Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan

City approves 25-year strategic plan after more than a year of engagement

Burlington City Council on April 11, 2016, unanimously approved Burlington's Strategic Plan 2015-2040, the product of strong engagement and a plan the city believes captures the priorities of the city's residents and community leaders.

The city led more than a year of public engagement, gathering input from business groups, community groups, staff and residents. The city held workshops in late 2015 and early 2016 to test the draft with the community, making 176 changes to get to the final version.

The strategic plan includes four strategic directions:

A City that Grows
The City of Burlington attracts talent, good jobs and economic opportunity while having achieved intensification and a balanced, targeted population growth for youth, families, newcomers and seniors.
A City that Moves
People and goods move through the city more efficiently and safely. A variety of convenient, affordable and green forms of transportation that align with regional patterns are the norm. Walkability within new/transitioning neighbourhoods and the downtown are a reality.
A Healthy and Greener City
The City of Burlington is a leader in the stewardship of the environment while encouraging healthy lifestyles.

An Engaging City
Community members are engaged, empowered, welcomed and well-served by their city. Culture and community activities thrive, creating a positive sense of place, inclusivity and community.

Burlington's Strategic Plan 2015-2040 will continue to involve community input. We will also report back on how the plan is progressing. Stay tuned for more details from the city in the coming months.

Media Release: City of Burlington approves 25-year strategic plan after a year of engagement

Read the 2015-2040 Strategic Plan Covering Report... (PDF)

Read the Strategic Plan... (PDF)

Read the Strategic Plan... (Accessible)

Mayor Rick Goldring recently gave his State of the City Address, where he discussed the importance of this plan and how the city will bring it to life. A transcript of the address can be accessed at the Mayor's blog.

Strategic Plan Information Sessions and Workshops

What we've heard so far:

Previous Drafts

Burlington's Strategic Plan 2015-2040 Draft for Consultation

Burlington's Strategic Plan 2015-2040 Draft for Consultation (Accessible)

Burlington's Strategic Plan 2015-2040 Revised Draft - March 21, 2016

December 2014 - Council Report*

City Council received a report detailing the process and timelines for the development of Burlington's strategic plan.

Read the Council Report... (13MB PDF)

February 2015 - Community Survey*

Forum Research, hired by the city as part of the public engagement for Burlington's strategic plan, reports that people like Burlington most because of access to amenities, small-town feel and safety. In 2015, 89 per cent of people surveyed said they are satisfied with the city's overall quality of service. Forum interviewed 771 residents.

Residents said the following are top priorities:

Community safety: 76 per cent
Commitment to infrastructure: 76 per cent
Healthy community: 73 per cent
Sound financial practices: 69 per cent
Parks and community open/green spaces: 69 per cent
Economic development, prosperity and opportunity: 68 per cent
Well-managed growth: 64 per cent
Traffic (congestion, ease of getting around): 64 per cent
Environmental stewardship/sustainability: 63 per cent
Transparent decision-making: 62 per cent

Read the Community Survey... (960KB PDF)

March 2015 - Insight Burlington*

Residents had a chance to complete the Community Survey through the Insight Burlington, an online community. A total of 535 surveys were completed.

Residents said:

They are very or somewhat satisfied with the quality of city services: 87 per cent
Burlington is an excellent or very good place to live: 85 per cent
They are aware the city has an engagement charter: 37 per cent

Read the report from Insight Burlington... (1MB PDF)

April 2015 - Workbook for Planning the Future of Burlington*

108 individuals and groups completed a Workbook for Planning the Future of Burlington.

Residents said:

The quality of life has changed in Burlingotn over the past four years for:

Improved: 32 per cent
Stayed the same: 45 per cent
Worsened: 18 per cent
Don't know or haven't lived here for four years: 5 per cent

Read the Workbook for Planning the Future in Burlington... (680KB PDF)

April/May 2015: Facilitated Sessions

City employees, community stakeholders and other community groups participated in workshop sessions.

May 2015 - Dotmocracy

The city's Charter Action Team participated in Burlington's two Car-Free Street Festivals. Ninety residents participated despite the wet weather, placing dots on their top three priorities for Burlington, resulting in 271 dots.

Residents told us what is important to them, including:

Parks and community open/green spaces
City recreation and sports facilities
Economic development, prosperity and opportunity
Public transportation
Traffic (specifically, congestion)

Dotmocracy paper

Pictured above: Rain-drenched dotmocracy page from Car-Free Street Festival.

Strategic Plan Information Sessions and Workshops

Thank you to everyone who provided input into the City of Burlington's 25-year Strategic Plan. This is an exciting time for Burlington--a time to plan for what is important to us in the future as we grow into an even better Burlington.
In the past year, engagement on the city's 25-year strategic plan has included:

Statistically valid telephone survey: 771 interviews
Online surveys: 716 surveys completed
Workbooks - Planning for our Future: 108 workbooks completed, representing 503 people
Facilitated sessions with over 200 City of Burlington staff at all levels of the organization
Input obtained at events representing 90 people

Input obtained on the draft plan from residents and key partners through workshops, e-mails and by phone of almost 200 people

Key stakeholders' input during various stages of the process, representing more than 25 community groups and their more than 1,000 members, as well as members of boards, commissions, businesses and agencies.