District of Muskoka seeking community feedback for Strategic Plan Draft
The District of Muskoka endorsed the 2023 to 2026 Strategic Plan Draft and advised they are seeking community input for phase two, in the May 15, 2023, Council meeting.
According to the report, the first phase was to establish priorities, such as the District’s vision, mission, and values, which were “created based on feedback from Staff and the Steering Committee.”
The vision includes a “connected, compassionate, and sustainable Muskoka.”
The mission states the District will “deliver services and lead change toward a healthier, more equitable and sustainable Muskoka. We grow and evolve what we do to deliver value, connection, and compassion to our residents.”
The values include “respect innovation, service, and equity.”
Priority areas will include a focus on “respecting, protecting and restoring” the environment, “a prosperous, safe, connected, and healthy community,” and offering valuable and efficient services that are “customer-centred” and with consideration to infrastructure that is sustainable.
Phase two will involve community engagement which launches this month and ends in June. Residents are encouraged to provide input to staff regarding the District’s priorities and objectives regarding what they consider most important, and whether it’s in line with their values.
Staff will include the community feedback in a report they will present to Council in July that will include recommended updates based on the input.
Councillor, Peter Johnston, indicated that he was “pleased with the priority areas and objectives, and talking to people in Muskoka will reflect what we’re looking for as well.”
Councillor, Brenda Rhodes, suggested the vision was missing that the organization is missing “soft, kind, [and] compassionate.” She added, “We need to be leaders less on the service side, and more on the service side and with a vision for the future.”
Councillor, Sandy Cairns, expressed the importance of keeping the public aware of things that are happening in the community. She added, “We need to brag about what the District does on a regular basis because people are saying ‘You don’t do this, and you don’t do that.’ Therefore, it will make the public aware of what municipalities and District do.”
To learn more about the draft, including seeing a video presentation of the Plan, or to share your opinion, visit the District’s website, at engagemuskoka.ca.
