2007-11-28_Agenda Packet--Dossier de l'ordre du jour
City of Saint John
Common Council Meeting
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Committee of the Whole
1. Call to Order
5:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole Open Session - Council Chamber
1.1 Saint John's Community Vision Presented by the Vision 2015 Citizens
Advisory Group
City of Saint John
Seance du conseil communal
Le mercredi 28 novembre 2007
Comite plenier
1. Ouverture de la seance
17 h Comite plenier en seance publique - salle du conseil
1.1 La Vision Communautaire de Saint John Presentee par Ie Comite Consultatif
des Citoyens ReIatif it Ia Vision 2015
VISION 2015
OUR SAINT JOHN OF THE FUTURE
CITY OF SAINT JOHN
NOVEMBER 26, 2007
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VISION 2015
OUR SAINT JOHN OF THE FUTURE
CITY OF SAINT JOHN
NOVEMBER 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................... .... 1
THE CITIZENS ADVISORY GROUP.............................................................................................. 1
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... ........... 2
WHAT Is VISION 2015? .................................................................................................................. 3
WHY IS VISION 2015 IMPORTANT? ................................................................................................3
P ARTNERING FOR SUCCESS........................................................................................................... 3
How WAS VISION 2015 DEVELOPED? ............................................................................................4
TRANSLATING VISION INTO ACTION ................................................ ............................................. 4
COMMUNITY VISION.................................................................................................................. 5
INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY PLAN ..................................................................5
COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIC POLICY PLANS ............................................................5
CORPORATE STRATEGIC PLAN.................................................................................................. 6
SERVICE DELIVERY PLANS........................................................................................................ 6
WHAT IS A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY? ........................................................................................6
CITIZENS ADVISORY GROUP.......................................................................................................... 7
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITy......................................................................................................... 7
OUR SUST AINABILITY PRINCIPLES................................................................................................ 9
SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES FOR SAINT JOHN ........................................................................9
Sustainability Principle One.................................................................................................. 9
Sustainability Principle Two................................................................................................ 10
Sustainability Principle Three............................................................................................. 10
Sustainability Principle Four.............................................................................................. 11
Sustainability Principle Five ............................................................................................... 11
Sustainability Principle Six ................................................................................................. 11
Sustainability Principle Seven.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12
Sustainability Principle Eight................................................ .............................................. 12
Sustainability Principle Nine.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13
Sustainability Principle Ten................................................................................................ 13
OUR COMMUNITY VISION............................................................................................................ 14
CITY OF SAINT JOHN COMMUNITY VISION STATEMENT........................................................ 14
OUR COMMUNITY GOALS............................................................................................................ 14
TWENTY YEAR COMMUNITY GOALS....................................................................................... 15
Social.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... 15
Economic...................................................................................................................... ........ 15
Environment................................................................................................................... ...... 15
Infrastructure................................................................................................................ ....... 15
Governance.................................................................................................................... ....... 16
VISION 2015 NEXT STEPS............................................................................................................. 16
RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................................................. ... 17
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you to the thousands of people who shared their hopes and dreams for the future of Saint
John by participating in the public consultation process. Your thoughts and ideas formed the
basis for a Community Vision and Goals. We look for your continued support and input as we
work to translate your vision into action. Together we will build a stronger community.
The City of Saint John Environment Committee is recognized for their time and effort in drafting
a set of sustainabiIity principles for the City of Saint John. The Vision 2015 Committee
appreciates the contribution made by the Environment Committee.
The Vision 2015 Committee would like to acknowledge the valuable role of the Citizens
Advisory Group. The leadership and dedication of this group of community leaders was
instrumental in the success of the public engagement. Special thanks to Mike Schulze, Susan
Atkinson, and Pran<;ois Beaulieu who shared chair person responsibilities throughout the project.
THE CITIZENS ADVISORY GROUP
Mike Schulze
Susan Atkinson
Pran<;ois Beaulieu
Stephanie Bell
Ross Galbraith
Daniel Goodwin
Sarah Jones
Janet McLaughlin
Jocelyn Stevens
Ivy Wang
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INTRODUCTION
His Worship Mayor Norm McFarlane
and Members of Common Council
Your W orshi p and Members of Common Council:
I am pleased to provide the final report - Vision 2015 Our Saint John of the Future - to Saint
John Common Council. The report outlines the background, process, and results of the Vision
2015 eleven month public engagement lead by the Citizens Advisory Group.
