Municipal Budget 2025/26

Support initiatives that focus on regional economic development

1. Commercial development (cell service, zoning, advocate for small business)
2. Regional industrial park (investment for future tax benefit)
3. Establish a Regional Economic Network (REN; a new version of regional economic planning, development and connection)

New projects identified by Council

• Establishing Regional Economic platforms/partnerships
• Explore collaboration on a regional industrial park (investment for future tax benefit)
• Commercial development (expand advocacy in improving cell service, zoning, advocate for small business)

Existing projects

• E-permitting for Building services
• Food hub project
• Bio-economy Development Opportunity Zone initiative (bringing large scale/advanced tech forestry sector into the region)
• Marketing Levy
• Food Hub & Agriculture Marketing Plan
• Osprey Village Enhancement Plan
• Business retention, promotion, and expansion (i.e. for existing business here in the region)

Planning and investing for growth

1. Collaborate regionally to expand infrastructure that supports growth
2. Create a plan that identifies needed infrastructure to support all types of housing
3. Strengthen recreational assets to support our growing diverse communities

New projects identified by Council

• Collaborate regionally to expand infrastructure that supports growth
• Create a plan that identifies needed infrastructure to support all types of housing
• Strengthen recreational assets to support our growing diverse communities (further work required uses the parks standards document to identify priorities for recreational infrastructure investments)
• Explore partnering with Bridgewater on a regional industrial park
• Leveraging partnerships to improve cell coverage

Existing projects

• Re-create Parks Project
• Wayfinding Project
• Osprey Village Enhancement Plan
• Wastewater Treatment Investments
• Water Tower & Master Water Agreement

Programs and services to maintain and improve the quality of life of our residents

• Address loneliness/ reconnecting community
• Recreation, parks & programs
• Celebrating & preserving communities

New projects identified by Council

• Programming and initiatives that focus on addressing loneliness, reconnecting community, and celebrating & preserving existing communities

Existing projects

• Extensive Municipal Grant programs for community facilities and services
• Good neighbour project (contingent on funding)
• Food vibes project
• Fire Services Training Strategy
• Active Living & Active Transportation Strategy
• Recreation guide & Programming
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid treatment program
• Homeowner Clean Energy & Water financing programs
• Property tax rebate - targeted relief
• Pro Kids & Pro Fund

Building a strong community fabric

• Improve and increase public communication
• Improve and increase public engagement
• Focus on rebuilding community fabric

New projects identified by Council

• Programming and initiatives that focus on addressing loneliness, reconnecting community, and celebrating & preserving existing communities
• Develop an app to better communicate with residents
• Expand storytelling in municipal communications
• Increase opportunities for residents to attend public engagement events online and in person
• Move one monthly Council meeting to the evening
• Hold Council in the Community meetings throughout the District

Existing projects

• Continued content creation for Engage.modl.ca, modl.ca, District of Lunenburg Digest, Municipal Matters, Fire Service newsletter

The Municipality currently has some standard lenses which are routinely applied to the larger decisions brought forward to Council. The lenses provide a framework for staff to identify considerations for Council that relate to the issue. Currently the Municipality employs two formal lenses: Alignment with strategic plans and budget implications.

In addition, Legislative changes from the province have resulted is staff making progress in applying an accessibility and inclusion lenses to capital projects prior to preparing budget recommendations.

Staff recommend that Council adopt the following lenses evaluating larger decisions:

• Strategic Focus: How does the initiative align with Councils established strategic priorities?
• Finances/budget: what impact does the initiative have on the 5-year financial plan, is it accounted for in the approved operating/capital budget?
• Sustainability/Climate Change: Does the initiative align with MODL’s Climate Action plan?
• IDEA@MODL: What considerations are there for Council on our legislated and ethical requirement to becoming a more inclusive and equitable municipality?
• Strategic Communications: What considerations for communications and/or public engagement are there for Council to consider?