HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-011-13 Clarington REPORT
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: December 9, 2013 Resolution #: - ` o-13 By-law#:
Report#: CAO-011-13 File #:
Subject: SUSTAINABILE CLARINGTON COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION #1 FOLLOW-UP
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
THAT Report CAO-011-13 be received for information.
�1
Submitted by:
Franklin Wu,
Chief Administrative Officer
CC:FW
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379
REPORT NO.: CAO- 011-13 PAGE 2
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to respond to Council's direction on the matter of
reporting on what would be involved in enabling Clarington residents and
businesses to easily be aware of and locate information on living and doing
business in sustainable ways.
2. BACKGROUND
2.1 In its November 4th report, the Sustainable Clarington Community Advisory
Committee (SCCAC) recommended (Recommendation #1) that "Council provide
sufficient funding and staff to enable the Municipality's communications staff to
work with Regional Communications staff and with all the different community
organizations that can contribute here so that Clarington residents and business
can, within the next 12 months, easily be aware of and locate information on
living and doing business in more sustainable ways and on the range of
initiatives the Municipality is undertaking to demonstrate leadership in
sustainability and each can easily contribute their own ideas."
2.2 At its November 18th Council meeting, Resolution #GPA-547-13 was approved.
It provided that in the case of recommendation #1 that "staff be requested to
report to Council on:
(a) how to achieve the outcomes set out in recommendation 1
(b) the costs to do this and
(c) how the costs would be distributed;
that such staff report be provided before the end of December, 2013 so that
Council may consider this matter in the 2014 budget deliberations."
3. COMMENTS
3.1 The Sustainability Committee made it clear in its report that it is not looking for
existing programs to be expanded. Rather they are only looking for existing
programs to be better communicated in order to reach a clear outcome: within
12 months residents and business can easily:
• be aware of and locate information on living and doing business in more
sustainable ways
• be aware of the range of initiatives the Municipality is undertaking to
demonstrate leadership in sustainability
• contribute their own ideas.
3.2 Staff have assessed how to achieve the outcomes recommended and conclude
that the key communications actions include:
REPORT NO.: CAO- 411-13 PAGE 3
- gather and inventory communications about the range of programs and
services available to residents and businesses from sources such as the
Region of Durham, Veridian, Hydro One, the conservation authorities and
community organizations
- place this inventory in an accessible manner on the Municipality's website
- anticipate and address issues that may arise with providing this type of
information on the Municipality's website, e.g., protection of privacy, ensuring
a level playing field for commercial firms providing products or services in this
area, keeping the information up to date
- create an internal means to collect and communicate information from
Municipal Departments on initiatives the Municipality is undertaking to
demonstrate leadership in sustainability
- create a means by which residents and businesses can contribute their own
suggestions about programs and services to this inventory.
3.3 While the time frames available have not permitted detailed project planning,
Staff believe that these activities while significant, can be initially accommodated
within the proposed 2014 Budget of the Communications and Tourism Division
and that the outcomes listed above can largely met within the 12 month time
frame set by the Committee. Should more detailed project planning reveal that
additional resources would be required, then the project would be scoped to
work within the 2014 resources and funding sought to complete the full scope in
the 2015 Budget.
4. CONCLUSION
4.1 Communicating to Clarington residents and business what programs and
services are available to live and do business in sustainable ways is important.
This outcome, early analysis shows, should be able to be largely accomplished
within existing resources. It will get underway in the new year so this outcome
can be achieved, as recommended by the Sustainable Clarington Community
Advisory Committee, within one year.
CONFORMITY WITH STRATEGIC PLAN —The recommendations contained in this
report conform to the following priorities of the Strategic Plan:
Promoting economic development
Maintaining financial stability
X Connecting Clarington
X Promoting green initiatives
Investing in infrastructure
X Showcasing our community
Not in conformity with Strategic Plan
Staff Contact: Curry Clifford, MPA, CMO, Corporate Initiatives Officer