Staff Report: Strategic Planning Process – 2017

Staff Report: Strategic Planning Process - 2017

To

Council

Date

November 21, 2016

Department

Administration

Subject

Strategic Planning Process - 2017

Background

The City of Langford was incorporated in 1992. Over the past 24 years significant changes have been seen within the Community. The Community has grown from a small semi-rural community with few amenities to a rapidly growing Community with a vibrant urban core, strong commercial sector and numerous recreational and cultural amenities. Much of the success that has been achieved in Langford over the past two decades can be attributed to the vision and actions taken by both past and present Councils to turn their vision into reality.

Although Council of the City of Langford has always had a strong vision for the Community and has established goals, objectives, budgets and taken action to achieve its vision, a formal written strategic plan has never been established. This report is written to seek direction from Council as to whether it wishes to include resources in its 2017 budget to develop a formal strategic plan.

As Council is aware, a strategic plan is a long term plan of action established to achieve a desired objective. The process in developing a strategic plan involves defining a mission, establishing goals and objectives and creating strategies and allocating resources to attain those goals and objectives. It should be noted that although a strategic plan establishes the long term vision for the Community, the plan should not be considered a static document but one that is flexible and evolves with the Community.

For a strategic plan to be of value it must be developed and fully supported by the leaders responsible for the plan (Council) to ensure that it matches their vision of the Community. As well, to be effective a plan must take into consideration the realities of the current situation within the organization as well as the whole Community.

To create a meaningful strategic plan requires a significant commitment of time and resources from the whole organization. In discussing strategic planning with those involved in the business of developing them, they have advised that the biggest hurdle to overcome creating and implementing a successful plan is to ensure that those involved in its development commit the time to the process of developing the plan and a commitment to the plan once adopted.

As stated previously Council has since incorporation, although not formally, been strategically working at creating a vision for the Community and dedicating the resources required to fulfill that vision. To date this approach has, for the most part, been very successful. A formal strategic plan developed and supported by Council can be a valuable guide and communication tool for the Community, as it formalizes, in a written document, the vision, goals and actions plans for the Community, as seen by Council.

Financial Implications

The City does not have the resources available to coordinate the creation of a strategic plan so it would need to hire a consultant to guide the process and prepare the plan. Costs of developing a plan can vary but staff anticipate the costs associated with developing a comprehensive strategic plan would be $50,000 - $70,000 dollars.

Recommendation

Council’s direction is sought.

Respectfully Submitted

• Submitted by:
  Jim Bowden, CAO

• Concurrence:
  Matthew Baldwin, MCIP, RPP Director of Planning

• Concurrence:
  Bob Beckett, Fire Chief

• Concurrence:
  Michelle Mahovlich, P.Eng, P.Geo, Director of Engineering

• Concurrence:
  Steve Ternent, Director of Finance