The Town of Collingwood is gearing up to revamp their overall priorities moving forward, and they’re looking for the community’s help to dream about what Collingwood is and what it can be.
During the June 5 committee of the whole meeting, councillors received an update on the town’s refresh of its community-based strategic plan, with staff recommending the update be done in tandem with a new downtown plan.
“For those people I speak with who are thinking about our community... the discussion is our downtown and I think a lot of people are eager to get engaged in that discussion,” said Mayor Yvonne Hamlin during the meeting.
Community-based strategic plans are typically completed every four years and approved by each council within the first year of their term. The plan is intended to identify current goals, strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities for the town and unite all the other existing plans with current input from community members to determine the best path forward.
The plan is used by council when making decisions at the council table, such as determining annual budget priorities.
The last plan was completed in 2020.
“The interesting situation that we're in right now is that Collingwood, even though we're considered a small town, we're a high-performing municipality,” said clerk Sara Almas in her presentation to councillors.
Some of the ongoing projects that will be prioritized through the exercise include the proposed arts and culture centre, the Collingwood Terminals redevelopment linkages, the acquisition and future use of 84 Hurontario Street, the Official Plan update, public realm plans and decisions regarding a multi-use recreation facility that may have impacts on the future of the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena.
According to the staff report presented to councillors, the estimated budget for the development of both plans is about $75,000, with anticipated cost savings by combining the projects. Current timeline estimates see the community-based strategic plan completed in early 2024, with the downtown plan expected mid-2024.
The town is also in the process of completing a market research survey that will help to inform both plans.
Dates and methods for how else the town will receive community input on the plans have not yet been determined, as chief administrative officer Sonya Skinner told councillors last week those methods would be decided with input from the successful consultant.
At the June 5 committee of the whole meeting, council voted in favour of proceeding with a request for proposals process to hire a consultant to develop the new community-based strategic plan along with the downtown visioning and plan development, as well as striking a steering committee to guide the market research work.
The decision will need to be ratified at the next meeting of council on June 19 before going into effect.
