Community Priorities for Action: 2015-2018
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BACKGROUND
With the start of each new term, City of Kitchener Council
approves a strategic plan to set the direction of the city for the
next four years. The development of the plan starts with
research into the needs, expectations and priorities of citizens
and their ideas for making Kitchener a more satisfying place to
live, work and play.
Work began on this research in October 2013, with the
engagement of more than 1000 residents in a telephone survey
conducted by Environics Research Group. The results of the
survey provided insight into the current issues in the community
and the high level strategic themes were developed.
In late spring of 2014, citizens were invited to provide more
specific input on each theme, identifying the single most
important action they would like the city to take to make
progress in the next four years.
Compass Kitchener, a Citizens Advisory Committee to Council
made up of a small group of dedicated volunteers, provided
leadership and direction to the process and spent many hours
out in the community having conversations with citizens and
collecting valuable input. All of the input received was reviewed
and analyzed by that committee and presented to City Council in
September 2014 as the Community Priorities and Strategic
Directions that are included in this document.
Kitchener is a great place to live.
87%
Of Kitchener
Residents rate
overall quality of life
as good or excellent
The City of Kitchener’s Community Priorities
for action were identified through an
extensive community engagement and
consultation process. They will guide City
Council and staff as they make decisions on
goals and strategic actions for the next four
years. With limited resources the city cannot
do everything. Understanding the priorities of
the community will help the city decide where
to focus public resources based on those
things that will make the most difference to
the overall quality of life for citizens.
Government
Transparent, accountable and responsive government that genuinely
engages citizens in dialogue and collaborates on key decisions.
Things residents say
is most appealing
about living in
Kitchener
 Provide more information on city spending,
explain why spending decisions are made
and communicate in a way that is easy to
understand.
 Develop processes that ensure everyone
can be engaged, represented and respected
in the city’s decision making.
#2
Access to
Amenities
#3
Sense of
Community
 Show that the city is listening and taking
what they hear into account.
 Measure and evaluate performance, deliver
on results, continuously improve.
“Encourage a vibrant
cultural scene, affordable
housing options and
attracting new business.”
#1
Parks & Green
Spaces
 Have more open and transparent decision
making, explain how decisions are made
and the rational for key decisions.
“We should be able to
know where our
money goes and how
and why it goes
there.”
Economy
Resilient and prosperous local economy that provides a good standard
of living for all citizens.
 Cultivate a local economy that is diverse
and resilient.
 Attract local businesses and industries that
offer decent pay for reasonable hours of
work, and are both environmentally and
socially responsible.
 Work with other orders of government and
community agencies to influence policy and
resource allocation decisions that reduce
the number of people that are homeless
and living in poverty in the city.
 Support the development of an
employment base that fully engages the
local workforce in jobs where citizens can
use their skills and experience.
 Increase the number of people that live
downtown, bring more people into the
downtown on weekends and in the
evenings and generate more activity on the
streets.
82%
Of Kitchener
Residents say they
get good value for
their tax dollars
78%
Of Kitchener
Residents say they
are satisfied with
the City of Kitchener
Government
61%
Of Kitchener
Residents support
increasing taxes at
the rate of inflation
to maintain services
Environment
Ecologically sound environment with access to natural areas and
integration of natural features into urban areas.
84%
Of Kitchener
Residents say that
preserving
Kitchener’s natural
areas should be a
top priority.
 Develop and implement an effective natural
area conservation program; reintroduce,
enhance and maintain the natural
environment in the urban area.
 Introduce green energy initiatives and
reduce the environmental footprint of city
operations.
“Continue to be a bold leader in
trying green technologies and
sharing openly the success (or
failure). I love what the city has
been doing!”
 Plant more trees on city streets and in
parks and open spaces to increase the city’s
tree canopy and maintain and/or replace
existing trees.
 Increase the number of community gardens
and support local food production.
“Repairing and
upgrading infrastructure
is to be a primary
objective. “
“Protect existing trees
and plant more, with an
eye to trees that will
withstand climate
changes.”
69%
Of Kitchener
Residents say that
road maintenance &
paving is a top
priority
Transportation
Environmentally sustainable, safe and affordable options for getting
around the city.
 Improve the condition of the city’s roads
and sidewalks.
93%
Of people surveyed
said that it is very
important to have
healthy, mature
trees throughout
the city.
 Develop more safe and comfortable
bikeways that offer riders an array of route
choices and reduce potential conflicts
between people cycling and people driving.
 Develop more safe and comfortable
bikeways that offer riders an array of route
choices and reduce potential conflicts
between people cycling and people driving.
 Implement policies, programs, services and
products that reduce the use of single
occupancy vehicle travel, develop and
encourage the use of clean and green
transportation options, and increase the
use of active transportation modes such as
biking and walking.
 Advocate for policy and resource allocation
decisions at the Region of Waterloo and
other orders of government that improve
the quality, availability and affordability of
transit service.
69%
Of residents say
that improving road
safety is a top
priority
Development
distinctive, attractive, walkable development with a strong sense of
place, mixed land use, compact urban areas and a range of housing
choices.
60%
Of Kitchener
Residents say that
promoting
sustainable
development
should be a top
priority.
 Manage growth, curb urban sprawl, and
foster more mixed-use development,
intensification and transit friendly
neighbourhoods.
 Effectively engage neighbourhoods in the
design and approval of infill development to
ensure it is well integrated within the
surrounding neighbourhood.
“Continue to focus on infill and
densification rather than sprawl.”
Neighbourhoods
 Work with other orders of government,
community agencies and developers to
develop/influence policy and resource
allocation decisions that will increase the
range of housing options in the city that
support different lifestyles and income levels.
 Improve the way opportunities to
participate in the planning process are
communicated, engage the community in
more effective ways using multiple methods
to gather input, and explain to people how
their input made a difference.
““Make it more attractive for residents to
walk or bicycle in their neighbours so that
they get out of their cars and houses.”
facilities, amenities, services, programs and initiatives that create
quality of life, foster inclusion and community well-being.
56%
 Facilitate and promote low or no cost
neighbourhood events and initiatives that
encourage inclusion, fellowship and
neighbourhood identity.
Of Kitchener
Residents say that
providing residents
the opportunity to
participate in the
planning process
should be a top
priority.
 Advocate for the Region, the Police and
community support agencies to address
neighbourhood safety concerns and put
measures in place that reduce criminal
activity and aggressive, intimidating or
disrespectful public behaviour throughout
the city and particularly downtown.
 Keep our trees, parks, playgrounds and
trails clean, safe, and well maintained and
add more neighbourhood amenities where
possible.
 Improve the enforcement of city by-laws,
particularly property maintenance
standards.
 Keep city facilities well maintained,
accessible to all, clean and safe.
Things that residents
say contribute the
most to the vitality
of a neighbourhood
#1
Friendly
Neighbours
#2
Community Centres
& Activities
#3
Parks, Playgrounds
& Green Spaces
For the full report to Council on the Community
Priorities and Strategic Directions, visit
www.Kitchener.ca/yoursay
If you would like additional information or would
like to receive updates on the City of Kitchener
Strategic Plan for 2015-2018, email:
[email protected]