The Citizens Advisory Group was asked to accomplish three objectives. The first was to develop
a community vision by consulting with the public. The second was to identify goals we can all
work towards to achieve this vision, and the third objective was to develop a set of sustainabiIity
principles for Saint John.
The public engagement process was a tremendous success. The Citizens Advisory Group
received feedback from approximately 4.2% of the community, translating into well over fifteen
thousand ideas on the future for Saint John. This information became the basis for a community
owned and developed vision statement and goals to describe our Saint John of the future. With
the support of the Saint John Environment Committee, sustainabiIity principles were developed.
Vision 2015 will build on the success of this public consultation. With a community developed
vision and goals, we are well prepared to translate vision into action.
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WHAT Is VISION 2015?
Vision 2015 is a shared plan for continuous improvement to make
Saint John a national leader as a sustainable community.
Starting with a long-term vision and goals developed and owned by
the community, Vision 2015 is a multi-year program designed to
translate vision into action while providing balance amongst
community needs as we move to a sustainable future for Saint John.
The project is using an integrated approach of planning, strategy,
action, and performance measurement to align City services to the
vision, goals and objectives identified by the citizens of Saint John.
WHY IS VISION 2015 IMPORTANT?
Many people believe Saint John is on the verge of transformational change.
~."
"Change has to happen by
design, not by default. You need
a vision, and leadership to
acknowledge the problem. And
you need a mechanism for
translating this vision into the
detailed actions that happen on
the grou nd"
. 1
Elisa Campbell, SPADE
With this change, we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to seek solutions for our
community needs and to maximize the benefits on the horizon. We must do this in a way that
moves us forward as a sustainable community. Specifically, we must ensure today's solutions do
not jeopardize the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Vision 2015 will provide a framework for the City of Saint John to change how it operates in
responding to community identified goals and opportunities, while improving accountability and
transparency in local government.
P ARTNERING FOR SUCCESS
Saint Johners have completed an important first step. The community has spoken and this voice
resulted in the development of a long-term vision and goals for Saint John.
Attainment of the community vision and goals will not be easy. Success will require
partnerships. Community groups, institutions, businesses, volunteer agencies, individuals and
government must work together to reach our common goals.
The support of organizations and the people of Saint John is critical in moving towards
sustainabiIity. Every person or group can actively participate by examining what they are doing
today to ensure success, and what changes they can make in decisions, plans, and actions to
1 SPADE - Sustainability Planning and Design Essentials: Fundamentals
for Implementing Sustainability into Practice By Elisa Campbell, Elisa Campbell Consulting / Design Centre for
Sustainability, School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at DBC. Page 3.
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move us closer to reaching the community vision. As individuals, we represent many diverse
sectors. Collectively, we are all stakeholders working to ensure Saint John moves forward.
The City of Saint John has an integral role to play. Vision 2015 will work to ensure that city
services are aligned to the desired outcomes for the community. These outcomes directly
contribute to the achievement of the vision for Saint John. The City of Saint John will continue
to make sure its operation provides value to Saint Johners and that the effectiveness and
efficiency of every service will be measured and reported to the community.
How WAS VISION 2015 DEVELOPED?
In February 2005, Saint John Common Council retained Chartwell
Inc., a consulting firm specializing in solutions for the public sector,
to review operations of the City of Saint John and its Agencies,
Boards, and Commissions. Chartwell worked with stakeholders to
design, develop, and carry out the review. Close to two-hundred
people from the City of Saint John and affiliated organizations,
participated in the study that spanned a seven-month period.
Chartwell reviewed and analyzed existing strategies, plans, and
financial documents. They completed a preliminary inventory of
municipal services using the Governments of Canada Strategic
Reference Model, a methodology used by many Canadian cities and
the Federal Government. The consultant noted that the City was
fortunate it had not experienced service failure due to financial
challenges and increased demand for quality services. 2
Vision 2015 was a direct recommendation of the Operational
Review. Common Council received and approved the Operational
Review report in September 2005 and shortly thereafter Vision 2015
was initiated.
TRANSLATING VISION INTO ACTION
~."
