TAMRMS#: B06
6.1
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability Policy Update Approach
Presented by: Darija Slokar, Manager, Strategic Services
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
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That Standing Committee of the Whole recommend to Council that the proposed approach to assess the Vision and Pillars of Sustainability Policy (C-CG-11) outlined in the agenda report dated October 8, 2024 be approved.
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SUMMARY
The Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability (Policy C-CG-11) were established in 2015 to provide a single, shared community vision and set of sustainability pillars to govern, align and conform all strategic and business planning and decision-making efforts across the City. As per the Policy, approved in 2016, the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability are assessed every 10 years to ensure they continue to reflect the community's desires. This report presents the proposed approach to assess the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability for Council’s input and endorsement.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
Council Policy C-CG-11 Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability.
Service Standards/Expectations
4. To ensure that the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability continue
to reflect the desires of the community, it will be assessed every 10 years.
5. Future changes to the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability should
be taken back to the community for collaborative consultation as per the
Public Engagement Policy.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability (Policy C-CG-11) were developed in 2015/16 by a special Council Committee consisting of members of Council, residents, and Administration, and with input from over 7,000 residents received through a survey, in-person participation opportunities and videos that highlighted how residents and some of the community stakeholders see the community in the future.
The Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability were established to provide a single, shared community vision and set of sustainability pillars to govern, align and conform all strategic and business planning and decision-making efforts across the City. The Community Vision outlines an inspirational future state and quality of life that the community aspires to, and the Pillars of Sustainability are the key areas that need to be supported to provide strength and balance to the community.
Following the approval of Council Policy C-CG-11, Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability, the City of St. Albert Strategic Framework Policy C-CG-06 was updated to establish a formalized, systems approach to inform and align the City’s strategic and business plans, delivery of services and budget to the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability.
The Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability are reviewed and adopted by each Council as their Vision for the Community and used to inform Council’s 4-year Strategic Plan to ensure proper alignment with the desired community's future state (Policy C-CG-02, City of St. Albert Council Strategic Plan). The Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability were also used to inform the updated Municipal Development Plan and are used when developing Long-Range Strategies. This approach helps ensure that all plans and delivery of services align with the Vision and Pillars of Sustainability - the community’s desired future for the City.
As per the Policy Standard, the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability are to be assessed every 10 years to ensure they continue to reflect the community's desires.
This report outlines a proposed approach to assess the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability for Council’s input and endorsement.
Proposed Approach
Administration would organize facilitated sessions with Council’s Committees to obtain input required to assess the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability and ensure that they continue to reflect the community’s desires for the future of St. Albert. These sessions would take place in early 2025 with the following Committees, to identify any updates required:
1. Arts Development Advisory Committee
2. Community Services Advisory Committee
3. Environmental Advisory Committee
4. Internal Audit Steering Committee
5. Senior’s Advisory Committee
6. Policing Committee
7. Youth Advisory Committee
8. Library Board.
In addition, Council and Administration would provide input to help inform the updates to the Policy.
Based on the input received, Administration would bring recommended updates to Council by the end of Q2 2025 for the approval. This approach would not require additional public participation opportunities if minor updates are required.
This approach will help ensure that the updated Policy is available for the new Council to inform their Strategic Plan in 2026.
If input from the Committees indicates that more significant updates are required, Administration would prepare a Public Participation Plan for 2026 for Council’s consideration and approval as part of the 2026 budget. The plan would include scope and scale for public participation, as well as the budget and resources required to complete proposed activities in 2026. This approach would provide opportunities for the community to provide input into recommended changes to the Policy before Council’s approval.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
The purpose of this report is to outline the proposed approach for stakeholder engagement.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
The facilitated sessions with the Council’s committees will be conducted with existing resources and the public engagement consultant if required. Should a budget be required, the Administration would use the budget approved for the Strategic Framework.
Compliance & Legal:
The proposed approach helps mitigate the potential risk of not complying with the standard stated in the Council Policy C-CG-11, Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability to assess the Vision and Pillars of sustainability every 10 years.
Program or Service:
None at this time.
Organizational:
Resources will be scheduled in 2025 to complete the engagement plan. Bringing this item forward at this time will help ensure that activities are prioritized in 2025 for resources that will be assigned to complete this work.
Risks
Strategic Risk - Assessing and updating the Community Vision and Pillars of sustainability will help mitigate the potential risk of long-term plans and Council’s Strategic Plan not aligning with the community’s desired future state for the community.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
As per Policy C-CG-02, City of St. Albert Council Strategic Plan and Policy C-CG-06, City of St. Albert Strategic Framework, Council’s Strategic Plan shall be informed by and aligned with the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability.
ALIGNMENT TO SERVICE DELIVERY
Strategic and Long-Term Planning - Support alignment of the organization towards the strategic and long-term direction from the community, Council, and Executive Leadership. Facilitate the development of Council’s Strategic Plan and steward the plan on behalf of Council. Steward the long-term planning process and the development of long-term plans. Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability are assessed every 10 years.
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
If Standing Committee of the Whole does not want to proceed with the recommended motion, the following alternative could be considered:
ALTERNATIVE 1: That Standing Committee of the Whole recommend that Council direct Administration to prepare a detailed Public Participation Plan along with the resource and budget requirement as part of the 2026 budget, to provide community opportunities to review recommended changes and provide input before the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability are updated and approved by Council.
The main difference with this approach is that public participation opportunities would be provided regardless of the updates required and timing would be aligned with when the Policy is scheduled to be updated (2026). This approach may still include consultation with Council’s Committees to identify and/or validate potential updates.
Financial:
Should the alternative recommendation be approved, Administration would require additional funding for public participation in 2026. Based on the scale and scope, as per Council’s direction, Administration would prepare a business case for 2026 budget for Council’s approval before proceeding.
Compliance & Legal:
The alternative approach would also be in alignment with Council’s policy. The proposed approach helps mitigate the potential risk of not complying with the standard stated in the Council Policy C-CG-11, Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability to assess the Vision and Pillars of sustainability every 10 years.
Program or Service:
None at this time.
Organizational:
Dedicated resources would be required to prepare a Public Participation Plan, and a business case for Council’s consideration and to execute the plan. Based on the scope and scale of public participation, additional resources may be required to conduct planned activities. Other initiatives and services may need to be re-prioritized to ensure adequate resources are available in 2026 to conduct public participation activities.
Risks
Strategic Risk - Assessing and updating the Community Vision and Pillars of sustainability will help mitigate the potential risk of long-term plans and Council’s Strategic Plan not aligning with the community’s desired future state for the community.
More significant changes to the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability after only 10 years may result in a need to make more significant changes to the existing strategic and business plans and services and service levels to ensure alignment with any updates to the Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability.
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Report Date: October 8, 2024
Author(s): Darija Slokar, Manager, Strategic Services
Department: Financial and Strategic Services
Department Director: Anne Victoor
Managing Director: Diane McMordie
Chief Administrative Officer: Bill Fletcher