What is Connection To Our Future?
Connection To Our Future fulfills the Municipal Government Act of Alberta’s requirements for the City of Lloydminster’s Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and more. It will guide how we use the land where we call Lloydminster home, as well as our economic, social, cultural and ecological future.
What is a Municipal Development Plan (MDP)?
An MDP:
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- Ensures we grow in a responsible and sustainable manner over 20-30 years;
- Provides direction on how to reach our vision;
- Guides decision makers, such as Council;
- Supplies direction for other plans and policy documents;
- Helps the City meet changing needs of the community; and
- Supports a prosperous local economy.
According to the Municipal Government Act of Alberta:
The minimum scope of an MDP includes:
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- Future land use
- How future development will occur
- Provision of transportation systems, and in relation to adjacent municipalities
- Provision of municipal services and facilities
- Land use adjacent to sour gas facilities
- Provision of municipal and school reserves
- Protection of agricultural operation
And the additional scope includes:
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- Proposals for the financing and programming of municipal infrastructure
- Coordination of municipal programs relating to physical, social and economic development
- Environmental matters
- Conservation reserves
- Financial resources
- Economic development
- Any other matter relating to the physical, social or economic development of the municipality
Why is it called Connection To Our Future?
We knew we wanted to brand this project to match our vision; an MDP that is highly relatable, accessible, and community oriented. Through discussions, we realized that Lloydminster is a place of connection in so many ways, such as:
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- being the gateway to Alberta and Saskatchewan
- providing amenities for the region
- The intersecting of major highways
- the connection of CN and CP railroads
- being a destination for sports
- connecting through trails and Bud Miller Park
- high attendance at community events,
- support of fundraising,
- the airport,
- personal connections
- and more!
Further, the document we were creating was to connect us to the future we envisioned. And so, Connection To Our Future came to be our title.
Connection To Our Future will illustrate the connections between different aspects of our community:
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- How we use land
- How we move
- Our social well-being
- Our environmental well-being
- Our economic well-being
Connection to our Future will highlight opportunities for collaboration between local government, the broader community, and community organizations for the betterment of all residents and businesses.
Why do we need Connection To Our Future?
Previous to 2013, the City followed Saskatchewan legislation, the Planning and Development Act of 2007. When the Lloydminster Charter was updated in 2013, the City began following Part 17 of the Municipal Government Act of Alberta which requires municipalities to have a Municipal Development Plan (MDP). In 2013, City Council approved our first MDP. Typically, MDPs are updated every 5-10 years. The City has identified the review of the current MDP as a priority for the 2021 budget with the goal to have the new MDP completed by the end of 2022. The MDP is also influenced by the recent annexation as well as changes in regional and local economic and demographic characteristics, population, and trends. The annexation area includes 23.5 quarter sections of land within the Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) area.
How is the Connection To Our Future project different from the current MDP?
Connection To Our Future has an integration approach, which means:
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- The scope is expanded to include all “municipal work”
- Our work is connected
- Between departments
- Between administration and Council
- Our work is coordinated with consistency
- We allocate operational and capital funds in alignment with the plan
- We implement vision together
- We monitor and report on collective progress
- We deliver on community vision
What is included in Connection To Our Future?
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- Future land uses
- How future development will occur
- Provision of transportation systems, and in relation to adjacent municipalities
- Provision of municipal services and facilities
- Land use adjacent to sour gas facilities
- Provision of municipal and school reserves
- Protection of agricultural operation
- Proposals for the financing and programming of municipal infrastructure
- Coordination of municipal programs relating to physical, social and economic development
- Environmental matters
- Conservation reserves
- Financial resources
- Economic development
- And other matters relating to the physical, social or economic development of the municipality
Who decides what is addressed in Connection To Our Future?
Those who decide what is addressed in Connection To Our Future include:
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- The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
- The TAC is composed of technical experts from City departments, including Engineering, Parks & Green Spaces, Public Safety, Community Development Services, Economic Development, and Planning.
- The Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
- The CAC is composed of community organizations (affordable housing, newcomers and immigrants, RCMP, shelters…), the business community, the development community, local activists, and community members.
- City Council
- The community! (through involvement in public engagement initiatives)
What will Connection To Our Future do for Lloydminster?
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- Establish a shared vision that we can work towards
- Create community ownership
- Create a well-informed vision, that we are able to implement
- Identify the ways City departments and the community can work together to implement our vision
- Create new connections and relationships throughout Lloydminster
- Enhance our resilience
How can I get involved and provide input?
To get involved and provide input:
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- Fill out surveys, attend engagement events, submit comments, and participate in the Open House and attend Public Hearing!
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- Contact the Project Manager:Natasha Pidkowa
Manager of Planning
City of Lloydminster
Phone: 780-874-3700 ext. 2606
Email: npidkowa@lloydminster.ca
How is Connection To Our Future approved?
MDPs are approved by bylaw, which means there are three readings of the bylaw and a Public Hearing at Council. After this has occurred, Council will vote to approve the document.
What happens after Connection To Our Future is approved?
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- Connection To Our Future document will provide specific direction to implement the vision established by the community.
- The implementation plan will allocate specific responsibilities for various City departments as well as other private and public sector partners. It will also establish potential timelines for each action.
- Typically, the implementation action plan includes measures such as regulatory updates, municipal grants, funding and advocacy measures associated with each plan initiative.
- The implementation plan will also include a detailed framework to monitor the progress of various Plan initiatives. The administration may be required to provide annual update reports to Council to highlight key achievements or shortfalls of the Plan.