"What is required is a bold step
toward the future of Saint John;
the wholehearted adoption and
embracing of a comprehensive
program that represents a
significant investment but reaps
even more significant rewards - a
program that redresses 1 0 years
of under-investment in the City's
people and its physical
infrastructure; and a program that
turns all improvement
opportunities into the delivery of
superb programs and services that
will make Saint John a model
community in Atlantic Canada.
Vision 2015 - Saint John's
Program of Excellence is that
program."
Alan Mitchell, Chartwell Report,
Page 8
Vision 2015 is using a long-term, integrated, planning framework to translate vision into action.
The framework recognizes that the City of Saint John, like all municipalities, is a complex
system, and it addresses environmental, economic, social, governance, and infrastructure needs.3
2 Chartwell Inc., Saint John Operational Review Program Final Report. 2005. Page 9.
3 City of Saint John Project Charter - Translating Vision Into Action: Defining The Planning Framework
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I
I
I
I
1_______________________
. ction
Figure 1: Translating Vision into Action from City of Saint John Project Charter - Translating
Vision Into Action: Defining The Planning Framework
COMMUNITY VISION
The planning framework uses a top down approach that starts with a shared community vision
and goals developed through widespread public engagement. The citizens of Saint John not only
need to support a vision, it is essential they have an active role in defining it. Successful change
happens when those involved in the transformation share and work toward a common purpose.
Community participation is essential for Saint John to achieve its vision for the future.
INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
The Integrated Community SustainabiIity Plan (ICSP) looks twenty to thirty years in the future
and is developed in consultation with the community. The strength of an ICSP is the whole
systems approach to planning. Policies will be developed to balance the community needs and
goals. Along with a community vision and sustainabiIity principles, this plan includes an analysis
of current issues, identification of community goals and outcomes, action plans with
performance measurement, and an implementation and monitoring plan.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIC POLICY PLANS
Saint John Common Council operates on a four-year term and each new council will set
priorities for their mandate from the outcomes and strategies contained in the ICSP. These
priorities will be measurable and contribute to reaching the Vision for Saint John. Strategic
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policy plans provide more detail on Council priontles. It is expected they will become the
responsibility of the Standing Policy Committees under the proposed Council Policy-Committee
form of governance.
CORPORATE STRATEGIC PLAN
Saint John Common Council sets priorities and establishes policy to provide direction to the City
of Saint John administration. In doing so Common Council will ensure the services provided by
the City are aligned with community outcomes. The corporate strategic plan translates the needs
of the community into action plans. It provides the vision, values, principles, focus, and direction
for the organization.
SERVICE DELIVERY PLANS
The final step in the planning framework is the development of Service Delivery Plans. These
are detailed administrative plans describing how services will be delivered to successfully
achieve the identified outcomes. These plans ensure the community's needs are met,
achievement of Council priorities, and maximization of limited resources.
WHAT IS A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY?
In the future, Saint John will be nationally recognized as a sustainable
community. The Brundtland definition describes sustainabiIity as
"Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their needs." 4But what does this
really mean?
We think there are three major differences between a sustainable
community and a community that uses a traditional approach.
A sustainable community recognizes the importance of long range
planning and in doing so has a vision and goals to describe the future.
This look forward allows communities to determine what needs to be
done today to reach tomorrow.
Sustainable communities understand that social, economic, and
environmental needs are interrelated and take a whole systems approach
to provide for balanced priorities.
~."
The Brundtland Commission,
convened by the United Nations
in 1983, was created to address
growing concern about the
accelerating deterioration of the
human environment and natural
resources and the impact of that
deterioration for economic and
social development. In
establishing the commission, the
UN recognized environmental
problems were global in nature
and determined that it was in the
common interest of all nations to
establish policies for sustainable
development.
Sustainable communities know that community groups, institutions, businesses, volunteer
agencies, government and individuals must work together to set goals, form plans, and
implement solutions.
4 http://en. wiki pedia. org/wiki/SustainabiIity
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CITIZENS ADVISORY GROUP
One of the first initiatives in the Vision 2015 public engagement was to establish a Citizens
Advisory Group. The citizens of Saint John not only needed to support a vision for the future, it
was essential they had an active role in defining this vision. The Citizens Advisory Group led the
public engagement. This group was a working committee that researched, planned and
implemented the community consultation.
The Citizens Advisory Group is a team of community leaders committed to ensuring the success
of this project. The group is comprised of; Susan Atkinson, Fran<;ois Beaulieu, Stephanie Bell,
Ross Galbraith, Daniel Goodwin, Sarah Jones, Janet McLaughlin, Michael Schulze, Jocelyn
Stevens and Ivy Wang.
