venture 13 now open and operating |
Update downtown parking strategy | Coming up in new council |
Objective 4: Manage Sustainable Growth and Development
Actions | Comments |
Receive OP approval and implement new zoning bylaw | Going to hearing at end of May then closely followed by development of new zoning by-law |
Develop sustainable Tannery District secondary plan | Process well under way with final report ready for fall of 2018 |
Ensure town is adequately prepared for climate change | A big ticket item: Major retention facility project underway with completion for fall of 2018. Major storm sewer capacity study underway with completion summer of 2018. |
Objective 5: Improve Efficiencies and Effectiveness in Municipal Operations
Actions | Comments |
Develop an IT strategic plan | To be completed by new council |
Continue to Implement an Asset Management Plan | Major work underway. Milestone presentation to Council for summer of 2018 |
Review and improve financial performance of CCC | Major profitable events in n2017. Building alterations and staffing re-alignment to promote customer service and profits. |
Implement new financial system for Town with more detailed financial reporting | No status |
Work collaboratively across municipal borders | New fire dispatch with reduced response times, joint purchasing agreements, mile marker program. |
Review potential to be more pro-active and less complaint driven | By-law booklet created |
Create multi year accessibility plan | Completed but also ongoing |
Review town budget setting process | Budget setting process revised with communication plan. |
Objective 6: Developing And Implementing a Community Waterfront District Plan
Actions | Comments |
Define the waterfront district | Scope of work refined through public discussion. Part of waterfront study. |
Conduct extensive stakeholder sessions | Extensive engagement process held with over 2000 surveys received. This is the most ever received on any one project. |
Develop details waterfront designs | For presentation to council June 2018 |
Develop cost estimates revenue opportunities and time frames for implementation | For presentation to council June 2018 |
Prepare a Business Plan for Approval | No status |
Note in particular the items deferred for a new council or listed but with no status:
- Update downtown parking strategy (deferred)
- Develop an IT strategic plan (deferred) [IT is an acronym for “Information Technology” – that is: Computers]
- Prepare a Waterfront Business Plan for approval – the draft report includes a detailed business plan for the Marina – but Stephen’s report was made before that was publicly known.
- Implement new financial system for Town with more detailed financial reporting – no report – this was probably deferred pending an IT Strategic Plan.
This report should be online shortly – and when it is, will be included in the links below and this sentence edited.
Links
- Cobourg’s Original Strategic Plan – 2015 to 2018 – Download original from Cobourg Internet.
- Updated Strategic Plan – as of February 2017 – Download from Cobourg Internet
- Strategic Plan Progress Report – 2015-2018 – 19 June 2017
- Review of 2015-18 Strategic Plan – 9 Feb 2017
- Town of Cobourg – Cobourg Strategic Plan (on Town’s web site – same as updated version above)
Print Article:
No progress at all on the most important objective…that of Finance System and Financial Reporting.
Let’s all get a photo op on this one as well… With a big “F” for failure behind your sad faces because you could not get the big one completed.
And if they can’t do this, they don’t deserve a raise.
When all these plans are completed and in place, Cobourg can run on auto-pilot.