Top Priorities for Guelph
Following an extensive public strategic planning process, City Council and staff engaged in a priority setting exercise to determine exactly where our efforts should be focused. Our top priorities are listed below
- Organics Facility
- Community Energy Plan
- Growth Management Plan
- 20 minute transit service
- York District Lands
- Downtown Action Plan
- Waste Management Plan
- Urban Forest Strategy
- City/County service agreements
Organics facility
Achievements to Date:
• Pre-qualifying tender released
• Presentations to Council and public
• Evaluation criteria established
• Request for proposals this month
Goals:
• Operational in 2009
• Get diversion back to 60%
Community Energy Plan
Achievements to Date:
• UG integrated energy master plan
• 1st LEED Platinum home in Canada
• Volunteers deliver 40,000 CFLs
• Energy Efficiency Manager
• Wastewater Treatment Facility co-generation facility to use biogas
25 year goals:
• 50% less energy
• 60% less GHG
• Affordable energy supply
• Attract investment
• Reduce city costs
Growth Management Plan
Achievements to Date:
• Background studies
• Extensive public consultation
• Preferred growth scenario by Spring 2008
Goals:
All work completed June 2009
Sustainable growth over next 25 years
20-minute transit service
Achievements to Date:
Among Ontario cities with a population of 50,000 - 150,000
#1 in ridership
#1 in efficiency (cost per trip)
#2 in effectiveness (trips per capita)
Goals:
Service established in 2008
York District Lands
Achievements to Date:
• Phase 3 launched
• Minister’s commitment
25 Year Goals:
Employment
Education
Environment
Energy Excellence
Downtown Action Plan
Achievements to Date:
• New City Hall (2008)
• Baker Street (construction in 2009)
– main library, public parking, & mixed commercial, office and residential uses
• Carden Street Precinct Study (2008)
• Transit hub (construction in 2009)
• Parking strategy (2008)
Goals:
Maximize redevelopment opportunities
Waste Management Master Plan
• 60% diversion (with organics facility & new technology to clean glass stream)
• Beyond Wet-Dry Plus
Goals:
Completed 2008
New diversion target set
Urban Forest Master Plan
Achievements to Date:
• Framework approved
• Direction to proceed with RFP
Goals:
Master plan completed early 2009
Highest tree canopy percentage among comparable municipalities
County/City Service Agreements
• 25% of city’s budget
• Facilitated process underway
Goal:
Renewed agreements for 2008
February 15th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Wow. Nothing about a youth shelter, affordable housing or poverty, but we’re going to have a great tree canopy to shelter those who can’t find homes. And are you serious that we’re getting a new parking garage downtown? Am I the only person who never has trouble finding parking when I venture there?
February 18th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
A very good point.
Up until the most recent discussions with the County around the whole Change Now debacle, the City of Guelph playes a very small role in the provision of social services.
As it stands today (and this may change depending upon the outcome of these discussions) the City of Guelph pays the County of Wellington for our share of the cost of providing affordable housing and shelters. At this point, the County delivers social services in Guelph.
The strategic planning process identified only issues that are under the direct control of the City of Guelph explaining why these important issues appear to be overlooked.
Personally, I don’t fully understand the history / context of our agreements with the County however it seems to me that unless there are clear benefits to partnering with the County we should be taking a stronger leadership role in this area.
As for Baker Street… the inclusion/maintenance of parking spaces is a very small component of a much larger residential, commercial, institutional redevelopment of the existing Baker Street parking lot.