City Council's Strategic Plan for 2002/2003
Table of Contents for this page:
Preface
This page describes the Strategic Plan of the Grande Prairie City Council for 2002/2003. It contains a Mission Statement, Operating Philosophy, a Vision Statement, Focus Areas, Goals and Objectives, and includes greetings from the Mayor of the City.
From our mini photo gallery in the Economic Development section: a picture of members of Council 1999-2001, the College Buildings with Footbridge. (30 Kb). Or see an Overview of the Photo Gallery (90 Kb), or its Summary of Thumbnail Indexes.
For further information, e-mail us directly from your forms-capable browser.
Other e-mail and contact information may be found below.
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
MISSION Statement
Helping to make Grande Prairie 'THE GREATEST PLACE TO BE'
by providing, supporting or facilitating municipal services that meet community needs and enhance quality of life for all:
· guiding planning and development initiatives to achieve an aesthetically pleasing city that is safe, practical and economically viable
· ensuring modern, efficient infrastructure to respond to the challenges of growth and economic diversification
· providing safe, convenient, innovative and efficient transportation and public transit services
· providing essential safety and security services to protect our citizens and their property - balancing prevention and emergency response
· supporting the development of parks, recreation and cultural facilities and opportunities - in partnership with community organizations
· coordinating environmental health initiatives and services - environmental stewardship
· supporting the provision of social services to better the physical, mental, social and emotional lives of our people
· striving for fairness and equity in the delivery of our services
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
Operating PHILOSOPHY
Our efforts are guided by a commitment to:
- fiscal responsibility - using our assets to the highest and best use and responsible debt management
- community development - working with and through our community partners wherever possible to encourage self-reliance and empowerment
- guiding beliefs - by being a customer responsive organization that strives to be the best it can through continuously improving. We value CO-OPERATION, INTEGRITY, FLEXIBILITY, provision of quality service by CARING employees in a FUN atmosphere.
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
A VISION of Grande Prairie's Future
Our quality of life is envied throughout Western Canada - a magnet to continued growth and prosperity. Grande Prairie is the regional service centre and hub for North Western Alberta and the North - for trade, transportation, health, emergency services, education, recreation culture, social services and government services. Our Council is proactive. Together, we are creating a model leading northern city - colourful, clean and beautiful in all seasons, and competitive within our Region, Province and Nation. Community initiative and mature partnerships among preventive and emergency services are earning us our reputation as a safe city. CyberCity is positioning Grande Prairie firmly on the information highway
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
Focus Area 1 - LEADING NORTHWESTERN CENTRE:
Description:
The City of Grande Prairie is the Leading Northwestern Centre for Northwestern Alberta and the North. An estimated trading population of 175,000 plus is beginning to realize its full potential. The strong, diverse economy is bolstered by a variety of sectors including the forest industry, agriculture, oil and gas, manufacturing, housing and the commercial and entertainment industries. Grande Prairie is able to capitalize on the Alberta Advantage of lower tax rates and no provincial sales tax.
The Grande Prairie Regional Airport, our Regional College, the Regional Health Authority with its impressive Queen Elizabeth II hospital, Social Service facilities and agencies that have a strong regional focus such as the Northern Addictions Centre, Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Medical Services, Centre 2000, and the Grande Prairie Regional Agriculture Society, all add to the Northern Regional Centre concept.
City Council intends to enhance and reinforce our Northern Regional Centre by facilitating and stimulating discussions around such diverse topics as: improved transportation links, both land and air based, tourism, economic development activities, partnership opportunities with other municipalities, and activities designed to enhance further growth to our trading and entertainment area.
The Provincial and Federal Governments play a significant role in our community and Council intends to push for stronger senior governmental ties.
Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
Goals relating to Focus Area 1 - Leading Northwestern Center:
GOAL: To facilitate the improvement of transportation links which focus on Grande Prairie as the hub for airport, bus scheduling, distribution, highway and rail access.
GOAL: To support initiatives to maintain and improve Grande Prairie as a trading, service, recreational, entertainment, health care and education centre.
- Objectives:
- To facilitate initiatives to create a distinctive community where people can shop, do business, access a variety of services and professionals, and participate in recreational and entertainment activities.
- To stimulate and participate in opportunities to market and profile our community.
- To work with the community to attract sports and entertainment, cultural and trading activities.
- To encourage initiatives that enhance the regional role of health care and educational activities in our community.
- To enhance local/regional collaboration and improve the inter-regional competitive advantage.
- To continue with the process for transition to a new City Hall
GOAL: To enhance the regional nature of the City by promoting a strong Federal and Provincial Government presence in Grande Prairie and to raise the visibility of Grande Prairie within other levels of government.
- Objectives:
- To raise awareness of appropriate representatives of other levels of government as to the viability of Grande Prairie as a Regional Centre for other senior government agencies and services.
