Strategic Planning

• Well-maintained properties, assets and infrastructure are appealing to residents and visitors
• Civic engagement informs policy and planning through interactions with municipal leadership
• Volunteerism and community leadership is present

• Reflects Dryden’s focus on being the regional hub while also recognizing the pressure exerted on municipal taxpayers by the large fringe population which surrounds the municipality
• Commitment to supporting regional workforce development and municipal housing enablement initiatives
• Build and maintain effective local and regional partnerships

• Champion environmental stewardship, protecting our natural beauty and our access to nature
• Maintain alignment with community values and priorities
• Ensure that all decisions consider how quality of life will be impacted or enhanced

The City of Dryden will celebrate its diversity and inclusiveness, while ensuring our doors are open and all who enter are welcomed.

Strategic Priorities:

1. Promote the development of support systems to welcome and familiarize new and existing citizens to the City of Dryden.
2. Continue to foster positive relationships with Indigenous Peoples and neighbouring First Nation communities.
3. Develop strategies intended to promote migration into the City of Dryden to grow the regional workforce.

The City of Dryden places safety and well-being at the core of our existence and all we do.

Strategic Priorities:

1. Focus on opportunities to support the enhancement of senior and youth programs and services
2. Undertake appropriate efforts to form the Federal and Provincial partnerships required to support community safety and well-being strategies.
3. Make strategic and sustainable housing-enabling investments with the intended outcome of a more diverse and affordable community housing stock.

The City of Dryden is progressive in its efforts to maintain and strengthen our infrastructure to maximize our opportunity for growth.

Strategic Priorities:

1. Maintain an updated Asset Management Plan as per legislated requirements to drive longer term capital and resource planning with the purposeful intention of materially reducing the infrastructure deficit.
2. Develop long-term preventative maintenance and capital investment plans to extend the lifecycle of municipal facilities.
3. Make adequate investments to maintain a priority queue of shovel ready infrastructure projects which will better position the municipality to utilize external funding opportunities.
4. Development an investment plan, which adheres to the Asset Management Plan, to achieve improvements to the municipal transportation (roadways), water, and wastewater assets.
5. Drive housing-enabling infrastructure investments with key goals of supporting workforce development through increasing housing capacity and improving housing affordability.
6. Update the Asset Management Plan as a Climate-Integrated plan by adding a “Climate Risk Lens”.

The City of Dryden operates in a fiscally responsible manner through established practices that ensure a sustainable future for our community and our municipality.

Strategic Priorities:

1. Seek creative, new revenue sources.
2. Increase City reserve funds.
3. Sustain existing funding sources.
4. Maintain an updated 10-year capital investment plan which is reconciled to the Asset Management Plan.
5. Advocate for the Provincial Government to contribute financially, due to Dryden’s unique position with the large unincorporated fringe population, to the municipal service and infrastructure subsidies paid by municipal taxpayers which in turn benefit the entire region.

The City of Dryden recognizes and responds to opportunities that diversify our economy and positions us to achieve positive return on investments.

Strategic Priorities:

1. Waterfront development, focusing on the South Van Horne development and the Sandy Beach Leisureplex.
2. Utilize a portion of the MAT (Municipal Accommodation Tax) to further build community amenities as well as local tourism activities and attractions.
3. Attract new investment to Dryden through continued development of municipal property such as Norwill Industrial Park, Centennial Business Park, and Toronto Drive (future).
4. Support existing business in Dryden promoting and utilizing the Community Improvement Plan.
5. Support initiatives which will catalyze a vibrant, year-round business sector and foster sustainable economic vitality.
6. Continue to invest in "Quality of Life" infrastructure and services to support an outcome of improved workforce attraction and retention.
7. Promote Dryden’s new Official Plan and Zoning By-law which supports investment in a diverse housing stock with intentions to reduce housing-related stress, making the local economy more affordable and competitive for talent.
8. Seek out new partnerships with local and regional communities, organizations, and development agencies that foster collaboration and investment.

The City of Dryden respects our employees and our citizens and is committed to responsive and transparent communication.

Strategic Priorities:

1. Development innovative communication methods that will promote enhanced local government engagement with community members.
2. Develop and implement fresh approaches to attract and retain municipal employees.
3. Enhance organizational culture and communications to promote employer of choice qualities and commitment to the Municipal mission.

The City of Dryden will strive to achieve planned, quality, and sustainable population growth that preserves the community's rural character and natural assets while prioritizing strategic, infrastructure-first investments necessary to ensure high-quality public services and a reliable quality of life for all existing and future residents.

Strategic Priorities:

1. Implement an Infrastructure-First Development Policy - adopt a policy that mandates necessary infrastructure upgrades (including capacity and resilience improvements) are fully funded, planned, and completed ahead of, or concurrent with, the approval of major new housing or commercial developments with a focus on water treatment and distribution capacity, wastewater management, road network expansion/maintenance, and municipal facilities.
2. Protect and Direct Development (Land Use Planning) – strategically define clear boundaries for growth, concentrating new development in specific, intended areas and utilize techniques like infill and mixed-use development where appropriate using tools such as the Official Plan, Zoning Bylaw, etc.
3. Support Housing Affordability and Diversity - proactively foster a diverse housing supply to meet the needs of all income levels and life stages.
4. Proactive Investment in Critical Public Services – working with appropriate community stakeholders and senior levels of government, use projected growth forecasts to immediately plan for increased staffing and facility expansions in critical service areas such as healthcare, education, social services, and emergency response (police/fire/ambulance).
5. Strengthen Municipal Capacity and Fiscal Health - invest in municipal administrative strength and pursue diversified, sustainable revenue streams in order to build staffing and technical expertise to manage complex, large-scale growth and to fund sudden infrastructure needs without sole reliance on existing property tax revenue.