Owen Sound Council Approves Urgent Vision 2050 Strategic Plan

UPDATE: Owen Sound has officially adopted its ambitious Vision 2050 Long-Term Strategic Plan, setting a course for the city over the next 25 years. This pivotal decision was made during a city council meeting on September 25, 2023, following a recommendation from the strategic planning ad hoc committee.

The new plan outlines seven key priorities designed to propel Owen Sound into a prosperous future, and it comes at a crucial time as the city faces evolving challenges and opportunities. The council’s resolution aims to align city resources and energy towards common goals, ensuring that all stakeholders, including employees and residents, are moving in the same direction.

Michelle Palmer, the city’s senior manager of strategic initiatives, emphasized the importance of this plan, stating, “Over the past few years, the municipal landscape in terms of both challenges and opportunities has changed dramatically. Future Owen Sound: Vision 2050 is responding to this reality.” This plan has been in development for nearly two years, building on earlier strategic efforts initiated in 2021.

Community engagement was robust, with over 1,000 surveys completed and more than 5,000 qualitative responses collected to inform the city’s priorities. The data-driven approach ensures that metrics are included to measure progress, with plans for the first citizen satisfaction survey scheduled for 2027.

The seven priorities include:

1. Prosperous City: Aiming for a net increase of 50 businesses every Census cycle and reducing commercial vacancy rates.
2. Green and Resilient City: Plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 while enhancing community satisfaction with city services.
3. Celebrating and Embracing Culture: A goal to increase employment in the arts and cultural sectors by 20% every Census cycle.
4. City Building: Enhancing urban development and increasing public satisfaction with city services to 80%.
5. A City That Moves: Developing a comprehensive transportation network and improving public satisfaction with city infrastructure.
6. Safe City: Aiming for enhanced safety and accessibility, with satisfaction metrics set to reach 80%.
7. Fostering Mutually Beneficial Relationships: Building trust and respect among community members, targeting a 80% satisfaction rate with city staff interactions.

During discussions, Councillor Jon Farmer expressed concerns over the data metrics, advocating for additional statistics on housing affordability and other critical issues. However, his motions were ultimately voted down, with Deputy Mayor Scott Greig asserting that the current metrics were sufficient for the strategic plan’s high-level goals.

Mayor Ian Boddy praised the collaboration with Jay Pitter Placemaking and thanked the community for their involvement in shaping the plan. “It is good to get this far and I think it is going to be good for future councillors to work through these,” he stated.

Next steps involve the city staff outlining initial actions in the 2026 organizational work plan and presenting a governance structure to guide the plan’s implementation. An annual review will ensure that the plan remains adaptable to changing needs and challenges.

With a capital budget of $100,000 allocated for the plan’s development, the council is committed to moving forward effectively. The approved budget for the 2025 Strategic Plan Implementation reserve fund will facilitate the execution of these critical actions.

This urgent strategic plan marks a significant milestone for Owen Sound, positioning the city for sustainable growth and community well-being over the coming decades. Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to stay engaged as the city embarks on this transformative journey.