Council reviews Action 2010: Innisfil's 2006-2010 Business Plan
by Michelle Minnoch

Bill Winegard made a presentation to council Wednesday night regarding Action 2010, the Town's 2006-2010 Business Plan.

"This is a statement of priorities," he said. "There are many challenges facing this town."

Winegard outlines five key focus areas for Action 2010. The first, he said, is to set the stage to create more local jobs.

"We would like to be able to turn the four to one ratio (of jobs per people) to two to one."

He said three strategies have been identified to achieve this, including steps to develop the 400 area, building up commercial core areas such as Stroud, Alcona, Cookstown and Lefroy and a jobs to residents balance.

"Protecting and improving water quality and the environment is a key element council want to focus on," he said of the second key focus area.

The third is to match the infrastructure to the needs of a growing community. Winegard said money needs to be contributed and work done on the roads in the municipality. "The one objective here is to keep up the rate of hard-topping," he said. He also told council their Roads Needs Study is now outdated.

Regarding transportation, he said at some point there will be public service in Innisfil. He added when planning future areas for development, consideration has to be made for appropriate street widths and bus stop locations.

The last two points Winegard said go together; the nature of the community and style of government in Innisfil. "With the local government, you're intended to be responsible for and to stand up for the identity of Innisfil," he said.

Councilor Lynn Dollin said she liked the report, but would like to see "more punch" in the environment section.

Deputy Mayor Wauchope said the report was a good 'report card' for the members of council for the next four years.

Mayor Brian Jackson commented he would like to see another 'report card' in January 2008.