LAURIE WEIR

Town staff is busy moving major projects.

Smiths Falls council received an update on its 2023–2026 Strategic Plan during a June 23 committee of the whole meeting, where CAO Malcolm Morris said most of the 35 initiatives are either completed, underway or slated to start soon.

“We’ve moved the needle on several … all of these are very active files that were balancing and moving forward,” Morris said.

The report outlines progress across six strategic priorities: transportation networks, housing, waterfront and downtown redevelopment, infrastructure renewal, new business attraction, and parks, trails and recreation.

“Most items are on track or haven’t yet started. There are some that are contingent on other projects, like the … OP, so once they’re in place, we can move to the next phase of those. So, a few we have not started, purposely,” Morris said.

He cited the active transportation plan as an example.

“Active transportation is on road as well … Director McMunn’s working with his staff, we committed to doing [it] in-house. There would be an external cost for that. So that would be the focus in the autumn and … we hope to want something early during the winter … to bring forward to you.”

One of the most visible infrastructure projects is Confederation Bridge and is expected to be completed this fall.

“What I can say right now is we’re waiting for a permit from Parks Canada, so we’re working closely with them to get that permit so we can move forward.”

In terms of new programming, council heard that the Centennial Park open-air farmers’ market launched in May and is seeing early success.

“It seems to be running very well, a great reception, a great selection of vendors,” Morris said. “The strategic plan specifically state[s] feasibility study. So, we want to get your opinion on whether the existing market checks that box or whether we need to study it further.”

A few councillors shared support for keeping the market simple.

Morris added, “My suggestion is, because we have a pilot, we’ll do a wrap up of a year and we can … address some of those issues and make a decision on next year, going forward.”

Other highlights from the update include:

• The draft Official Plan is on track, with further public consultation expected later this year.
• The Heritage Conservation District plan is progressing, with a public draft expected over the summer.
• The updated procurement policy will be presented this summer.
• The Climate Action Plan is advancing, with public consultation planned.
• Trail upgrades are ongoing, with gaps at the Lombard/Abbott intersection and Lower Reach Park being addressed.

“There are 35 initiatives that are being worked on at various levels,” Morris said, “but I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.”

Coun. Peter McKenna acknowledged the scope of work.

“It’s not like this is all staff have to do,” she said. “There’s all of the world of municipal world that you have to deliver on beyond a strategic plan … and then the surprises — fires or the government changes … so I’m very pleased, thank you.”

Morris replied, “I would also just give credit to the directors here in the room. They take on the lion’s share of this work while they’re running operations … It takes a team to make these things happen.”

In response to a Coun. Chris McGuire’s question about the Beckwith Street bike lane, Morris said, “We know we need to connect it … Am I confident we will? Absolutely. It just may not be a dedicated track or a dedicated lane. That may be shared use. But will we have that in a plan? Yes. And done before 2026? I would say, first quarter.”

On the downtown revitalization program, he said staff “are taking a deep dive into it … raising our expectations for what we want to accomplish.”

Morris said the management team will assess resource needs this fall. “If we need additional resources, we’ll certainly address them.”