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Council's Strategic Priorities

Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury:

Vision, Mission and Objectives

Bradford West Gwillimbury will be a complete and healthy community where there are opportunities for everyone to contribute and to benefit.

The Corporation of the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury strives for service excellence to create and facilitate opportunities to support the ambitions of residents and businesses.

The Town’s mission will be achieved through the following objectives…

• Enhancing recreational and cultural programs and services
• Promoting economic development opportunities
• Strengthening financial and operational performance
• Easing traffic congestion
• Improving the attractiveness of our Town
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So Far… For the 2007/2008 year, Town Council developed ten strategic actions to help implement the Town’s overall objectives. Overall, Council made significant progress. The following are samples of Council’s successes:

• Implemented senior management structure
  
  The Town hired Tom Graham, Director of Leisure Services, Debbie Korolnek, Director of Engineering Services, and Geoff McKnight, Director of Development Services. Senior management is vital to the Town’s success; leaders with knowledge and experience are necessary to steer current and future growth and development projects, and are needed to manage the demand for new services.

Tom Graham	Debbie Korolnek	Geoff McKnight

• Completed the economic development strategy
  
  In October 2008, Council approved the economic development strategy prepared by the Economic Development Advisory Committee. The strategy includes important priorities and specific work plans and targets to achieve those priorities. Says Michael Disano, Manager of Economic Development, “This strategy will get BWG on the map. There will be more local jobs and thus greater opportunities to live and work in BWG.”
  Click here to download the Economic Development Strategy.

• Developed a strategy for the long-term viability of the Holland Marsh
  
  The Holland Marsh has seen a lot of activity in the past two years. A Drainage Board was established to maintain the health of the Holland Marsh drainage system, and to plan any future development for the Holland Marsh and tackle any possible environmental issues. In terms of the canal reconstruction, the Board was successful in applying for and receiving a $10.2 million grant from the Ministry of Infrastructure Investment Initiative (MIII). Without this grant, the reconstruction would not have been feasible.

• Developed an action plan for the multi-use recreation complex
  
  Bringing a recreation complex to Bradford West Gwillimbury has been on the horizon for many years. In 2008, Council brought the opportunity to our doorstep. The Town retained project management and architectural services, and developed a building program and supporting financial plan. It was also agreed upon to include the library as part of the Town’s municipal administration complex. Of equal importance, the Town applied for and was granted provincial funding for the project.

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Coming Up…For 2009/2010, your Town Council has recommended the implementation of 15 strategic actions to support BWG’s ongoing objectives. Seven represent actions contained in the existing Strategic Plan and eight represent new priorities based on discussion of key areas of strategic importance.

• Upgrade service levels and standards for parks and recreation facilities
  - A lot of good work has been undertaken during the past year (e.g. fixing up fences, swings, playing fields)
  - Service levels and standards will be both qualitative and quantitative and should also address park safety
  - Once the service levels and standards have been developed, it will be important to determine costs and budget implications
  
• Formalize a corporate communications program
  - More information about the Town and its areas of responsibility/activities should be included in the Town’s Leisure Services guide which is distributed to all households twice a year
  - Efforts should be taken to review/improve advertising about the Town and consideration given to a newsletter
  
• Prepare a financial plan for the new Town Hall/library
  - Need to develop a financial plan including a strategy for the disposal of existing facilities
  - Also important to have a plan in the event that grant monies become available for the library component of the complex
  
• Improve downtown parking and signage
  - improved enforcement of the Town’s parking bylaw may improve the parking situation
  
• Explore feasibility of an urban forestry program
  - Director of Leisure Services, Director of Engineering Services and Director of Development Services to review the current situation in 2009 and to develop a proposed program for consideration by Council in 2010
  
• Develop a coordinated strategy for the downtown core
  - Downtown is currently a key priority in the Town’s economic development strategy
  - Consultants will be hired in 2009 to develop a strategy for Council review in 2010
  
• Undertake a feasibility study for the soccer dome
  - There have been preliminary meetings with individuals and community organizations involved in soccer in the Town
  - Important priority for immediate attention recognizing the current interest and involvement in soccer by many families and the need for additional playing fields
  
• Complete a trails master plan
  - Consultant has been retained and plan will be completed in 2009
  
• Develop a master plan for the Henderson property
  - This is a longer term strategy likely to get underway in 2010
  
• Develop 5-year capital and operating budgets
  - Five-year capital plan to be developed in 2009 with the 5-year operating plan to follow in subsequent years
  
• Prepare a corporate-wide asset management plan
  - An inventory of the Town’s assets has been completed through the provincially mandated Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) requirements
  - The plan is expected to be developed in 2010 and beyond
  
• Develop a fire master plan
  - As the Town grows, there is a need to review whether the current fire service is able to meet the demand for service (e.g. OPA 16 will result in new development in the Town that will require fire protection service)
  - Also interest in reviewing the feasibility of providing 24/7 service
  - Expect the fire master plan to be undertaken in 2010
  
• Undertake a feasibility study for an Operations Centre to support the work of Leisure Services and Engineering Services
  - The barn on the Henderson property may provide some short-term storage
  - A plan of what is required will be developed by the end of this term of Council in 2010
  
• Intensely lobby the Province to accelerate the timetable of the 400/404 bypass
  - This is an ongoing initiative that will continue
  
• Identify community health care and social service needs of the Town’s growing population
  - Council is committed to better understanding and responding to the community as it grows and changes

If you have a concern that you feel is not being met in the above mentioned priorities, please contact Jay Currier, Town Manager.