On Dec. 7, Innisfil councillors officially celebrated one year in office. To commemorate the occasion, we asked the deputy mayor and each ward councillor to reflect on the past year and look forward to the year to come. Today is Part 1 of a two-part series. Watch for Part 2 Sunday.
While she wasn’t included in this piece, we aren’t letting Mayor Lynn Dollin off the hook that easily. Be sure to check out our year-end interview with the mayor, which will be published later this month.
Below are their answers to the following question:
What do you feel was council's biggest accomplishment in 2023?
Deputy Mayor Kenneth Fowler
Our Strategic Plan. It shows how we are challenging growth issues, addressing the need for more locally sourced businesses and is flexible enough to adapt as we move forward. We are growing and looking beyond the immediate two-to-three years. We are looking 20-30 years ahead, laying the groundwork which will aid future councils.
Ward 1 Coun. Kevin Eisses
I think being a new council (first year of the current term) and this being my second term, I again appreciate everyone's hard work and dedication. I can see council becoming a team with each member having different strengths that contribute to getting things done. It seems council along with staff have worked on many plans for the upcoming years, recently completing the Strategic Plan that looks at the town in terms of how to grow, sustain, connect, and serve.
The town has also worked on many master plans this past year, such as Facility Master Plan, Town Campus Master Plan, Integrated Sustainability Master Plan, Flooding Strategy and Stormwater Master Plan, and Transportation Master Plan as well as others. Development charges bylaw was also passed, with some incentives for manufacturing to locate in the Innisfil Heights employment lands. All of these plans are required for the future growth that we know is coming as the province incentivizes new housing.
My reason for serving on council is always to represent the rural/agricultural side of Innisfil. I look for opportunities to balance the rural needs in a growing municipality. In the spring, I hosted on behalf of the Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture an "Agricultural Equipment Experience" for town staff. It was held on our farm with along with some farm neighbours, we allowed town staff to get close to many different pieces of farm equipment. It gave local farmers a chance to discuss the challenges of moving farm equipment up and down Innisfil's busy roads. Staff from engineering, planning and design, operations, InnServices, InnPower, police and fire could get the view from the cab of the equipment and further understand these challenges.
Ward 2 Coun. Grace Constantine
This council term was noticeable by the approval of a new 2023-24 capital and operating budget for a significant early achievement.
In several areas, the council has exercised its policy decision-making power to consider various items. The approval of a refreshed Strategic Plan on Nov. 8, 2023, was most remarkable, it is a plan for the Town that is looking ahead to 2030.
Numerous master plans have made significant progress. As an example, council has approved a new Land and Lake Plan and an updated Emergency Management Plan during the past year. Also, a plan that includes a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan. Other master plans have been started or moved forward this year, the Flooding Strategy and Stormwater Management Master Plan are among the things that are included.
Ward 3 Coun. Jennifer Richardson
This year was the year of getting to know everyone and learning how to work together. We had more new council members than returning members this year and so we had a large learning curve to understand our roles as well as learning about one another.
We also needed to learn how to work with our community as well. We had to listen, learn, watch, and be attentive to those in our wards and our community and learn of their hopes and wishes for our town.
The budget was a huge learning curve as a newly elected council member. We were elected, attended a couple of training sessions and then were given a very large budget book to go over and review during the winter holidays.
I feel that we came together to fight for what was needed and edited out what was not necessary to save the residents money when and where we could. I believe that apart from our regular council meetings, events and conferences working on the 2023/2024 budget together was our biggest accomplishment.
Ward 5 Coun. Linda Zanella
I think that council’s biggest accomplishment in 2023 was putting forward a new Strategic Plan to carry us into the future. The pandemic set things back and now we are on our feet again with a bright new future to look forward to. I feel that we now have a sense and a purpose. We need to forge on with conviction.
It was so enlightening to sit with my fellow councillors and attend workshops where we put forth ideas and concerns and to finally be able to put a solid plan forth.
Ward 6 Coun. Robert Saunders
I feel we have two major accomplishments in the past year.
First, as a first-term council, the five new members have come to work as a team with the rest of council and along with the town staff we have moved from 0 to 100 in the past year understanding policies and procedures and the tax process.
Second, we have implemented a working Strategic Plan that will guide the town into the future.
Ward 7 Coun. Fred Drodge
When I was elected, I felt a deep responsibility to listen to the residents in my Ward and address their needs. They voted for me to represent them and get things done – things like streetlights and stop signs. While those may sound like small things, they are important to my constituents, and therefore, important to me.
I am especially proud of the work we did on the refreshed Strategic Plan which will be our guiding document over the coming years. It sets key priorities and a road map for the things that matter most to our residents.
I want to thank the residents of Ward 7 for putting their faith in me and as a long-time resident of Innisfil, I know there is no better place to call home.
Ward 4 Coun. Alex Waters did not provide his responses before publication deadline.