- To meet annually with our MLS'a and MP
GOAL: To develop innovative partnerships with other regional organizations, working cooperatively to enhance regional initiatives.
- Objectives:
- To create synergy and alignment on regional initiatives City Council will host a meeting annually with a variety of groups such as; Grande Prairie Regional College, School Districts, Mistahia Regional Health Authority, and Neighboring Municipal Councils
- To achieve a working partnership with the County of Grande Prairie for the delivery of regional services.
GOAL: To continue to promote Grande Prairie as a visitor destination stop.
- Objective:
- To partner in the operation of Centre 2000 with the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce, community groups and the private sector.
- To work with the local hospitality and tourism industries to promote Grande Prairie as a tourism destination.
GOAL: To support a continuous learning community through an increasing emphasis on training in the City's corporate budget and shared opportunities with educational institutions.
- Objective:
- To progressively increase the training budget of the City of Grande Prairie for staff and council professional development
- To develop the Community Knowledge Campus in partnership with local school boards.
- To actively partner with community organizations or institutions to develop increased access to higher levels of educational opportunities locally.
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
Focus Area 2 - FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:
Description:
The City of Grande Prairie intends to maintain its role as being fiscally responsible. We have pursued an aggressive course of debt reduction and sound financial management for the past ten years. Capital projects have been funded on a pay-as-you-go basis while the City has become very efficient in its operations to obtain this level of fiscal responsibility. Having said this, the realities of becoming a Northern Regional Centre have placed tremendous pressure upon the infrastructure and facilities to the point where serious examinations must be undertaken to balance need with ability to pay. In other words, assessment growth is not matching the needs of our growing regional centre.
Part of the realities of being fiscally responsible is that various needs are fulfilled on a delayed or at best, on a "just in time" basis. This approach creates problems as the tendency to defer maintenance items exists. Our population growth, changing demographics and the realities of the regional draw are also putting pressure upon our safety and security services and subsequent financial requirements. While the City's debt management policy has been successful and the City's ultimate goal of being debt free one day is very admirable, the current realities suggest we must review our current debt policies. These realities are further reinforced by insufficient provincial grants, which are not likely to improve in the near future.
What remains is for a serious look at our ability to fiscally support our growth. We must balance our desire to keep taxes fair and meet the demands being created by today's reality. An equitable approach to assessment and revenue sharing is our aim.
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
Goals relating to Focus Area 2 - Fiscal Responsibility:
GOAL: To develop a variety of financial indicators to measure outcomes (results).
- Objectives:
- To complete a demographic profile (both historical and forecasting) on the City for use in our planning process.
- To seek out and establish award-winning best practices in local government.
- To establish a process to deal with shifting priorities resulting in budget adjustments.
- To ensure financial information and updates are provided to Council in a timely manner.
GOAL: To lobby the Province to ensure appropriate financial roles and responsibilities of the Province versus municipalities are maintained, and equitable funding is established in the areas of education, health, social services, recreation, culture, transportation, tax revenues and debt management.
GOAL: To review the costs of providing services on a regional basis and move to cost sharing or revenue sharing agreements to ensure equity within the Grande Prairie region.
- Objectives:
- To carry out a comprehensive joint review with the surrounding municipalities of services provided and accompanying costs in the City of Grande Prairie and neighboring municipalities within a specified radius from the City to rationalize the costs of regional services
- To develop joint projects with neighboring municipalities.
- To review our fees, charges and grant policies with respect to regional services.
- To form a regionally focused utility entity
GOAL: To reduce or eliminate red tape and non-value added processes.
- Objectives:
- To continue to review policies and by-laws when and where appropriate.
- To review processes and procedures where appropriate.
- To rewrite policies and by-laws in plain language.
- To review the tendering practices to ensure an efficient process.
GOAL: To partner with the Grande Prairie Museum on initiatives in the area of archives.
- Objectives:
- To support a City archives program.
- To support a regional archives.
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
GOAL: To continue to lobby for control of property rights within municipal rights-of-ways.
Focus Area 3 - INTERNATIONALLY CONNECTED COMMUNITY:
Description:
The City of Grande Prairie is endeavoring to become a Smart City with modern and technologically advanced infrastructure to meet the burgeoning demands of the information age in which we now find ourselves. The Cyber City concept and the joint venture project between the other public and private agencies are designed to accelerate the community into the information age. This initiative creates tremendous economic development opportunities and growth.
Computer technology and broadband information transfer requirements are escalating. The demands are immediate. Citizens have instant on-line demands, which are growing. Our business community is pushing the on-line concept and so citizen demands and interest in public information areas are emerging. On-line forums, instant democracy, on going, instantaneous communication links with taxpayers and expanded entertainment demands will occupy our agenda. The question for us is; "will we be ready for it?" Our answer is Yes!
