Town council holds strategic planning workshop, another scheduled for Aug. 15

Continued from Page 1

Matheson commented it was on “the lower end of normal” and would have preferred more, citing 400-800 as preferable numbers.

Sixty-four percent said the safety of the community was the best part of living in Amherstburg while 61 per cent said access to natural features. Other reasons included the town’s heritage and historic sites (49 per cent), proximity to family and friends (48 per cent), opportunities for community engagement (44 per cent) and sense of community (40 per cent).

Top issues facing the town, according to the community survey, included maintaining infrastructure, parks and waterfronts and community safety and well-being while the top three issues that council should prioritize were affordability, protecting the natural environment and community safety.

A survey of staff showed 60 employees completed it and results showed 65 per cent of those believed priorities should continue investing in infrastructure and municipal facilities while 56 per cent said attracting tourists and visitors to the community was a priority.

Of the staff members that took the survey, 73 per cent said they were satisfied with the workplace culture while only 25 per cent felt their efforts and professional advice is respected and valued by council.

One of the strengths that was identified was an improved financial situation and planning.

“It may not be at the end of the journey but it is on the right trajectory,” Matheson said.

Other strengths were an improved, effective leadership team and administration, a positive workplace culture, marketing and promotion, an attractive workplace, opportunities for engagement, a “strong community identity,” natural environment, historic sites and heritage, the downtown core, community safety and proximity to larger urban areas.

Councillor Linden Crain also pointed out the 25 per cent statistic.

“This obviously needs to change,” he said. “There are ways we can do better.”

Gibb said the town needs to better inform residents of work that is being done, citing a five-year capital plan and work on a heritage district as examples. Engaging the public on what is happening could address the “trust gap,” he believed.

The list of weaknesses include a “legacy of mistrust” between council, administration and the community and the town being divided over its future.

Mayor Michael Prue noted interviews with staff were in April and May and wondered how much of the mistrust came from the past. Matheson stated they couldn’t say for sure if it was due to the public’s current interactions or whether it was a legacy issue from the past but noted when a new council and administration comes in, there is generally a “hangover” from previous regimes.

Concerns over growth and how the town is growing, such as what “type” of town is becoming were raised, with Matheson and Lahaie noting their results show “Amherstburg is divided over its future.” Matheson indicated many municipalities in the region could say the same thing. Matheson added issues become “how to manage growth instead of having growth manage us.”

“No, I don’t think you are in a unique situation at all,” Matheson told council.

Councillor Don McArthur commented on the town being divided over its future, telling the consultants “you really hit the nail on the head.” McArthur said everyone has the town’s best interests at heart, but they sometimes have disagreements on how to proceed. McArthur acknowledged with growth comes additional businesses and services but there also comes more traffic and neighbours in areas where they might not have had neighbours before.

Further weaknesses were identified as housing options and availability, AODA compliance, reduced access to recreational spaces and amenities as well as recreation options for youth and young adults, aging infrastructure and facilities, a lack of institutional knowledge within the town’s organization, and tensions over diversity and inclusion efforts.

Councillor Diane Pouget asked if town hall can be higher on the list of priorities from an AODA perspective, noting the current building is not barrier-free.

Affordable housing was referenced during the meeting but it was pointed out by McArthur that much of the affordable housing dollars that flow to the area end up in Windsor, though some is starting to go to Essex County. Gibb stated there are issues with providing affordable housing without the supports that are necessary for those who live in such developments.

“The question is ‘what is affordable housing and what does it mean?’” added CAO Valerie Critchley.

Threats include economic and inflationary pressures, a loss of historic sites and character, a changing municipalprovincial relationship, a reduced sense of security, a “tight” labour market and climate change.

Opportunities were identified as major regional development plans including the EV battery plant and Gordie Howe International Bridge, available employment development lands, the town’s new Community Improvement Plan (CIP), the possibility of overnight accommodations, town-owned lands and heritage sites like Belle Vue and the former Duffy’s site and “shovel-ready residential development.”

Prue said the town is running out of space for residential lands and will have to spill over onto agricultural lands. With that, he predicted “the people of Amherstburg are going to be very angry.” He added “council can’t solve it on its own” and that “the only place to build is on our farmland.”

Councillor Peter Courtney said there are concerns about where growth is going and how the new Official Plan will play out, adding he would like to see what the “end goal” is for tourism “without compromising small town tranquility.”

McArthur voiced support for promoting local tourism including Open Air Weekends. Allaire wondered if there was any sort of cap on where tourism spending should stop, noting money spent on a festival could be spent on recreational amenities that can be used throughout the year.

Prue added he has not given up on a large hotel for the region, stating there is land that can be developed if tourism is a main draw.

Gibb added the town is going to grow and it is a question over how it is managed.

“Growth is coming,” he said. “We’re not going to stop it.”

Of the four draft strategic priorities and goals, maintaining reliable community amenities and infrastructure was one as was promoting strong economic development. Other draft strategic priorities and goals were delivering trusted and accountable government and to “shape growth aligned with local identity.”

Themes were bandied about for the strategic plan, with suggestions including “Our vision today for a better tomorrow” from Pouget and “Proud of our past, confident of our future” from Prue.

Prue added he has been through five strategic plans in his political career and has hope this one could be the best one.

“I really think this one can work,” the mayor said. “What I see here is very workable.”

The next workshop is Aug. 15. A new strategic plan is expected to be finalized in the fall.