Pemberton mayor and council adopted its 2023-26 Strategic Plan on Oct. 31, the Village of Pemberton's (VOP) "guiding compass" for the next three years, said Mayor Mike Richman.
The plan sets out council's vision towards sustainable growth, economic development, emergency management and community well-being for the community.
"An immense amount of hard work and careful consideration went into developing a plan that reflects the shared visions and collective goals of our community members," said Richman in a Nov. 2 release. "Acting as our guiding compass, this plan ensures we are prioritizing projects and initiatives that will have the greatest impact on our community. Under these guiding values, we can ensure that we take a focused approach towards sustainable growth and development; an approach that considers the environmental, economic, and social impacts of all decisions made."
Officials identified five broad strategic priorities for the remainder of council's term:
- Plan and Manage Growth: Create a community where residents thrive and businesses prosper.
- Be Prepared: Improve the safety of the community through disaster mitigation and recovery support.
- Protect our Environment: Focus on sustainable practices and forward-thinking environmental protection.
- Cultivate Trust: Collaborate with Indigneous peoples to build strong relationships and shared decision making
- Operate with Excellence: Establish a resilient, adaptable and talented organization capable of responding to the changing community
In September, the VOP paused the development of its Official Community Plan so that officials could focus on building a "deeper and more meaningful" relationship with the Lil'wat Nation. To achieve that, the VOP said it will use the extra time to renew its protocol agreement with the Lil'wat, as well as gain a better understanding of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
