There is lots going on at city council meetings these days.
The big ones are the budget process and the review of our official community plan.
The budget process started months ago for staff and council will begin deliberations in December. Last week we accepted submissions from city residents for special referrals – requests to the city for projects citizens would like to see achieved. It was an interesting evening with lots of creative projects aimed at making Salmon Arm a better place. I admire the people who put these project plans together and bring them to our attention.
Consuming much of staff and council time, the review of the official community plan (OCP) is now underway. The last OCP review was done in 2010 and it has served as a successful guiding document. We are ready to look forward to address new issues and new ideas over the next 10 years.
Many things have changed in the last 13 years. Climate is a bigger issue than ever and our community is growing at a challenging rate, so it’s a good time to reassess our goals.
In the last few weeks council approved appointments of the 17 members to sit on an OCP steering committee. This committee will include 10 representatives from community groups and seven members at large. There was a very good response from the public for these positions and I believe we have good representation of the general make up of our community. Council made the final appointments on Oct. 9.
At our council meeting on Oct. 23, council reviewed staff’s recommendations and approved a consultant who will begin the public engagement process in the new year. An OCP will only be deemed successful if it represents the needs and wants of our community, so it’s very important to get this step right. I anticipate a robust and varied event schedule, both online and in person, during which the ideas and future hopes of our city can be recorded and assessed. This is the best chance we have, as a council, of making sure the future Salmon Arm is the best fit for all its residents. It’s also the best chance for residents to steer our future development. Whether it’s recreation opportunities, bike lanes, wilderness spaces, the density of housing, roads and sidewalks, or something not even on our radar – please reach out. Be sure to refer to our city website for updates on opportunities to participate.
Sylvia Lindgren is a councillor for the City of Salmon Arm.