DRAFT. Nature Is Our Most Valuable Asset Town of Gibsons Strategic Plan

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1 DRAFT Nature Is Our Most Valuable Asset Town of Gibsons Plan Asset Management Advancing Our Eco-Assets Strategy Targeting Zero Waste and Climate Change Ensuring Resilience of Our Bricks & Mortar Infrastructure Completing a Town Land Inventory and Parks Master Plan Expanding Safe Pedestrian and Cycling Networks Harbour Enhancement Developing a Gibsons Harbour Economic Plan Enhancing the Harbour Seawalk Helping to Secure a Reliable Passenger Ferry Service Making Armours Beach a Family-Friendly Recreation Site Restoring Fish Habitat in our Creeks and Harbour Community Development Building the Gibsons Public Market as a Community Hub Promoting Regional and Local Economic Development Collaborating on Affordable Housing Initiatives Supporting Education, Culture and Intergenerational Engagement Advocating for Improved Ferry and Transit Service

2 Provided for Background Only

3 Report to Committee regarding 2016 Initiatives 2 DISCUSSION The purpose of this report is to summarize all input received for Council's consideration. Staff notes that there are items outside the Town's direct control but are included to ensure all input is represented. Initiatives have been identified as either: C - Committed in 2016 F - Commitment for future year 0 - Ongoing initiative of the Town N - Not committed at this time Staff is seeking Council's affirmation of those items identified as committed in 2016 budget process, committed to a future year and ongoing. In addition, it would be helpful for Council to identify initiatives not currently committed that you wish staff to explore further, to identify what is logical and attainable within the authority and jurisdiction of the Town. COMMUNICATION Communicating to Council: Success of the Plan requires maintaining momentum and communicating regularly to Council on the status of its initiatives. Initiatives identified are assigned to the appropriate department who will provide regular updates to Council outlining the progress on those initiatives. Communicating to the Public: Through the regular departmental updates, this updated information will assist Council in communicating progress of its Plan with members of the community and other stakeholders. Communicating to implementers (staff and stakeholders): Discussion on Council's Priorities forms part of all regular management and staff meetings to ensure successful implementation. PLAN/POLICY IMPLICATIONS Financial Plan Implications Initiatives highlighted on the worksheets as ongoing have been included in the 2016 budget. If Council wishes to add other initiatives, the financial impacts would have to be evaluated at that time. Respectfully Submitted, Emanuel Machado ~ Chief Administrative Officer

4 Excellence in Community Engagement & Leadership promoting Gibsons as the ultimate small community to live and work in Actions Council Status Strategies 1 continue to support Gibsons Public Market in becoming a community hub for the Sunshine Coast and Howe Sound O Initiatives 2 continue to support passenger ferry services in Gibsons Harbour O 3 incorporate the Eco Asset Strategy into the Town s brand O 1 continue to support small business hub to attract entrepreneurs (e.g. support FUSE) O 2 highlight educational opportunities, particularly outdoor education e.g. NEST N 3 continue to improve and expand pedestrian and cycle routes O 4 utilize Ted Talks to incorporate Eco Asset Strategy into Brand N 5 plan for growth and sewage treatment O 6 balance corporate and residential growth N 7 promote the use of floating dock (GLHA) and support a second dock O 8 support mooring buoy installation (sponsored) N 9 support off Coast promotion with Sunshine Coast Tourism C X 10 encourage resident attraction strategies (young families) C X 11 work with SD No. 46 to encourage development of apprenticeships N 12 encourage Junior B Hockey N 13 implement initiatives to combat climate change how is it part of our brand / eco asset strategy O 14 update trails map easy to use O 15 continue to support This is the Coast O 16 support information sharing on services/supports available in the community O 17 encourage job creation support campaigns to buy local, create jobs, increase wages, recognize employers N X Town Staff 1 continue to support programs to retain young adults O 2 work with Sunshine Coast Tourism to promote natural outdoor adventure assets online (mountain bike and hiking trail maps/kayaking and canoeing, sailing, swimming beaches) N

5 Excellence in Community Engagement & Leadership taking leadership in regional and community cooperation Strategies 1 continue to support regional economic development initiatives O Initiatives 2 continue to support regional affordable housing goals O 1 encourage coastal bike route N 2 encourage technology hub to maximize the Telus fibre connection and Capilano U N 3 advocate for improved transit C X 4 advocate for unified SC Chambers of Commerce N 5 implement Inter Community Business Licenses C X 6 promote Hillside Industrial Park O 7 advocate for School Board to develop French Immersion program 8 engage in discussions regarding long term future of HSPP N 9 advocate for improved services with BC Ferries re: late sailings, Sunday schedule (FAC) O

6 Excellence in Community Engagement & Leadership fostering community participation in vision setting and decision making Strategies 1 conduct community conversations C X Initiatives 2 continue business walks N 3 increase interaction with youth N 4 engage the community in vision setting exercise N 5 engage residents in Participatory Budgeting N 1 engage a broad base of secondary students, not just the brightest N 2 provide more online survey opportunities for vision, budgeting N 3 include Heritage buildings in inventory N Town Staff 1 use social media to conduct more community discussions N 2 encourage SD NO. 46 to create a youth community education garden with Elphinstone Leadership Class, help kids learn about horticulture and a self sufficient garden using community volunteers or local garden and nursery N businesses. 3 highlight public participation tool kit in staff reports and use it for key projects O 4 provide Janes Walks N

