Clarence-Rockland sets objectives for the next three years
Halfway through the Clarence-Rockland 2015-2021 Strategic Plan, council has outlined its objectives for its remaining three years.
Among these objectives are the revitalization of the downtown core, the development of a bike path and cycling system and the promotion of industrial and commercial growth. The goals set out for 2018 and for 2019-2021 are within the realm of the Plan’s four main pillars: sense of community, health and wellness, financial stability and environmental responsibility.
These pillars were identified through community feedback that was gathered in 2015, when the Strategic Plan was first initiated. The 2015-2021 Strategic Plan, also known as Destination Clarence-Rockland, was developed in order to define the City’s vision and to set goals and objectives that can be met in a three or four year time period.
Specific goals for 2018 include developing street improvement plans and holding regular business association meetings as part of the long-term mission of revitalizing the downtown core of the City. In order to increase economic development opportunities, the City of Clarence-Rockland intends to improve the County Road 17 and Highway 174 corridor. The intention is to liaise with the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) and the City of Ottawa to prepare a brief for the provincial and federal governments regarding funding.
This objective is one of Rockland councillor Jean-Marc Lalonde’s main priorities for his remaining months left on the Council, as he told Vision last week. Another one of Lalonde’s priorities has made the list – to develop Moulin Park in order to promote more tourism and recreation in the City.
Through several workshops and online surveys, over 1300 community members helped identify the Plan’s four main pillars previously mentioned. Approximately 23 workshops were held from April to June 2015 and a total of 474 people attended. Online surveys were also available from May to July, in which 812 residents engaged.
In total, the number of participants who gave some sort of feedback represented about four per cent of the City’s population. Participants were asked to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats they saw to the municipality.
A 96 per cent importance was placed on road repairs and the City received a 22 per cent (categorized as “poor”) level of satisfaction for this service. Transit and downtown revitalization received the second-lowest levels of satisfaction, each at 25 per cent. Recycling, garbage, fire and rescue, and police were amongst the top level categories in terms of satisfaction, in the 70-80 per cent range.
So far, on the recreation and tourism front, the City has accomplished a goal it set out in 2015 – the heritage tour of significant historical sites in Clarence-Rockland. In terms of wellness and health, the City has been approved for a $ 96 000 grant from the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling Program (OMCC) to be used for a cycling plan and path in Village Morris Park.
Also, in the category of economic development, the municipality, in collaboration with the UCPR, has secured a $ 40 million commitment from the province for the widening of County Road 17. The work has not yet begun, nor is a start date known.