The group prepared the Community Vision Statement and Goals based on the hopes and dreams
people of Saint John shared through the consultation.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
On November 6, 2006, Common Council initiated a wide spread public engagement by adopting
the following resolution:
"RESOLVED that Common Council endorse and support the initiation of a community
consultation process regarding the long-term vision for our community as detailed in the
submitted report Vision 2015 - Community Consultation."
Engaging the community was accomplished through a Community Visioning project, which was
lead by the Citizens Advisory Group. The project had three goals. The first goal was to develop
a shared community vision for Saint John through public engagement. The second was to
identify outcomes or community needs, because without understanding the needs it will be
difficult for the City of Saint John and the community to position Saint John a national leader in
sustainabiIity. The last goal of the project was to develop a set of sustainabiIity principles for
Saint John. These principles were used to help guide the development of the vision and the goals.
One of the first assignments for the Citizens Advisory Group was to prepare a strategy to gather
input from as many people in the community as possible. The strategy considered the different
stakeholder groups and the best way to engage them in the process. During the public
consultation, a great deal of effort was made to identify and engage various stakeholder groups.
Reflecting the diversity in the community was a priority in this project. Communication with the
public was important and a communications plan was prepared. Both the public engagement and
communication strategies were evaluated throughout the process to assess effectiveness and to
make adjustments as necessary.
Here are some highlights of the public engagement.
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... Public launch of the community consultation held at the New Brunswick Museum on April
13,2007. Close to two hundred people attended the well-received event.
... Collaborated with Fusion Saint John on the theme and activities of the "Faces of Fusion
Dinner - What's Your Visionfor Saint John."
... Release of "My Saint John" video, highlighting opinions about the future of our city and
what individuals can do to make this future a reality.
... City of Saint John website hosts the Vision 2015 questionnaire and video.
... EmaiI Campaign, "What are your Hopes and Dreams for Saint John?" involving over fifty
stakeholder groups.
... Establishment of a feedback line, 633-2015, for people wishing to respond verbally to the
five questions.
... One-hundred percent participation from middle and high schools in Vision 2015 contest.
... Community barbeques held at the South End, Somerset, North End, Carleton, and Forest
Glen Community Centres. Volunteers were on hand to capture the opinions of people
requiring assistance.
... Attendance at local events and venues with the questionnaire.
... Solicited group response to the questions.
... Meetings with the local business community.
... Vision 2015 Facebook set up on the networking web site to exchange ideas about the future
of Saint John.
... Collaborated with Saint John Energy to have Vision 2015 messaging on energy bills.
... Support from Harbour Station for promotion of the public consultation on the out door
digital billboard.
... Promotional give away sponsored by McDonalds Restaurants for returned surveys.
The public consultation concluded in July, 2007. The advisory group received feedback from
approximately 4.2 % of the community. This translates into well over fifteen thousand ideas on
the future of Saint John. This is a tremendous response and the opinions and comments once
again show the commitment the people of Saint John have to our city. The Citizens Advisory
Group analyzed, debated, reviewed and understood this information. It became the basis for our
Community Vision Statement.
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The second objective of the project was to identify goals to ensure a clear picture of the needs of
the community. The public consultation process was enhanced by hosting an open workshop to
assist the Citizens Advisory Group to define community needs. Stakeholder groups and
interested individuals from the community were invited to participate in this workshop by public
advertisement and direct mailing.
Shaping the Vision, A Community Conversation was held on September 25 and 26, 2007 with
close to one hundred and fifty individuals attending the two-day workshop. Facilitators from
Jacques Whitford expertly guided the participants through a series of sessions to collaborativeIy
develop community goals and to provide feedback on a draft vision statement. At the end of the
workshop, substantial progress was made. A set of draft community needs was prepared and
ready for the next stage of the engagement. Additional input from a number of stakeholder
groups on the draft goals was provided to the Citizens Advisory Group before the final version
was prepared.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES
An important goal of the Community Vision project was the development of sustainabiIity
principles. The City of Saint John Environment Committee was requested to review and modify
the Melbourne Principles to make them applicable to Saint John.