Our current presence on the World Wide Web will increase so that not only our taxpayers can access us but the world. Our involvement in constructing the fibre optic ring in our community will ensure that we not only succeed in the future but also WIN.
From a corporate perspective, the City has upgraded our local area networks and has tied all major City facilities into a fiber optic network.
Grande Prairie has positioned itself with the foundation that will support our success. Smart People, Smart Agencies, Smart Business and Smart Infrastructure.
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
Goals relating to Focus Area 3 - Internationally Connected Community:
GOAL: To pursue an Internationally Connected Initiative.
- Objectives:
- To market the internationally connected community initiative to increase public awareness in Grande Prairie
- To enhance the City's presence on the Internet with improvements to the City's home page on the World Wide Web, including increased use of images and links to other home pages in Grande Prairie
- To work on joint projects within our Community to pursue technology initiatives and funding opportunities (i.e. Alberta Science and Research Council).
GOAL: To develop and maintain an integrated geographic-based information system database to enhance all geographical-based applications in the City and in the region.
- Objectives:
- To maintain the integrated GIS system for City use
- To develop GIS applications to enhance the use of GIS - in fire (regional), police, ambulance, assessment, permits, public works, utilities, etc.
- To develop GIS applications for marketing to other sectors.
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
GOAL: To market our website as an entry portal for the sale of municipal services to the region
Focus Area 4 - SAFE COMMUNITY
Description:
Grande Prairie takes pride in knowing our families can walk our streets, play in our parks and shop in our malls and stores in safety. The RCMP and a well-equipped and modern Fire Department provide us with added protection and peace of mind. Our Advanced Life Support Regional Ambulance service together with the multifaceted Queen Elizabeth II hospital provides for our emergency medical needs. Our well-developed utilities system ensures a safe supply of drinking water and an efficient sewage system. Our transportation system is well maintained and adds to our feeling of safety and security. Our safety codes services have expanded adding gas and electrical inspections to complement building and plumbing inspections provided to ensure a safe built environment
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
Goals relating to Focus Area 4 - Safe Community:
GOAL: To continue to support the RCMP "Community Policing" initiatives and provide visible assurance of safety to the citizens of Grande Prairie.
- Objectives:
- To ensure the police presence in Grande Prairie is enhanced by encouraging bike and foot patrols by the RCMP.
- To expand cooperation between the RCMP and Bylaw Enforcement to provide wider community coverage for safety.
- To review the parking lots of all City facilities to ensure adequate lighting is in place to provide security.
- To review street lighting, pedestrian trail and parks to ensure adequate lighting is in place to provide security.
GOAL: To maintain emergency response time of the City's emergency services (fire, police ambulance) at agreed standards.
- Objectives:
- To continue initiatives that enhance fire protection.
- To work with other municipalities, the AUMA and the FCM to seek funding from the Federal and Provincial Governments for emergency services.
- To monitor and report on emergency response time standards on a regular basis
- To continue evaluation the emergency co-response system.
- To continue to make Grande Prairie safe (Fire, Police, Bylaw, Utilities, Roads, Sidewalks) and explore the provision of City services after normal business hours
GOAL: To encourage partnerships and fully coordinated preventive and emergency services (RCMP, Fire, Ambulance, By-Law and Dispatch).
- Objective:
- To facilitate disaster services training and disaster committee communication sessions at least annually.
- To encourage the work of Technical Search and Rescue
GOAL: To develop and maintain infrastructure which provides for safe utilities, facilities, and transportation systems, ensuring timely preventive maintenance.
- Objectives:
- To provide adequate resources through financial planning and capital project prioritization to ensure adequate development, maintenance and replacement of infrastructure at the right time.
- To develop and implement operating and maintenance management systems, linked to GIS, that provide for cost-effective operations, timely preventive maintenance and life-cycle replacement.
GOAL: To improve roadway line painting in the City
- To investigate the purchase of equipment for line painting.
- To review the regularity of line painting.
- To investigate opportunities to market line painting services regionally.
GOAL: To encourage the development of expanded Neighborhood Watch and Safe Communities initiatives.
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
Focus Area 5 - CARING AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY
Description:
Quality of life is important to our residents and visitors. We want to ensure there are opportunities and facilities for the pursuit of leisure and cultural activities providing balance in the busy lives of our community. We provide opportunities for our youth to build the winning character attributes that are essential in their growth to become business and community leaders.
Our leisure needs encompass all four seasons in Grande Prairie and our challenge is to provide affordable opportunities in each. The park & trail system is the most visible and popular of our leisure resources and we are committed to it as an integral component in our service model. We are proud to manage the Crystal Centre and Leisure Centre providing major facilities for our community. We will support and encourage local groups to be self reliant success stories like: Grande Prairie Minor Hockey, the Prairie Art Gallery, the Grande Prairie Little Theatre, the Centre for Creative Arts and the Swim Club to name a few.
