County’s sustainability plan looks at 25-year vision

BY KIRK STARRATT

Kings County Register

Although it’s a must for municipalities to complete an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) by 2010 to get federal-provincial gas tax funding, the benefits of the document will extend much further.

Kings County community development services director Bill Butler says, while the county is undertaking the ICSP as a requirement for the gas tax funding, he hopes something quite meaningful to the future of the municipality comes out of the process.

The county is approaching the ICSP in two parts: the first phase establishes the parameters for a 25-year vision for the municipality. Consultants CBCL will have that phase done in early 2009.

Another request for proposals will implemet the common vision through an action plan. By the fall of 2009, Butler said they hope to have a completed ICSP to present to the province. “We want to create something meaningful that this and future councils can use to help guide decisions,” he said. “Hopefully it can be used, improved upon and built on.”

Butler said he anticipates the public participation process will take place over the next six to eight weeks.

The ICSP committee, made up of county council’s executive committee and representatives from county villages, reviewed CBCL’s Findings Report Oct. 30. Butler said prior to the meeting, hopefully, approval would be given to the public engagement plan.

The Findings Report contains chapters on Project Objectives, Scope and Activities; Policy Framework, Potential Developments Affecting Social, Cultural Economic and Environmental Progress in Kings; Engagement Plan, Basis of Identification and Definition of Key Issues and Initial Thoughts on Sustainability in Kings County.

The public consultation plan includes a workshop with the steering committee, targeted interviews with informed stakeholders, consultation with community groups (including non-government organizations, towns, villages and community business and economic organizations), a resident survey and public consultation meetings.

Initial interviews and a survey undertaken by Jacques Whitford demonstrate people in Kings County have an understanding of sustainability issues affecting their community, but the results are potentially skewed by the small survey sample and the fact that the interviews targeted interested parties.

Within the four pillars of economic, social, cultural and environmental sustainability; the ICSP will initially focus on areas where municipal government can pursue action.

Sustainability principles identified by the consultants include environmental stewardship, economic opportunities, social responsibility, fiscal responsibility and good governance.