Read the full Strategic Objectives document
Introduction
Council and staff of the Municipality of Lakeshore are pleased to present this strategic outlook document, which represents the culmination of intensive work and planning undertaken on behalf of our valued residents, as we look toward 2026. This plan directs us to look ahead, towards a future that reflects both our rich history and our ambitious aspirations. With deep historical roots dating back to early settlement days, Lakeshore stands as a testament to the strength, determination, and collaborative spirit of our communities. From humble beginnings to the vibrant and thriving municipality it is today; Lakeshore has journeyed through time with unwavering pride in its identity.
As we navigate our modern landscape, Lakeshore’s story continues to be one of growth and progress. Our communities have flourished, embracing change and innovation while preserving the natural beauty that surrounds us in our rural landscape. With each passing year, Lakeshore has emerged as a beacon of promise, a place where the past meets the present, and the seeds of a promising future are sown. As we stand at the threshold of a new era, we acknowledge the transformative challenges that the global pandemic has brought to the forefront, reshaping our priorities and compelling us to forge a path forward that is resilient, adaptive, and community centric. In this strategic outlook document, we lay the foundation for Lakeshore’s continued success, drawing on our collective strengths to address the unique challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Strategic Objectives
- Building and Stewarding Municipal Infrastructure
- Developing Our Future Communities
- Modernizing and Enhancing Municipal Function
- Becoming an Economic Leader in Essex County
- Modernizing Citizen-Centered Service
Mayor's Message
As the Mayor of Lakeshore, I am incredibly proud of the strategic objectives that have been laid out for our municipality. These objectives represent a bold vision for our future and a clear roadmap to move our communities and the entire municipality forward. Each strategic objective is carefully designed to address key areas of focus and align with our overarching goal of creating a thriving and sustainable place for our residents to live, work and play.
Building and stewarding municipal infrastructure is crucial for the long-term development and maintenance of our Municipality. Through effective asset management planning, we will ensure the optimal utilization and preservation of our infrastructure assets, including stormwater and water/wastewater systems. Additionally, our commitment to gravel road conversion will significantly improve transportation infrastructure for our residents and attract businesses seeking a well-developed and connected location. By focusing on these infrastructure initiatives, we will lay the foundation for sustainable growth and development in Lakeshore.
Developing our future communities is another key strategic objective that emphasizes the importance of thoughtful and well-planned urban development. With the implementation of the Wallace Woods Secondary Plan and individual community plans, we will create vibrant and sustainable neighborhoods that meet the evolving needs of our residents. Moreover, our dedication to delivering one park per term will enhance recreational spaces, foster a sense of community, and improve the overall well-being of our residents. These community development initiatives will shape the future of Lakeshore, ensuring that it remains an attractive and desirable place to live and work.
Modernizing and enhancing our municipal function is a crucial objective that speaks to our dedication to effective governance and transparency. By embracing technology and automation, we streamline our operations and reduce administrative barriers allowing us to respond promptly to our residents’ needs. As a municipality, it is essential that we continuously evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of our residents.
Becoming a economic leader in Essex County is an ambitious vision that positions Lakeshore at the forefront of economic growth and innovation. Establishing industrial and greenhouse business parks, coupled with our business attraction and retention plan, creates an environment that attracts investment and supports local businesses. By branding Lakeshore as an economic leader, we showcase our potential and invite collaboration and growth. These initiatives strengthen our economic foundation and offer promising opportunities for our residents to thrive
in a thriving business ecosystem.
Modernizing citizen-centered service is deeply aligned with my own vision as Mayor. Our residents are the heart of our municipality, and their satisfaction and well-being are vital. Modernizing our bylaws, adopting citizen response time levels of service and enhancing online service delivery ensures that our residents receive a seamless and user-friendly experience when engaging with the municipality. By actively listening to our residents, addressing their needs, and valuing their feedback we strengthen the bond between our residents and the Municipality.
In conclusion, these strategic objectives represent our commitment to building a brighter future for Lakeshore.
Objective #1: Building and Stewarding Municipal Infrastructure
- Update Asset Management Plan including management of current core infrastructure:
- Creating a comprehensive municipal asset management plan is vital to ensure the efficient utilization, maintenance, and longevity of essential infrastructure and resources, fostering a resilient foundation for the sustainable growth and development of our community.
- Develop Phase 2 Stormwater Master Plan, including setting of stormwater levy:
- Developing a municipal storm and wastewater master plan is crucial to safeguard our environment, protect public health, and ensure the effective management and distribution of water resources, promoting a sustainable and thriving future for Lakeshore and its residents.
