Media Release - October 8, 2014

Council completes major 2012-14 Strategic Plan initiatives
2015 shaping up to be a significant planning year

Qualicum Beach, BC - At Monday night's Regular Meeting of Council, the Town's Chief Administrative Officer, Daniel Sailland, reported that the majority of projects and initiatives identified in Council's 2012-2014 Corporate Strategic Plan have been completed with remaining items well underway.

"Working from the Official Community Plan, each incoming Council engages in strategic planning to set out their major priorities for their three-year term," noted Mr. Sailland today.

He added: "In reviewing Council's plan, I see most of the strategic focus areas identified by our current Council have either been completed or are in progress. Certain items such as 'ensuring public engagement in community planning' and 'relationship-building with community partners, such as School District 69,' will be on-going. A few new project opportunities, mostly regarding land-use, will be carried over to the next Council. At this point, 2015 is shaping up to be an important planning year for the Town."

The four strategic focus areas within the Strategic Plan include:

• Economic Recovery
• Good Value for Taxes
• Maintain/Improve Town Infrastructure
• Improve Communication

Staff will spend the coming weeks refining their workplans and continue with implementation of Council priorities. These include:

• Preparing outreach work plans for 2015;
• Finalizing agreements with key community partners such as the Chamber of Commerce, Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association; and Qualicum Beach Downtown Business Association; and
• Working on internal communication processes.

Quick Facts

• Council's 2012-2014 Corporate Strategic Plan is reported on monthly by the Chief Administrative Officer at the first Regular Council Meeting of each month.
• Key achievements of Council's 2012-2014 Corporate Strategic Plan include:
  • The replacement of the Fire Hall;
  • The examination and pursuance of long-term water supply back-up (e.g. the acquisition and rehabilitation of the Berwick well field), and other infrastructure improvements (e.g. storm sewer and water main replacements);
  • The completion and implementation of the Youth and Young Families Retention and Attraction Strategy (e.g. the Welcome portal site, and the Qualicum Beach Digital Media Studio as an attraction asset), and Town Corporate Communication Plan;
  • Working in partnership with School District 69 in the optimization of our educational facilities as centres for learning, family and social services;
  • The Town's participation in economic recovery opportunities, such as Oceanside Initiatives, and investment in the Qualicum Beach Airport; and
  • The encouragement of infill in the downtown area, and increased opportunities for a mix of housing options, including affordable housing (E.g. the Kiwanis Housing Project, and the expansion of the Secondary Suites program).
• Council's 2012-2014 Corporate Strategic Plan can be accessed at the Town Hall counter or through the Town's website www.qualicumbeach.com

Contacts:

Patricia Huntsman
Cultural Development and Communications, Town of Qualicum Beach
(Town Hall) 1.250.752.6921 ext. 312 or (mobile) 250.739.8998
[email protected]