The Melbourne Principles were developed to assist cities that wanted to achieve sustainable
development. They provide a set of statements on how a sustainable city would function and
were intended to guide thinking, and provide a strategic framework for decision making. The
Principles are not prescriptive. They allow cities to develop sustainable solutions that are
relevant to their particular circumstances and this was the approach taken by the Environment
Committee.
The Environment Committee completed this initiative and presented the sustainabiIity principles
to Common Council in June, 2007. The principles guided the development of the vision and the
goals, and are an important component of the whole systems approach to the project.
SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES FOR SAINT JOHN
Sustainability Principle One
Provide a long-term vision for Saint John based on the pillars of sustainabiIity: social/cultural,
environmental and economic.
Elaboration
... Sustainable development is the process of balancing the need of humans for economic and
social development with the need to protect the natural and built environment. Balancing
these three areas is commonly referred to as the "Triple Bottom Line". These needs must be
met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future. Sustainable development is defined
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as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Commission).
... Saint John is a city experiencing substantial changes to its social, cultural, economic and
environmental characteristics. A long-term vision, which is developed with the community,
will ensure the informed governance and management of its resources.
... A vision founded on the principles of sustainabiIity will incorporate the needs of all sectors
of society. Promoting a legacy of human and natural resource conservation and reflecting the
individuality of Saint John are prerequisites.
Sustainability Principle Two
Recognize and incorporate the valued and distinctive characteristics of Saint John - including its
human, cultural, historical and natural attributes - in our vision and planning for a sustainable
city.
Elaboration
... Saint John has distinct human, cultural, historic and natural characteristics. It is important to
incorporate these characteristics into a plan because this will motivate people in Saint John to
achieve sustainable development and regeneration.
... Our local leaders should understand the human and natural characteristics that define our
community. Because these characteristics change over time, our local leaders should
participate in ongoing community engagement to ensure they remain in touch with the
changes in Saint John.
... Understanding these characteristics and their historical context will assist local leaders to
gauge the long-term consequences of the decisions made about growth, urban form and the
natural environment.
Sustainability Principle Three
Engage the entire community of Saint John in the planning and implementation of sustainable
solutions.
Elaboration
... The journey towards sustainabiIity requires strong support from within the community. It is
critical to have the active participation of the community in all stages of the process, from
long-term planning to implementation of solutions.
... People have a right to be involved in the decisions that affect them. Attention needs to be
given to empowering those whose voices are not always heard. Everyone in the community
should have the capacity to participate in their local government processes.
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Sustainability Principle Four
Respect Saint John's natural ecosystems. Act as a custodian for the biodiversity and natural
ecosystems of Saint John, and protect and restore them.
Elaboration
... Nature is more than a commodity for the benefit of humans. We share the Earth with many
other life-forms that have their own intrinsic value. They warrant our respect, whether or not
they are of immediate benefit to us.
... It is through people's direct experience with nature that they understand its value and gain a
better appreciation of the importance of healthy habitats and ecosystems. This connection
provides them with an appreciation of this need to manage our interactions with nature
respectfull y.
... Just as humans have the ability to alter the habitat and even to extinguish other species, we
can also protect and restore biodiversity. Therefore, we have a responsibility to act as
custodians for nature.
... Saint John is a coastal city where the Saint John and Kennebecasis Rivers join and meet the
ocean. These freshwater, estuarine and seashore ecosystems are critical to the character and
future of Saint John.
Sustainability Principle Five
Model the development of Saint John on the characteristics of natural systems.
Elaboration
... Saint John can become more sustainable by modeling urban processes on the ecological
principles by which natural ecosystems operate.
... The characteristics of ecosystems include diversity, adaptiveness, interconnectedness,
resilience, and regenerative capacity. Incorporating these characteristics into the development
of Saint John will make the city more sustainable, resulting in environmental, social and
economic benefits.
... For example, in nature there is no such thing as waste, just a resource for a new product. By
striving for this in Saint John, we can increase our efficiency and minimize our ecological
footprint.
Sustainability Principle Six
Strive to minimize Saint John's ecological footprint.
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Elaboration
... Cities consume significant quantities of resources and have impacts that extend well beyond
their borders.
... One way of describing the impact of a city is to measure its ecological footprint. The
ecological footprint measures the 'load' on nature imposed by meeting the needs of its
population. It represents the land, water and air necessary to sustain current levels of resource
consumption and deal with waste discharged by that population. Reducing the ecological
footprint of a city is a positive contribution towards sustainabiIity.
