Nanaimo-Info-blog

City Launches Strategic Planning Initiative

At its regular meeting on Monday, January 23, 2012, City Council voted unanimously to launch a strategic planning initiative.  The consulting firm of Rethink (West) will assist with the process.   Rethink is a Ladysmith-based company with significant experience in municipal strategic planning. 

The strategic planning process will be a comprehensive exercise, including a review of the community vision, interviews with community leaders, a strategic planning blog, a public survey, and the establishment of task teams to develop action plans for implementation.

Jim Kipp, Chair of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, said, “a strategic plan is a guiding document that provides a long-term vision.  The process will help to align City activities, mobilize available resources, and ultimately to clarify, measure and achieve results in support of community well-being.”

“I am looking forward to engaging the community in a visioning process that should reflect the desires and aspirations of all of Nanaimo’s citizens, “said Mayor John Ruttan, “The only way to do this is to get everyone involved in defining the vision and then supporting it as we move forward into the future.”

The process is expected to take about 6 months, with consulting fees of approximately $100,000, an amount that had previously been put in the budget.  Facility rental for community workshops is expected to cost an additional $20,000.  

(City Hall Press Release)