- Identify gravel roads for conversion and set a plan to execute:
- Converting gravel roads to tar and chip is essential for optimizing municipal functionality and driving economic growth by enhancing transportation efficiency, reducing maintenance costs, and attracting new investments that can flourish in a modernized infrastructure landscape.
Objective #2: Developing our Future Community
- Develop a 25-year Municipal Master Plan for all communities/regions:
- Creating and adhering to a community master plan is pivotal in guiding a municipality’s growth and development with a unified vision, fostering sustainable progress, optimal resource allocation, and a resilient foundation for a thriving and harmonious future.
- Develop Wallace Woods secondary plan:
- Wallace Woods represents Lakeshore’s opportunity for new holistically planned community growth. Once the Wallace Woods Secondary Plan is adopted by Council and approved by the County, funding models will be developed to deliver the necessary infrastructure to keep Lakeshore growing.
- Create a stakeholder engagement and management plan:
- Crafting a stakeholder management plan is crucial as it systematically identifies key individuals and groups with vested interests in our initiatives, guiding meaningful engagement that ensures we address concerns, gather insights, and build collaborations aligned with our objectives, fostering transparency, support, and successful outcomes.
- Design and build one park per term:
- Building parks is crucial for Lakeshore to enhance public spaces, promote community well-being, and provide recreational opportunities that contribute to a higher quality of life for our residents.
Objective #3: Modernizing and Enhancing Municipal Function
- Organize, store and index municipal data to further evidence-based decision-making:
- Implementing a comprehensive records management system is essential for efficiently storing and organizing information, facilitating informed decision-making by enabling timely access to accurate data and insights.
- Develop and implement a future-focused business operating model:
- An efficient and functioning business operating model is vital as it integrates protocols for managing financial reserves, workflow management solutions, and risk assessment/mitigation strategies, ensuring seamless operations, financial stability, and strategic resilience in the face of uncertainties.
- Right-sizing municipal responsibilities:
- Achieving proper scaling of business functions is a pivotal endeavour that entails conducting a comprehensive core service review, aligning corporate structures and staffing levels, crafting a digital transformation plan, and establishing a Council Accountability framework, collectively guiding our organization towards efficiency, adaptability, and sustainable growth.
Objective #4: Becoming an Economic Leader in Essex County
- Plan and design a regional industrial park:
- A regional business park offers a strategic platform to attract diverse industries, generate employment opportunities, and establish Lakeshore as a hub of innovation and commerce within the broader County of Essex.
- Develop a Business Attraction and Retention Plan:
- Developing a business attraction and retention plan is vital to Lakeshore as it strategically and intentionally strengthens the local business ecosystem and enhances the overall vitality and resilience of the municipality.
- Plan and design the Greenhouse Business Park:
- The Greenhouse Business Park is Council’s proactive vision for regulating and properly planning future greenhouse activity in Lakeshore. The development of this Plan will ensure that when greenhouses do arrive in Lakeshore, that we continue to respect the integrity of the rural landscape by directing development away from our communities.
- Create a corporate branding and communication initiative (to boldly tell our story):
- Fostering a corporate brand not only shapes compelling narratives that resonate with residents and visitors but also acts as a magnetic force in business attraction, projecting a cohesive identity that highlights Lakeshore’s strengths and unique attributes, thus enhancing our reputation, appeal, and general influence.
Objective #5: Modernizing Resident-Centered Service
- Undertaking a calendar of By-Law Modernization:
- The modernization of Lakeshore’s by-laws encompasses the implementation of updated regulations and innovative enforcement strategies to ensure a harmonious balance between evolving societal needs and regulatory frameworks.
- Conceiving and implementing a plan for resident-service standards:
- Establishing resident-focused service standards is crucial to ensure seamless interactions between Lakeshore’s municipal government and its valued citizens, utilizing IT solutions, apps, and portals, streamlined phone protocols, virtual enablement, and user-friendly self-serve portals, all while optimizing staffing levels.
- Setting standards and standard operating procedures for resident communication regarding the actions of Council:
- Setting resident-focused service standards is essential to foster exceptional interactions through the utilization of cutting-edge IT solutions, user-friendly self-serve portals, refined and consistent phone protocols, corporate virtual enablement, and optimal staffing levels, all underpinned by seamless, open communication that ensures a transparent relationship between Lakeshore and its residents.
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