... Like any living system, Saint John consumes material, land, water, air and energy, and
generates wastes. This is the 'metabolism' of the city and it can be made more efficient to
reduce our ecological footprint. Reducing the footprint involves solving problems locally,
rather than shifting them to other geographic locations or to future generations.
... Using tools such as Life Cycle Assessment in decision making helps to identify and
implement sustainable habits and practices.
Sustainability Principle Seven
Achieve long-term economic stability and social security in Saint John.
Elaboration
... Long-term economic and social stability and security are prerequisites for beneficial change
and are dependent upon environmentally sound, sustainable development.
... To achieve "triple bottom line" sustainabiIity, economic strategies need to increase the value
and vitality of human and natural systems. Economic strategies should seek to meet basic
human needs in a just and equitable manner through fair allocation of resources, and should
enable access to potable water, clean air, food, security, shelter and safe sanitation.
... Cities support and nurture human diversity; their policies, structures and institutions can
significantly contribute to fostering cohesive, stimulating, safe and fulfilling communities.
Sustainability Principle Eight
Foster communication among community groups and organizations to emphasize sustainabiIity
as a common shared goal.
Elaboration
... Develop and strengthen new and eXIstmg networks within Saint John. Promote multi-
disciplinary partnerships to facilitate the transfer of knowledge, build capacity and support
continual environmental, economic and social improvement.
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... The people of Saint John are the key to making our city sustainable. It is critical that the
people of Saint John be well-informed and that they can easily access and share knowledge.
The energy and talents of people are maximized by working together through such networks.
... There is also value in Saint John sharing its experience with other communities, pooling
resources to develop sustainabiIity tools, and supporting and mentoring one another through
regional networks and collective efforts.
Sustainability Principle Nine
Promote sustainable production and consumption through the use of environmentally sound
technologies and effective demand management.
Elaboration
... A range of approaches and tools can be used to promote sustainable production and
consumption in Saint John. Increasing public awareness about these approaches is a valuable
strategy to achi eving sustainabiIi ty.
... Demand management means conservation of resources and reduction in consumption. This
approach can also provide significant savings in infrastructure investment.
... Sustainable production is achieved by using environmentally-sound technologies. These
technologies are less polluting, use resources in a more sustainable manner, recycle wastes
and bi-products, and handle all remaining wastes in an environmentally acceptable way.
... Environmentally sound technologies can create economic growth, reduce environmental
impacts, enhance value along a supply chain, and support responsible product stewardship.
Sustainability Principle Ten
Establish a systematic process of continual improvement, based on action planning,
accountability, transparency and good governance.
Elaboration
... Good governance requires processes that achieve sustainabiIity through continual
improvement. While in some areas, gains may be incremental, there are also opportunities to
make much more substantial improvements through innovative strategies, programs and
technologies.
... The continual improvement cycle requires relevant indicators, targets based on benchmarks
and monitoring of progress against milestones to achieve these targets. This facilitates
progress and accountability and ensures effective implementation.
... Transparency and openness are a requirement of good governance.
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OUR COMMUNITY VISION
In April 2007, the Citizens Advisory Group launched a public consultation
by asking, "What are your hopes and dreams for Saint John?"
The response to the five questions was tremendous. The Citizens Advisory
Group received and analyzed well over fifteen thousand ideas on the
future of Saint John. It was evident that Saint Johners care deeply about
the future of our city and the Citizens Advisory Group considered it a
privilege to review and understand the community's response.
A vision statement is a shared description that will provide purpose,
direction, and inspiration as we define what we want Saint John to be in
the future. The Citizens Advisory Group is proud to share a Community
Vision for Saint John - a vision that has been developed through ideas and
opinions expressed by the citizens of Saint John.
CITY OF SAINT JOHN COMMUNITY VISION STATEMENT
OUR SAINT JOHN OF THE FUTURE
~."
What do you value about Saint
John?
What is it like for you to live here?
What changes would you most like
to see in the community?
What are your hopes and dreams
for Saint John in 100 years?
What could you do to make these
hopes and dreams happen?
Our Saint John, Canada's first city, leads the nation as an example of a sustainable community.
Our Saint John was born of the water. Like the tides we live by, we are responsive to the
constant changes in our environment, economy, and society.
Our Saint John is a livable city designed for people where everyone can feel at home. We are
diverse in cultures, rich in arts, full of exciting entertainment and recreational activities.