7 Sustainable Asset Management maximizing property utilization and improving operational and financial sustainability of our asses Strategies 1 complete Armours Beach improvements C X X Initiatives 2 finalize Parks Master Plan N 3 update the Town s land inventory N 1 support using RCMP building for affordable housing and seniors 'interactive' community C X 2 encourage community garden plots and greenhouses N 3 develop Gospel Rock park N 4 encourage water conservation C X 5 implement watering restrictions C X 6 provide education on landscapes and plants N 7 paving: in front of Marina Place N 8 improve Armours Beach include picnic tables, gazebo, buildings to lease, kayak building C 9 improve Georgia Beach picnic tables, park benches N 10 improve Winegarden Park kids playground C X

8 Sustainable Asset Management Investing in improvements in and around the Harbour Strategies 1 upgrade seawalk from Armours Beach to the wharf (planning and public input) C X Initiatives 2 develop Gibsons Harbour Vision Document C X 3 continue to support Gibsons Landing Harbour Authority float expansion O 1 support restoring herring and anchovy runs and habitat improvements N 2 retain quaintness of Gibsons N 3 extend seawall around the Bluff and to Bonniebrook N 4 public engagement art and community participation N 5 support Music in the Landing (ongoing) O 6 support harbour cleanup N 7 encourage outside investors for float expansion N 8 address high tides (related to #1 Council) C X Town Staff 1 improve water quality at Armours N 2 put a sign Welcome to Gibsons on the lighthouse for incoming boats that enter the harbour N

9 Expanding safe pedestrian and cycle networks Sustainable Asset Management Strategies 1 continue to pursue funding for a multi use pathway on Gibsons Way from Gibsons Landing to North Road O Initiatives 2 complete the multi use trail from Stewart to Shaw C X 1 improve Gower Point Road at Gospel Rock for pedestrian/cycle safety N 3 improve pedestrian safety (sidewalk) on Gibsons Way O 4 improve signage at 5 corners and more education about trails that we do have N 5 better communication with BC Hydro re: street lights out (Town currently reports lights using BC Hydro s SLIM system reporting is instant and service is dependent on BC Hydro s schedule) O 6 encourage solar lighting / led lights N 7 increase number of street lights N X Town Staff 1 promote accessibility provide accessible options/choices along the waterfront and in Lower Gibsons O 2 ensure networks, including trails, are suitable for mobility challenges O 3 develop a designated pedestrian/cycle path through Lower Gibsons neighborhood N 4 update map with new trail C X 5 develop a classification system for trails and improve signage N

10 Local Environmental Stewardship targeting zero waste with a focus on re using materials and creating local jobs consider implementation of recommendations from the Town s Zero Waste Select Committee in concert with public C education campaign X Strategies 1 Initiatives 1 support reduction of food waste at retail source, partner with grocery stores for 'ugly food' campaign N 2 promote worm composting N 3 introduce a plastic bag ban (note City of Vancouver will consider this in the next few months) (suggested at 3 tables) N 4 implement incentives for composting (like low volume toilet) N 5 support an Education Centre for public re: compost areas N 6 implement compost pilot project N 7 reconsider trash and trade day the pick up N 8 implement curbside recycling every other week one bin for everything N 9 encourage private sector to develop a climate economy N

11 Local Environmental Stewardship enhancing our natural assets such as creeks and forests Strategies 1 support improvements to Gibsons Creek in partnership with the Squamish Nation O Initiatives 2 improve White Tower Park (ongoing study through David Suzuki) X 3 Improve Charman Creek 4 Improve Goosebird Creek (diversion around concrete channel planned naturalization) X 1 improve herring habitat N 2 influence logging practices that value microhabitats N 3 encourage friendly planting develop a guideline for types of trees no bamboo N 4 (Charman Creek) develop working relationship with Federal Government N 5 Goosebird Creek too shallow now to support fish. May NOT decide to improve this creek. N 6 Enhance history and public education of White Tower Park and working with local educators N 7 protect Eelgrass beds O 8 implement incentives for water collection systems offsetting money from water utility bills N Town Staff 1 educate public on the Town s assets use Janes Walks as a way to provide information re: the creeks/aquifer (Walk on Water tour signage) 3 improve forest management and public education O 4 place signage in the areas of our Eco Assets to identify the importance and value for public education X

12 advancing the use of renewable energy Local Environmental Stewardship Strategies 1 update Building bylaw to include solar installation guidelines N Initiatives 2 investigate home retrofit program for existing homes N 3 conduct a geo energy field assessment C X 1 attach information on eco energy grants (provincial, federal) to building permit process N 2 encourage solar installation N 3 Hydro electric power from creeks N Town Staff 1 investigate wind turbine energy N 2 include grey water in building bylaw update N 3 blower door tests in recently built Parkland homes N