The Town of Innisfil has a new set of principles to follow as it looks ahead to the remainder of the decade.
Council approved an update to the town’s strategic plan at its regular meeting Nov. 8. The plan is broken down into four priorities that will guide council decision-making and priority-setting throughout the remainder of this term and the one that will follow, and give staff the knowledge on how their work relates to the town’s overall goals.
The four priorities are:
- Grow
- Sustain
- Connect
- Serve
With Innisfil on a trajectory for growth and having a mostly new crop of councillors, the time was right to update the strategic plan, which was developed in consultation with council members, town staff and residents, the municipality stated in a news release.
“This plan will guide us in our efforts to preserve our past, build for the future, and serve the residents and businesses of Innisfil as effectively as we can,” said Mayor Lynn Dollin in the release. “As a growing community, this plan will help us to meet the challenges that growth presents and take advantage of its opportunities. I know I can speak for all members of council in saying that we are excited about this plan and are committed to making it happen.”
Stacy Hushon, of StrategyCorp, told councillors that the power of a strategic plan is that it can be a unifying document that pulls everyone in the same direction. But these typically exist on a spectrum, she said, and if Innisfil’s is to be successful, it can’t be too vast.
"(It) needs to be strategic,” she said. “Some are so fluffy and high level that there isn’t really anything to implement.”
It can’t be a “laundry list” of everything council feels it must do over the course of a term, she added, but rather “distills the broad strategic directions” and appreciation for the community in the future.
“We’re very focused on delivering a plan that you can actually implement versus (one that) sits on a shelf,” Hushon said.
To implement the plan, staff will develop key performance indicators to measure the progress accomplished, and implement several actions to support accountability, including annual monitoring, communications and periodic reviews.
Hushon said her organization found council and staff work well together and remain committed to working collaboratively to serve the community. That will be essential as the town continues to grow and is required to proactively plan for meeting the needs of the new members of the community, including working with and leveraging the resources of other municipalities and upper tiers of government.
Perhaps most importantly, StrategyCorp’s research found that Innisfil is on the right track.
“It is a welcoming and growing community, celebrated for its unique urban/rural mix and focus on innovation and ‘doing things differently,’” the presentation introducing the plan stated.
That was music to Dollin’s ears.
“Hearing that we’re on the right track from a company like StrategyCorp is very reassuring (because) they do hundreds of these strategic plans all over,” she said. “I also feel confident looking at the number of initiatives that are already underway. I feel confident that it’s achievable. It’s not a pie-in-the-sky plan and I hope each member of council can see their words on these pages.”
Strategic Plan at a glance
The guiding values of the plan were outlined in a revised vision statement for the town: “Community First. Future Ready. Balance Always.”
A new mission statement was also developed: “Together, we are a unique and innovative community, strengthened by an inclusive population, and unified by the belief that there is no greater place to call home.”
Each of the four priorities is further broken down into subsections for additional refinement:
Grow
- Proactively plan and manage growth
- Promote a diversity of housing types
- Build and diversify the local economy
Sustain
- Protect and preserve Innisfil’s natural heritage and Lake Simcoe
- Advance climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives
- Ensure continued financial sustainability
Connect
- Enhance communication and civic engagement
- Ensure a safe and reliable transportation network
- Support a healthy, active and safe community
- Continue to engage in advocacy and partnerships to deliver on community priorities
Serve
- Focus on continuous improvement in service delivery
- Build organizational resilience
- Establish the town as a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion
