(Red Deer city council Nov. 7 meeting agenda p. 6)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Thriving city, health & wellbeing, engage

Red Deer city council approves 2023-2026 Strategic Plan

Nov 7, 2022 | 5:12 PM

Red Deer city council approved their 2023-2026 Strategic Plan on Monday, outlining their priorities and direction for administration during the course of their term.

On Nov. 7, council discussed and approved the three vision statements of “Innovative Thinking; Strategic Results; Vibrant Community” in the plan.

The key principles that will guide The City’s work include respect, new ways of doing, future-focused, citizen-centric service and financial sustainability. The plan also includes three focus areas with outcomes to be achieved by 2026:

1. Thriving City: A thriving local economy, driven by a healthy business community and vibrant downtown is paramount, while continuing to protect and enhance the environment.
2. Community Health and Wellbeing: Red Deerians have said in the public participation that they cherish the spaces, places and year-round experiences Red Deer offers to promote physical, mental, and social wellbeing and are proud of the welcoming and inclusive city they call home.
3. Connected and Engaged City: Council says they plan to engage with citizens in ways that build strong, respectful, and collaborative relationships. Citizens reported in the public participation that they feel valued and included in decisions about their city.

“We are proud of our innovative and collaborative approach to developing the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan. This plan is truly the result of good process and listening to citizens who contributed through the Shape your Red Deer public participation that took place this spring,” said Mayor Ken Johnston. “Our plan is a blueprint for the important work The City of Red Deer undertakes for the benefit of the entire community. This visioning allows us to make decisions that are not only right for our citizens today, but for years to come so we can become the community we all aspire to be.”

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The “What we Heard Report” from the Shape your Red Deer gained participation by over 1,600 people from April to June 2022, including 1,181 members of the public and 483 staff members. The City states targeted activities were also held for newcomers, the Indigenous community, seniors, people with lived experience, youth and the business community.

The report also discussed briefly Vision 2040 for the City, with respondents citing more nature, community events and downtown as their priorities. It is still under development and will be presented to council and the community in early 2023.

“The strategic planning process doesn’t end once developed and adopted by council. Each department and division will be aligning their service delivery to the Strategic Plan,” said Tara Lodewyk, City Manager. “We will regularly report on our progress towards achieving each outcome in public and visible ways.”

Councillor Vesna Higham added that while the Plan doesn’t specifically address certain issues brought forward by residents, they are still being considered.

“I want to assure our community that while this section doesn’t speak specifically to some of the crime and social disorder challenges that we have faced as a community over the past number of years, please know that this council and administration are well aware and that these issues are top of mind for council and administration and that addressing these issues are woven throughout the outcomes,” she said.

The development process of the Strategic Plan begins every four years, following the municipal election and sets the direction for the organization for the duration of a council’s term. Once approved, the Strategic Plan provides the foundation for many of The City’s decisions, including financial resource allocation through the upcoming budget process.

To read more about the Strategic Plan, including previous plans, and how public engagement shaped the plan visit www.reddeer.ca/strategicplan.