As in every society, there are disadvantaged people in our community. We believe future generations will evaluate us by our contribution to the quality of life of all citizens. Recognizing there are social responsibilities of both the Federal & Provincial governments beyond that of the City, we will be a strong voice to assure the residents of our community receive fair and equitable treatment. Through Community and the Grande Spirit Foundation, we are addressing housing for elements of our population. Through FCSS and funding support for programs, we are working with numerous social agencies and groups to meet identified social needs of our community. We recognize our social responsibilities.
Goals relating to Focus Area 5 - Caring And Active Community
GOAL: To advocate to other levels of government and other funders on behalf of our citizens' social needs.
- Objectives:
- To work with our community organization to create self-reliant and empowered organizations and citizens.
- To work with social service organizations and other funders to maximize appropriate assistance in providing to citizens in need.
- To define our role as a City in social housing in our community
- To promote the establishment of a Grande Prairie Health Council
GOAL: To maintain a process for evaluating the level of City support for Community Groups.
- Objectives:
- To review the recommendations of any City social needs report.
GOAL: To identify and promote positive actions regarding housing, homelessness and substance abuse situations.
GOAL: To work with community organizations to support adequate opportunities and facilities for leisure and cultural activities.
- Objectives:
- To review and implement, where appropriate, the Major Recreation Facilities Plan.
- To facilitate, review and implement a cultural opportunities and facilities plan.
- To encourage and facilitate the development of a RecFit model for social and cultural community groups.
- To review the operating structure for the Crystal Centre.
- To investigate the expansion of the Canada Games Arena seating (minimum 5,000 seats).
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
Focus Area 6 - PRIDE IN A BEAUTIFUL NORTHERN CITY
Description:
Situated in beautiful northern Alberta, Grande Prairie is ideally located to take full advantage of all the seasons have to offer. Our proximity to natural beauty and scenery promotes involvement in many outdoor activities.
In summer, the lakes and rivers in and around Grande Prairie provide many water sports: boating, canoeing, sailing, kayaking, water skiing and swimming. Local lakes offer great fishing and are close to campgrounds and picnic sites. Outdoor sporting venues like the many golf courses in the area, passive and active park systems, water facilities and campground facilities all add to our quality of life. Muskoseepi Park is the jewel of the park system featuring miles of nature trails, a fishing pond, amphitheater, museum, baseball, tennis, basketball, an outdoor pool, picnic areas and playgrounds. Crystal Lake offers walking trails and provides for bird watching.
In Winter, outdoor adventures are plentiful: downhill and cross-country skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skating and ice fishing. The Crystal Centre, our premier entertainment and recreation venue features one of our communities many hockey rinks. Curling and an indoor swimming pool complement the wide array of winter opportunities.
There is an abundance of game in the area and hunting is popular in the fall of the year.
The Grande Prairie Regional College, a significant architectural feature, is nestled adjacent to a recreational lake in Muskoseepi Park and boasts the only performing arts auditorium in Northern Alberta. The Prairie Art Gallery, our class A art gallery, adds to our cultural enjoyment. Just minutes from the City, Evergreen Park provides exciting sports entertainment such as rodeos, chuckwagon racing, pari-mutuel racing, agricultural shows and much more.
A selection of
mini indexes of pictures is available
relating to the beauty of the City from the Photo Gallery.
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]
Goals relating to Focus Area 6 - Pride in a Beautiful Northern City:
GOAL: To promote year round colour in Grande Prairie.
- Objective:
- To support partnerships and implement beautification theme that promotes the use of flower plantings, pageantry, lighting and coordinated colour schemes.
- To support the Communities in Bloom Committee in their annual entry to the Communities in Bloom contest
GOAL: To promote beautification schemes in downtown Grande Prairie.
- Objectives:
- To continue the beautification, landscaping and pedestrian trail system plan.
- To continue, in conjunction with the Downtown Association, the Downtown Beautification Program.
- To continue to expand the festive lighting plan for the City.
GOAL: To continue to remove overhead power lines throughout the City to improve the physical attractiveness of the City.
- Objective:
- To continue the strategy for the removal of overhead power lines over several years, with recovery of the costs of removal and underground replacement.
- To incorporate into development requirements, developer relocation of overhead power lines to underground services.
GOAL: To improve the provision of snow management services in winter in Grande Prairie.
- Objectives:
- To review the processes and procedures for snow removal in the downtown area.
- To change design standards of subdivisions to recognize the reality of level of service for snow removal and storage.
GOAL: To improve the provision of street and sidewalk sweeping services.
- Objectives:
- To review the street sweeping program with a view to enhancing the level of service.
GOAL: To maintain attractive entry features to the City.
[Return to
Table of Contents. Go to
Top |
Bottom]