Municipal Growth Readiness Checklist - Microsoft



Ministry of Government RelationsPolicy and Program Services BranchThe Municipal Growth Readiness Checklist July 2015Sustaining economic growth has become a point of focus for Saskatchewan. However, this growth poses a unique set of challenges for local governments. Municipalities may not have anticipated or planned for growth. They may not have made the investments in municipal infrastructure and services required to support growth. Some lack awareness of the potential risks associated with rapid or unplanned growth. Even those that have considered the possibility of growth may not have the capacity and tools required to effectively manage growth related risks. In short, not all municipalities are ready for growth, nor have they developed a plan for facilitating and accommodating it.The provincial government’s Saskatchewan Plan for Growth states, “the purpose of growth is to build a better quality of life for all Saskatchewan residents.” As part of the Ministry of Government Relations’ contribution to the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth, and in consultation with the municipal sector, the ministry has prepared the Municipal Growth Readiness Checklist (MGRC) for use by Saskatchewan municipalities. The checklist is a made in Saskatchewan approach that continues the ministry’s efforts in recent years to help municipalities self-assess their strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities. Shifting focus to growth readiness enables prioritization of the most pressing risks to medium and long-term growth. The checklist will allow municipal administrative officials and political leaders to come to their own conclusions about the growth readiness of their municipality and what actions, if any, are needed to improve it. Use of the checklist will result in raised awareness among local governments of the challenges, risks and requirements associated with economic growth, population growth and physical development.The checklist differentiates itself from the work of the provincial government’s Rapid Growth Communities team by focusing on important growth-related issues under municipal control. Municipalities should not be measured by areas beyond their control when self-assessing their growth readiness. Therefore, provincial or other responsibilities, such as education and health care, are not included in the checklist. The checklist was developed to be useful to municipalities of varying size and experiencing varying levels of growth, and was cognizant of the time and resource constraints of local governments. Therefore, the checklist uses a self-directed approach to help municipalities prepare for growth and to begin the readiness for growth conversation. The checklist is a simple self-assessment the municipality can carry out in a relatively short period of time utilizing information readily available to them. By focusing on the most pressing growth challenges municipalities face, the checklist provides a basic scan of “growth readiness” and helps raise awareness between administration and council. It asks municipal officials to consider their growth readiness using a quick and simple means of identifying areas where the municipality may not be well positioned to accommodate growth – or where further information and analyses are required. It should be noted the municipal responses to the indicator questions may be primarily based on the knowledge of the local officials since government or public sources of information for each of the various measures of growth readiness may be limited. This recognizes that local officials know their municipality best and are in the best position to undertake a self-assessment of their growth readiness.The checklist was designed as a discussion starter; a means of getting municipal officials to think about the challenges and impacts municipal and regional growth can have on their municipality and whether or not they are able to adequately respond.Building off related research carried out by private sector companies and business management specialists, the ministry proposed three primary traits that characterize “growth ready” municipalities. These include: a supportive council and administration; municipal resource alignment; and, strategic planning and development. The identified categories of growth readiness are contained within these three primary traits, and align with the categories from previous work related to municipal sustainability.The Municipal Growth Readiness Checklist uses eight indicator categories to help a municipality better prepare for growth and improve the overall quality of life. As a result, the checklist focuses on:Land Use Planning and Governance;Administrative Capacity;Fiscal Health; Service Delivery; Public Safety; Infrastructure; Demographics and Economic Trends; andRegional Partnerships.Municipal Growth Readiness ChecklistOverviewThe Municipal Growth Readiness Checklist focuses on indicators that can help local governments assess their readiness for growth. Possible information sources are listed after each section.PART 1 - LAND USE PLANNING AND GOVERNANCEINDICATORSYESTo Some ExtentNON/ADo you have growth projections? Growth ProjectionsDo you consider how these growth projections shape your municipality’s growth and development, and impact capital and operating budgets?Growth ProjectionsHas council been discussing your growth needs and your potential barriers to growth?Barriers to GrowthDoes your municipality have an up-to-date Official Community Plan (e.g. considered within the past five years) in accordance with current legislation and regulations?Official Community Plan (OCP)Can your Official Community Plan be used to manage land use, subdivision of land, municipal services and public utilities in the municipality? Official Community Plan (OCP)Does your municipality have an up-to-date zoning bylaw (e.g. considered within the past five years) in accordance with current legislation and regulations, and consistent with your Official