G u e l p h

differencethe city that makes a

07Strategic Plan

and beyond

differencethe city that makes a

07Strategic Plan

and beyond

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

2

3 Message from the Mayor 3 Special thanks

4 Introduction

5 Guelph: Shaping our future

6 Strategic Plan process: Collaborative and inclusive

7 Achieving our goals 7 Our vision 7 Our mission

8 Urban design and sustainable growth Goal 1: An attractive, well-functioning and sustainable city

10 Personal and community well-being Goal 2: A healthy and safe community where life can be lived to the fullest

12 Economic opportunity Goal 3: A diverse and prosperous local economy

14 Arts, culture and heritage Goal 4: A vibrant and valued arts, culture and heritage identity

16 Government and community involvement Goal 5: A community-focused, responsive and accountable government

18 Natural environment Goal 6: A leader in conservation and resource protection/enhancement

20 Further information

Contents

Cover photography and photo below by © dezsö

differencethe city that makes a

Printed with vegetable based inks at Ampersand Printing, which is powered by Bullfrog Power with 100% green electricity.

25%

Cert no. SW-COC-002394

�

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

I am delighted to present our Strategic Plan. Throughoutthefirsthalfof2007weaskedresidentsfortheirvisionforGuelphoverthenext20years.Hundredsofyouresponded.Thankyouforcontributingyourthoughtful,creative,andinspiringideastothisprocess.

OurvisionforGuelphisaremarkableone:“to be the city that makes a difference.”ThePlancontainsgoalsandrelatedstrategicobjectivesthatprovidearoadmapforhowwecanstrivetoachievethevisionoverthelongterm.

ThePlanismeanttoinspireallofustoconsiderhowwecanmakeadifference,inourneighbourhoodsandintheworld.WhilethePlan’sambitiousgoalswon’tbereachedovernight,progresswillbemadeyearbyyearandtheCitywillreporttoresidentsregularlyonhowwearedoing.

ForCouncilandCitystaff,theStrategicPlanwillbeanimportanttoolforsettingpriorities,makingdecisions,andmanagingoperationsforyearstocome.

MyhopeisthattheimpactofthePlanwillextendwellbeyondthewallsofCityHall,intoeveryhomeandbusinessinGuelph.InkeepingwiththePlan’scollaborativespirit,everyoneinthecommunitywillhavearoletoplayinachievingit.

IamoftenimpressedbythetremendouspassionGuelphiteshavefortheircity.Thatpassionwasinevidencethroughoutthestrategicplanningprocess,anditwillcertainlyserveuswellas,together,westrivetomakeGuelph“the city that makes a difference.”

Sincerely,

KarenFarbridgeMayor

Special

thanksOnbehalfoftheCityofGuelph,theMayorandmembersofCouncilwouldliketothankthemanyindividualsandorganizationsthatcontributedtothedevelopmentofthe2007StrategicPlan.Theirhardwork,dedica-tionandcommitmenttothestrategicplanningprocesswasinstrumentalinthecreationofthisPlan.

from the

Mayor

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

�

TheCityofGuelph’slongterm,communitydrivenStrategicPlanrespondstobothcurrentandemergingtrendsfacingthismunicipalityandtotheaspirationsandrealitiesofhundredsofcommunitymembers.Includedinthisdocumentisanoverviewoftheforcesofchangeatplay,thecollaborativeandinclusiveprocessthatwasundertaken,howthePlanwillbeachieved,thevision,mission,goalsandstrategicobjectives.

Foundedoncoreprinciplesofopencommunicationandcollaboration,theCity’sStrategicPlanisalsodependentonthosesameelementsforthesuccessfulrealizationofthegoalscontainedwithin.Thereisaroleforeveryonetoplayinitsultimatesuccess–Council,staffandmembersofthecommunity.Everypositiveeffortundertakeninthesecollectivedirectionswillhelptobettermeetcurrentneedsandensureasustainablefutureforgenerationstocome.