Our Saint John provides educational excellence and life long learning opportunities to help
people reach their full potential. Our dynamic economy is built on creativity, innovation and
entrepreneurial spirit.
Our Saint John is a population of problem solvers where each individual and organization has a
vital role to play. It is a place where leadership is based on transparency, integrity, and trust.
Our Saint John is a place where we overcome our challenges and live our dreams.
This is our Saint John.
OUR COMMUNITY GOALS
The Citizens Advisory Group was asked to identify community goals to clarify and fulfill the
vision for Saint John. The goals provide a further description of Saint John in the future and can
be used to focus community attention and actions. The goals developed in this project are at a
.
14.
VISION 2015
OUR SAINT JOHN OF THE FUTURE
CITY OF SAINT JOHN
NOVEMBER 2007
high level and reflect the intent of the vision. They state what we want to achieve for the future
of Saint John.
TWENTY YEAR COMMUNITY GOALS
Social
Our City has a strong sense of community and belonging. We live active and healthy lifestyles
supported by a diversity of parks and open spaces, recreation facilities and programs, cultural
and social events and public gathering places.
Our City provides a diverse and seamless array of educational opportumtles that promote
individual self-sufficiency, innovation, creativity and life-long learning. Educational programs
are supportive of our community and economic environment.
Our City has a flexible and adaptive housing market that meets the range of needs within our
community. Affordable and suitable our housing market contributes to beautiful and diverse
neighbourhoods that evoke and encourage a strong sense of place.
Economic
Our City has a diverse, vibrant, resilient, environmentally sound economy that actively supports
wealth creation, innovation, entrepreneurship and individual economic well-being.
Our City offers a variety of economic and employment opportunities where individuals thrive
with exciting employment options that reward them for their service.
Environment
Our City recognizes the inherent responsibility of every individual and organization to embrace a
shared commitment to environmental stewardship. We are dedicated to living in balance with our
natural settings and decreasing our demands on finite natural resources.
Our City has magnificent waterfronts with public access and bicycle and pedestrian trails that
connect the entire city. Life without a car is perfectly possible and enjoyable.
Infrastructure
Our City serves the access and mobility needs of all people through an evolving array of
convenient, comfortable, affordable and efficient modes of transportation.
Our City insists on the highest standards of quality in architecture, landscaping, infrastructure
management and urban design. Our natural and built heritage is a key component in developing
new and renewed places to live, work, play and learn.
.
15.
VISION 2015
OUR SAINT JOHN OF THE FUTURE
CITY OF SAINT JOHN
NOVEMBER 2007
Governance
Our City fosters civic engagement and pride through responsible, cooperative, inclusive and
fiscally responsible government that is accountable for achieving results that matter most to our
community.
Our City plays a leadership role with other local, provincial and national elected officials to
address common challenges and opportunities for our community.
VISION 2015 NEXT STEPS
The future is exciting for Saint John and Vision 2015 will build on the success of the public
engagement process. Now that we have a community developed vision and goals we can begin to
translate vision into action by specifying measurable outcomes, strategy, action plans, and
performance measurement.
Next steps for Vision 2015 include,
... Implementation of a new governance model for the City of Saint John,
... Collaboration with the Province of New Brunswick on Sustainable Communities,
... Development of an Integrated Community SustainabiIity Plan,
... Development of a Council Priorities and Strategic Policy Plans,
... Development of a Corporate Strategic Plan, and
... Development of a Service Delivery Plan.
.
16.
VISION 2015
OUR SAINT JOHN OF THE FUTURE
CITY OF SAINT JOHN
NOVEMBER 2007
RECOMMENDA TIONS
The following recommendations are proposed.
That this report, termed Vision 2015 Our Saint John of the Future, dated November 26,2007, be
received and approved.
That Common Council endorse the Community Vision Statement, Twenty Year Goals and
SustainabiIity Principles for Saint John.
That Common Council extends appreciation to the thousands of people who participated in the
public consultation process.
That Common Council recognizes the commitment and effort of the Saint John Environment
Committee in developing SustainabiIity Principles for Saint John.
That Common Council commends the leadership and commitment from the Vision 2015 Citizens
Advisory Group throughout the public engagement and that their role be deemed completed with
the approval of this report.
Respectfully submitted,
Councillor Glen Tait
Chair Vision 2015 Committee
.
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