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Strategic Plan

Background

Municipal strategic plans are long range priority setting documents, typically spanning ten-to-twenty-year time frames. They reflect community priorities and help identify and guide decision making over extended periods as communities evolve and develop.

Typically, as each term of Council begins, plans are refined or refreshed and Council sets priorities working within the general framework of the existing plan. The base plan is used as a starting framework and an iterative approach is used. Individual action priorities are also set reflecting the current Council’s priorities.

Strategic Plan 2019 - 2022

The 2019 - 2022 Port Hope Strategic plan was created in 2019, following community engagement with a variety of stakeholders and has served the community well. It, too, was built upon the Municipality’s prior strategic planning efforts.

Recognizing that community engagement is a key element of Council’s decision-making process, the development of the Strategic Plan advanced in a way that offered multiple opportunities for public participation and was reviewed on a yearly basis, in an open meeting of Council, to measure successes, and provide updates and further opportunities for community engagement.

The priorities identified in the 2019 - 2022 Strategic Plan are:

  • Infrastructure Sustainability
  • Waterfront and Riverwalk Enhancement
  • Intentional Growth Planning
  • Multi-generational Community Opportunities
  • Affordable Housing
  • Corporate Efficiencies

Strategic Plan Update

In January 2023, the current Council held an open meeting with senior staff and an external consultant to review feedback they heard during the campaign period, one of the broadest forms of community engagement. Several common themes emerged including Housing, Economic Development, By-Law and Governance and Climate/Sustainability. Although the terms might be different from the original version of the plan, many of the items are reflective of the intent of the original version and significant cross-over exists.

The consultant was asked to blend the two priority lists together, where appropriate, to create a draft strategic plan to begin community engagement. Six pillars emerged from this process:

  • More Homes
  • Strong Local Economy
  • Welcoming and Livable Community
  • Healthy Natural Environment
  • Safe and Well-Maintained Infrastructure
  • Good Governance

To update the Strategic Plan, the idea is to build on the current plan and take an iterative approach that reinforces the community priorities already established.

Public Engagement

The purpose of the next phase of work is to contribute to creating a refined Strategic Plan 2023 - 2027 document. Please review the updated priorities and corresponding goal statements and provide your feedback in the survey below by May 15, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

Additional engagement opportunities will be taking place in the community. Watch for pop-up events in high traffic areas such as our recreation facilities and downtown locations and libraries.

Your feedback will be shared with staff and Council and help to shape the Municipality’s next Strategic Plan.

Updated Strategic Priorities

The following Strategic Priorities and corresponding goal statements have been drafted for discussion and consideration.

PriorityGoal Statement
More HomesTake action to address the urgent need for more housing options for residents of all ages and incomes.
Strong Local EconomyLeverage our competitive advantages to facilitate business growth and attract new local jobs.
Welcoming & Livable CommunityPursue community projects and partnerships that enhance sense of belonging, improve happiness and ensure a high quality of life.
Healthy Natural EnvironmentContinually strive to protect, conserve and enhance our natural environment while enhancing our capacity to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Safe & Well Maintained InfrastructureEmbrace best practices in asset management to continuously maintain and improve our municipal infrastructure assets contributing to long-term sustainability.
Good Government Provide friendly, responsive, and citizen-focused services encouraging meaningful community engagement and demonstrating transparent decision-making, and provide a safe, inclusive and exceptional working environment for Staff and Council.


Background

Municipal strategic plans are long range priority setting documents, typically spanning ten-to-twenty-year time frames. They reflect community priorities and help identify and guide decision making over extended periods as communities evolve and develop.

Typically, as each term of Council begins, plans are refined or refreshed and Council sets priorities working within the general framework of the existing plan. The base plan is used as a starting framework and an iterative approach is used. Individual action priorities are also set reflecting the current Council’s priorities.

Strategic Plan 2019 - 2022

The 2019 - 2022 Port Hope Strategic plan was created in 2019, following community engagement with a variety of stakeholders and has served the community well. It, too, was built upon the Municipality’s prior strategic planning efforts.

Recognizing that community engagement is a key element of Council’s decision-making process, the development of the Strategic Plan advanced in a way that offered multiple opportunities for public participation and was reviewed on a yearly basis, in an open meeting of Council, to measure successes, and provide updates and further opportunities for community engagement.

The priorities identified in the 2019 - 2022 Strategic Plan are:

  • Infrastructure Sustainability
  • Waterfront and Riverwalk Enhancement
  • Intentional Growth Planning
  • Multi-generational Community Opportunities
  • Affordable Housing
  • Corporate Efficiencies

Strategic Plan Update

In January 2023, the current Council held an open meeting with senior staff and an external consultant to review feedback they heard during the campaign period, one of the broadest forms of community engagement. Several common themes emerged including Housing, Economic Development, By-Law and Governance and Climate/Sustainability. Although the terms might be different from the original version of the plan, many of the items are reflective of the intent of the original version and significant cross-over exists.

The consultant was asked to blend the two priority lists together, where appropriate, to create a draft strategic plan to begin community engagement. Six pillars emerged from this process:

  • More Homes
  • Strong Local Economy
  • Welcoming and Livable Community
  • Healthy Natural Environment
  • Safe and Well-Maintained Infrastructure
  • Good Governance

To update the Strategic Plan, the idea is to build on the current plan and take an iterative approach that reinforces the community priorities already established.

Public Engagement

The purpose of the next phase of work is to contribute to creating a refined Strategic Plan 2023 - 2027 document. Please review the updated priorities and corresponding goal statements and provide your feedback in the survey below by May 15, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

Additional engagement opportunities will be taking place in the community. Watch for pop-up events in high traffic areas such as our recreation facilities and downtown locations and libraries.

Your feedback will be shared with staff and Council and help to shape the Municipality’s next Strategic Plan.

Updated Strategic Priorities

The following Strategic Priorities and corresponding goal statements have been drafted for discussion and consideration.

PriorityGoal Statement
More HomesTake action to address the urgent need for more housing options for residents of all ages and incomes.
Strong Local EconomyLeverage our competitive advantages to facilitate business growth and attract new local jobs.
Welcoming & Livable CommunityPursue community projects and partnerships that enhance sense of belonging, improve happiness and ensure a high quality of life.
Healthy Natural EnvironmentContinually strive to protect, conserve and enhance our natural environment while enhancing our capacity to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Safe & Well Maintained InfrastructureEmbrace best practices in asset management to continuously maintain and improve our municipal infrastructure assets contributing to long-term sustainability.
Good Government Provide friendly, responsive, and citizen-focused services encouraging meaningful community engagement and demonstrating transparent decision-making, and provide a safe, inclusive and exceptional working environment for Staff and Council.


  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Strategic Plan Survey

    Please review all information on this project page. After you have reviewed this information, you may provide your feedback by completing this survey. Your comments will be circulated to staff and Council.   

    Notice of Collection:

    Personal information collected under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) will be used for reviewing the Procedural By-law and will not be used or disclosed for other purposes without consent or as required by law. The information will be retained in accordance with retention policies under By-law 30/2017. Any personal information such as name and address included in a submission from the public may become part of the public record. Questions regarding the collection, use and disclosure of information should be directed to the Municipality’s Records and Information Management Coordinator at 905.885.4544 x.2200.

Page last updated: 03 Aug 2023, 09:55 AM