Please click on the links below or scroll down for Frequently Asked Questions.

What is the Strategic Plan?
What is 2020 Vision?
Why did we needa new Strategic Plan?
How does this affect me?
How has the City collected public input?
What did you do to make sure the process was transparent and accountable?
How can we afford this process in this economic climate?
Why were external consultants hired to guide the update process?
How do the City's other planning initiatives affect the Corporate Strategic Plan development?
Where can I find out more?

What is the Strategic Plan?
The Strategic Plan is a long-range planning document that outlines the City’s goals, priorities and vision for the future, and the strategies to achieve them. The plan serves as a roadmap for City decisions and initiatives, from tax rates to recreation fees, from the location of new parks and roads to the number of trucks at the fire hall. The Strategic Plan guides all other City planning documents and efforts.

Learn about the 2002 Strategic Plan.

What is 2020 Vision?
The City started developing a new Corporate Strategic Plan in 2010 and called that process 2020 Vision. The new Strategic Plan will provide focus and clarity to our future decisions, building on the success of our past and the vision of our residents, businesses, City employees and other stakeholders.

Extensive community consultation is the cornerstone of the update process. The feedback and direction received from the community and stakeholders has guided the development of a draft plan, which wasrefined through further consultation before being presented to Council for adoption on June 13, 2011. 

To make our actions count now, it’s important that the City develop a long-range view of where we want to go. We’ll be working together to develop a shared vision of Port Coquitlam in 2020, and then focusing on the steps we need to take to achieve that goal.
The final plan has been named Vision 2020.

Why did we need a new Strategic Plan?
Much has changed in the world and much has been achieved in our community since we adopted our last Strategic Plan in 2002. For example, the existing plan does not reflect today’s economic realities, environmental values, focus on sustainable service provision, or transportation improvements such as the Coast Meridian Overpass.

It’s time for a new plan, to ensure it remains relevant and continues to meet the needs of our community now and in the future.

How does this affect me?
The Strategic Plan guides every City action, expenditure and operational decision at the City of Port Coquitlam – including tax rates and service fees, what amenities and services the City provides, and what, when and how development takes place. Everyone in Port Coquitlam has a vested interest in the new Strategic Plan.
 
How has the City collected public input?
The City provided a wide variety of opportunities for input, to ensure that everyone interested has a chance to participate. Opportunities have included a statistically valid telephone survey, online survey and comment forms, focus groups, stakeholder meetings, an open house and direct feedback to the City Action Team that spearheaded the process.

What did you do to make sure the process was transparent and accountable?
The City understood that the success of the Strategic Plan hinged on the active participation of residents, businesses, City employees and other stakeholders, who understand the community’s strengths and challenges. The community consultation process was designed to ensure the input we received guided the development of the new plan, and included built-in feedback mechanisms at various steps. For example, after the initial public consultation phase in fall 2010, the draft plan was developed and further consultation took place in the spring 2011 before the plan was finalized and presented to Council for adoption on June 13, 2011. 

How can we afford this process in this economic climate?
In essence, the Strategic Plan is about determining what services we deliver to the community and how we deliver them. A relevant, current plan ensures we are using our resources (both dollars and people) in a way that best meets the needs of the community today and tomorrow, rather than wasting them on projects that are no longer local priorities.

Ultimately, an up-to-date Strategic Plan results in a more efficient, effective and targeted use of our resources – which is more important than ever when resources are limited.

Why were external consultants hired to guide the update process?
After the decision was made to develop a new Strategic Plan, the City conducted a competitive RFP (request for proposals) process to identify a strategic planning consulting group that could supplement the City’s internal knowledge with strategic planning expertise, independence and perspective.

An independent consultant brings a valuable and necessary outside perspective to the process, and helped ensure the views of valued stakeholders and the public were reflected in the draft plan. The consultant also offered expertise specific to municipal strategic planning and public consultation. This will result in a Strategic Plan that accurately reflects the community’s priorities and is an effective roadmap for future decisions.  

How do the City’s other planning initiatives affect the Corporate Strategic Plan development?
The City has conducted various planning initiatives in recent years that delved deeply into specific areas of focus, such as the environment, heritage, and parks and recreation. These plans are reflected in the new Corporate Strategic Plan within a broader community context, while also continuing to provide specific direction in their focus area.

Where can I find out more?
Questions and comments about the Strategic Plan update can be directed to Mindy Smith, Director, Corporate Services, at smithm@portcoquitlam.ca or 604.927.5211.