Q: What's a Plan?

A: a series of directions on how to move from one place to the next in a way that really makes sense and ensures the long-term viability of whatever you're planning for. For example: I want a new pair of jeans, but I am on Jenny Craig and losing 15 pounds a week. My plan should not be to buy a new pair of jeans every week. My plan should be to learn how to sew my own jeans!

A: an Official Community Plan (OCP) is a provincially-mandated legal plan (see above) that outlines how decisions are going to be made in Williams Lake, where buildings are going to built, what kinds of buildings are going to be built, why, how and what is going to happen in those buildings. The OCP will be built as part of the ICSP framework (see below). Further, an OCP:

A:  An Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) is a long-term strategic plan for municipalities.  Developed in consultation with members of the community, it identifies goals for sustainability and provides direction for communities as they move into the future.

An ICSP recognizes the interconnected dimensions of environmental, social, cultural,and economic development within a community and/or at the regional level and focuses on integrating these considerations to achieve 20- to 30-year (and beyond) vision for the community. ICSPs aim to empower communities to address their current and future needs, embedding their infrastructure requirements within these broader strategies.

 

---

Q: What is "The Natural Step" Framework?

A: The "Imagine Our Future" ICSP Framework is based on "The Natural Step" approach which outlines four key requirements for achieving sustainability.  For a short video that explains this approach, click here.

---

Q: What are the Next Steps in the Process?

A:

• Summarize feedback from the Innovators Summit, consider ideas and issues raised for ICSP and OCP

• Suitability Focus Groups and survey, March 1-15, 2010

• Draft Suitability Map Open House, April 2010

• Community Partners Café III – Draft ICSP, April 2010

• Draft Land Use Plan Open House, May/June 2010

• Draft OCP Open House, September/October 2010

• OCP Approval

---

Q: What are people saying?

A.  Thank you to all those who participated in this projects events! We've summarized your feedback:

•  The “overarching”  policy document for the City

•  Takes a long term view, in this case 25 years

•  Used to guide short-, medium and long-term decision making

•  A synthesis of the vision, strategies, and actions to create the community’s desired future

•  A tool for engaging community leaders and organizations to take proactive steps that create a sustainable Williams Lake

       •  Guides the development of municipal plans, including updates to Official 
        Community Plans (OCP).

Components of the Williams Lake ICSP:



Strategic Priority Areas Identified under the Williams Lake ICSP process:
 

1.Lively Downtown

2.Local Food and Agriculture

3.Cherished Local Ecosystems

4.Active and Convenient Transportation

5.Affordable Housing and Liveable Neighbourhoods

6.Resilient Economy

7.Partnering with First Nations

8.Distinctive Arts and Culture

9.World Class Recreation

10.Social Well-Being

Please click on the image below to download the documents.

   

Q: Where are conversations taking place in the community?


A:
Sustainability Fair - June 13th, 2009

Download and read what people had to say here.


Kitchen Table Meetings - June 18th, 2009



Performance in the Park - June 18th, 2009

Download and read what people had to say here.


Community Partners Cafe - June 19th, 2009

Download and read what people had to say here.


Dave Jacobs Run, National Aboriginal Day, Soccer Tournament
June 20-21st, 2009

Download and read what people had to say here.

Q: What’s the City’s role in GHG reduction? 

A:

• As a  signatory to BC Climate Action Charter, the City has agreed, along with most BC communities, to:
         üCarbon neutrality in its own operations by 2012;