Introduction

�

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

Guelph:

Shaping our future

Indirectresponsetothesetrends,challengesandoppor-tunities,theCityofGuelphhascreatedanewcommunity-drivenStrategicPlan.ThisplanpositionstheCitywellto:

1 ensuretheongoingeffectiveandefficientdeliveryofafullrangeofrelevantprogramsandservices;and

� continueonasuccessfulpathtowardssecuringaprosperousandsustainablefutureforgenerationstocome.

TheStrategicPlanwillbeusedasanintregralmanagementtoolforongoingprioritysettinganddecisionmaking.Itwillenhanceorganizationaleffectivenessandcontinuetodemonstrateaccountabilitytothecommunity.

• Growth:Guelphhasexperiencedsteadygrowthinthepastandthisisexpectedtocontinueinthefuture.Thecityhasdoubledinpopulationoverthepast40years,andnowhasapopulationofapproximately120,000people.GuelphconstitutesonepartoftheoverallGreaterGoldenHorseshoeareawhichisexpectedtogrowbyfourmillionpeoplebytheyear2031.

• Environment:Globalclimatechangeisconsideredbymanyastheprimarythreatfacingthemodernworldtoday.Inmanycommunitiesthereisincreasingawarenessofthecrucialrolethatlocalgovernmentscanplayinhelpingtoensurethesustainablemanage-mentofresourcesandeffectivestewardshipofthenaturalenvironment.

• Technology:AdvancesinInternetinfrastructure,communicationsandmultimediaareincreasinglyfacilitatingglobalization,influencingworkplacesandallowingforgreatersharingofinformation.Aspartoftheglobalcommunity,municipalities,includingGuelph,arewellpositionedtocapitalizeoninter-nationalbestpracticesandinnovations.

• Demographics:PrimaryfactorsthatwillcontinuetoinfluenceCanada’sdemographicprofileincludeanagingpopulationandincreasingculturalandlinguisticdiversity.Forlocalgovernments,thesefactorswillhaveasubstantialimpactonwhatservicesareprovidedandthemethodsofdelivery.

• Politics:TheplaceoflocalgovernmentsintheCanadianintergovernmentalsystemisbeingredefinedandtheimportantrolethatcitiesplayinthecompeti-tiveglobaleconomyisbeingrecognized.Newrolesandpartnershipsarebeingforgedandcitizenexpecta-tionsforcollaborativepublicdecision-makingprocesseswillcontinuetodevelop.

• Economics:Increasedfundingresponsibilitiescoupledwithlowerprovincialgrantswillcontinuetoresultinachallengingfiscalenvironmentinwhichmunicipalitiesoperate.Anongoingneedexiststofundservicesinanaccountableandfairmanner.

TheCityofGuelphwasfoundedbyJohnGaltonApril23,1827andsincethatdayithasflourishedintoamodelsingle-tiermunicipalitywithacurrentpopulationof120,000.Thereisgreatprideinthecommunity,evidentinitsmanyheritagelandmarks,worldrenownfestivals,wellmaintainedgreenspaces,vibrantneighbourhoodsandthehighlevelofpublicparticipationandcollaborationinpublicdecisionmaking.

Trendsaffectinggovernancestructures,services,programsandthemethodsbywhichtheyaredeliveredhaveandwillcontinuetoinfluencecitiesandtowns.Guelph,too,issubjecttothese‘forcesofchange’whichinclude:

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

�

Strategic Plan process:

Collaborative and inclusive Phase 1: Project

initiation

Phase �:Strategic listening

Phase �:Developing

the framework

Phase �:Validating

the framework

Phase �:Strategic

Plan refinement,

endorsement and

communication

Public consultationFebruary – June

Phase 1: Project initiation InJanuary,Councilapprovedtheprocessforthe2007StrategicPlan.Inaddition,acommunicationsplanwascreatedandthestagewassetforaneffectiveprocesstogatherinformationfromacrossthecommunityonthefutureofGuelph.Phase 2: Strategic listening Publicconsultationtookplacewithawidearrayofindividualsandgroupsthroughfocusgroups,telephoneinterviews,ayouthchallengeandsurveystogetasoundunderstandingofwhattheCityshouldbelikeinthefuture.AlltheinformationcollectedwasprovidedtoCouncilandtheSeniorManagementTeamforconsiderationpriortothedevelopmentofadraftStrategicPlanframework.Phase 3: Developing the framework AdraftStrategicPlandocumentwascreatedbymembersofCouncil,theSeniorManagementTeamandseveralcommunitymembersforreviewbyallinterestedparties.ThisdocumentreflectedthefeedbackcollectedinPhase2.Oncedrafted,theplanwasthensubjecttofurtherstaffreviewandreflectionbythecommunity.Phase 4: Validating the framework Thedraftframeworkwasmadeavailabletothegeneralpublicforreviewanddiscussiontogaugetheextenttowhichitreflectedtheexpectationsandaspirationsofthelargercommunity.Feedbackgatheredthroughfocusgroups,telephoneinterviewsandsurveysservedasinputforrefinementstotheStrategicPlan.Phase 5: Refinement, endorsement and communication OncetheStrategicPlanwasvalidated,itwasrefinedandendorsedbyCouncilinAugust.TheStrategicPlanwillserveastheguidingdocumentunderwhichallCityinitiativesarealigned.

In1993,theCityofGuelphproduceditsfirstStrategicPlanentitled,“The Royal City – Looking Ahead.”Sincethattime,theStrategicPlanhasundergoneanumberofrevisionsundertheguidanceofsuccessiveCouncils.TheprocessforcreatingthemostrecentStrategicPlanincorporatedtheSmartGuelphprinciplesdevelopedin2003forpublicengagement.Itallowedthecitytosuccessfullyconnectwithhundredsofstaffandcommunitymemberstocreateanewvision,mission,goalsandstrategicobjectives.

Designedtobecosteffective,inclusiveandachievable,the2007processtookplaceoveraneightmonthperiod.PreparationoftheplanwasundertakenusingacollaborativeandinclusiveconsultationapproachthatblendedtheperspectivesandaspirationsofmembersofCouncil,staffandthecommunity.Surveyquestionsweretranslatedintomanylanguages.Youthinthecitywereengagedthroughanartisticchallengetodemonstratetheirthoughtsforthefuture.Consultationandcitizenengagementtookplacethroughouttheentireprocess–fromtheformativestagesofthePlan’spreparationtoitsapproval.Fullengage-mentwithstaffandthecommunitywillcontinueasprogressrelatedtothegoalsandstrategicobjectivesisopenlydiscussed,plannedandachieved.

7

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

Achieving

our goals

Our visionTo be the City that makes a difference….Acting locally and globally to improve the lives of residents, the broader community and the world.

ToeffectivelyimplementtheStrategicPlanandachieveitsgoals,therearerolesforevery-oneinthecommunitytoplay.ActionsundertakenbyCouncilandstafftoimplementtheplanandmonitorprogresswillbecritical.Tothisend,keyprioritieswillbeidentifiedannuallyanddepartmentalbusinessplanswillbelinkeddirectlytothesepriorities,thegoalsandobjectivesintheStrategicPlan.Roles,responsibilities,performancemeasures,requiredresourcesandtargetdatesforcompletionofspecificprojectsthatwillworktowardsachievingthegoalsandexecutingtheoverallstrategicdirectionwillbeclearlyidentified.RegularprogressreportswillbepreparedforCouncilandthecommunitytoclearlydemon-stratesuccessesandachievements.ToensurethelongtermviabilityofthePlanitwillberevisitedandupdatedeveryfouryearstocorrespondwitheachmunicipalelection.

Our missionTo achieve excellence through leadership, innovation, partnerships and community engagement.

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

�growth

Goal 1

An attractive, well-functioning and sustainable city

Urban design and sustainable

�

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

Adistinctcommunityidentitywithleadingedge,city-wideurbandesignpolicies

Municipalsustainabilitypracticesthatbecomethebenchmarkagainstwhichothercitiesaremeasured

ALocalGrowthManagementStrategythateffectivelyguideswhereandhowfuturegrowthwilltakeplace

Asustainabletransportationapproachthatlookscomprehensivelyatallmodesoftravelto,fromandwithinthecommunity

Thedowntownasaplaceofcommunityfocusanddestinationofnationalinterest

Abalancedtaxassessmentratio

Strategic objectives:

1.11.�1.�1.�

1.�1.�

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

10well-being

Goal 2

A healthy and safe community where life can be lived to the fullest

Personal and community

11

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

Acompletecommunitywithservicesandprogramsforchildren,youthandadultsofallages

Diversehousingoptionsandhealthcareservicestomeettheneedsofcurrentandfuturegenerations

ThemostphysicallyandsociallyactiveresidentsinCanada

Thelowestcrimerateandbestemergencyservicesrecordofanycomparable-sizedCanadiancity

Comprehensivelife-longlearningopportunities

Awell-connectedandaccessiblecommunitythatvaluesdiversity,multiculturalism,volunteerismandphilanthropy

Strategic objectives:

�.1�.��.��.��.��.�

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

1�

Goal 3

A diverse and prosperous local economy

Economicopportunity

1�

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

Thrivingandsustainablelocalemploymentopportunities

OneofOntario’stopfiveandCanada’stoptenplacestoinvest

ThehighestratioofanysouthernOntariocityofpeoplewholiveandworkinthesamecommunity

Fairtaxpoliciesandstreamlinedprocessesacrossalllevelsofgovernment

Adiverseandskilledlocalworkforce

Thecityasatouristdestinationofchoice

Strategic objectives:

�.1�.��.��.��.��.�

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

1�heritage

Goal 4

A vibrant and valued arts, culture and heritage identity

Arts, culture and

1�

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

AdesignatedculturalcapitalofCanada

Numerousopportunitiesforartisticappreciation,expressionanddevelopment

Highestpercapitauseofcitylibraries,museumsandculturalfacilitiesamonganycomparableCanadiancity

Intactandwellmanagedheritageresources

Capitalizeonourculturalandheritageassetstobuildeconomicprosperity,qualityoflifeandcommunityidentity

Strategic objectives:

�.1�.��.�

�.��.�

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

1�involvement

Goal 5

A community-focused, responsive and accountable government

Government and community

17

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

Thehighestmunicipalcustomerservicesatisfactionratingofanycomparable-sizedCanadiancommunity

Aconsultativeandcollaborativeapproachtocommunitydecisionmaking

Open,accountableandtransparentconductofmunicipalbusiness

Partnershipstoachievestrategicgoalsandobjectives

Ahighcreditratingandstrongfinancialposition

Organizationalexcellenceinplanning,management,humanresourcesandpeoplepractices;recognizedasatopemployerinthecommunity

ThehighestpercapitamunicipalelectionvoterturnoutofanycityinOntario

Strategic objectives:

�.1�.��.��.��.��.�

�.7

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

1�

Goal 6

A leader in conservation and resource protection/enhancement

Naturalenvironment

1�

Guelph Strategic Plan 07 and beyond

Coordinatedmanagementofparks,thenaturalenvironmentandthewatershed

LesstotalgreenhousegasemissionsfortheCityasawholecomparedtothecurrentglobalaverage

Asafeandreliablelocalwatersupply

LesswastepercapitathananycomparableCanadiancity

LessenergyandwaterpercapitausethananycomparableCanadiancity

AbiodiverseCitywiththehighesttreecanopypercentageamongcomparablemunicipalities

Strategic objectives:

�.1�.�

�.��.��.��.�

Further information

Ifyouhaveanycommentsaboutthisdocumentorwouldliketolearnmoreaboutthestrategicplanningprocessandyourroleinhelpingtorealizethegoals,pleasecontactCorporateAdministrationat519-822-1260.

Our mailing address is:CityofGuelphCorporateAdministration59CardenStreetGuelph,OntarioN1H3A1

Website:guelph.caE-mail:strategicplan@guelph.ca