Community Plan? Zoning BylawAre planning and growth objectives/issues part of your orientation process for new councillors?Councillor OrientationDoes your council receive regular reports from your administration relating to what is needed to facilitate growth and development?Councillor KnowledgeWhen applicable, is there a procedure to ensure the impact of growth is considered in council’s deliberations of an issue?Councillor KnowledgeWhere there is a proposed subdivision of land, does your municipality have a servicing agreement in place for recouping the payment of servicing or off-site fees for facilities? Servicing AgreementDoes your municipality have a current Development Levy Bylaw for new developments to cover costs such as new roadways, water and sewer systems and parks? Development Levy BylawDo you have a fee schedule covering all permits, licences and services that an applicant/developer would be required to pay in connection with development? Fee Schedule/LeviesDo you periodically revise your fee schedule to deal with the costs of growth?Fee Schedule/LeviesDoes your municipality have an inventory of appropriately zoned land to accommodate future residential, commercial, and industrial development to meet your growth needs?Land SupplyDoes your municipality have serviced lots available for development?Serviced LotsDoes your Official Community Plan identify lands that will need to be annexed for development in the future? AnnexationInformation SourcesThe Planning and Development Act, 2007 The Cities ActThe Municipalities ActThe Northern Municipalities Act, 2010The Statements of Provincial Interest RegulationsThe Subdivision RegulationsThe Dedicated Lands Regulations, 2009The Conservation Easements Act The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Act, 2005 The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority RegulationsThe Reservoir Development Area RegulationsLocal municipal knowledgeOfficial Community Plan and Zoning BylawPART 2 – ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY INDICATORSYESTo Some ExtentNON/ADoes your municipality have a primary contact for potential developers or applicants for planning and development in your municipality?Primary Contact Does your primary contact know the Official Community Plan, Development Plan and/or zoning bylaw, and district plan if applicable, and know your council’s policies on new development proposals?Primary Contact Does your municipality employ/contract professional expertise (e.g. planners, engineers, bylaw enforcement officer, building inspectors, public works and/or economic development officers, etc.) to deal with land use planning, development and building proposals?Administration CapacityDoes your municipality have the administrative capacity (i.e. skills and staffing levels, human and financial) it requires to deal with land use planning, development approvals and building permit processes in your municipality?Administration CapacityIf relevant, does your municipality meet the legislated Certified Administrator requirements? Administration CapacityIf your municipality grows over the next five years, does your municipal workforce have the necessary tools, equipment and technology needed?Operational CapacityDoes your Mayor/Reeve and administration formally meet with local business people to plan for their growth needs?Meeting with Business PeopleIs your administration able to advise prospective applicants and developers of the need for special technical studies in connection with development proposals (e.g. noise impacts, geotechnical reports, hydro geologic assessments)? Special Technical StudiesDoes your municipality solicit feedback regarding potential development and have a process/policy in place for addressing public or developer concerns raised?Citizen EngagementInformation SourcesThe Cities Act, The Municipalities Act and The Northern Municipalities Act, 2010 The Urban Municipal Administrators ActLocal municipal knowledgeSUMA’s Elected Officials HandbookPART 3: - FISCAL HEALTHINDICATORSYESTo Some ExtentNON/ADo council’s decisions on growth and development align with your municipality’s financial and infrastructure capacities?Decisions on Growth and DevelopmentIs your municipality’s tax assessment base growing?Tax Assessment Is your municipality experiencing growth in its own source revenues (i.e. total revenues less grants and grants in lieu of property taxes)? RevenuesIs your municipality’s level of uncollected property taxes close to zero or declining each year?RevenuesDoes your municipality regularly review its user fees and utility charges for municipal services?User Fees/ Utility RatesDo your utility charges cover both operating costs and reserves for future expansion or improvements?Utility RatesAre your municipality’s operating expenses growing at a slower rate than your property tax revenues?ExpendituresAre your general government services expenses increasing at a slower rate than other categories of expenses?ExpendituresIs your municipality experiencing an operating surplus most years?Revenues and ExpendituresTo ensure multiyear financial planning, does your municipality annually approve a multiyear capital budget?Financial PlanningDoes your municipality annually adopt an operating and capital budget prior to authorizing the tax levy?Operating and Capital BudgetDoes your municipality have a dedicated lands account?ReservesIs your municipality’s level of reserves increasing?ReservesDoes your municipality collect a cash-in-lieu for municipal reserve when it is appropriate to do so and is an appropriate fee being charged?ReservesDoes your municipality have room to borrow within the regulated debt limit?Debt LimitDoes your municipality work to minimize the amount of short-term debt (e.g. lines of credit, overdraft)? Outstanding DebtAre all financial reporting requirements and deadlines of the province, school division and federal government consistently being met?Legislation & Regulations/PolicyDoes your municipality have an up-to-date financial risk management plan in place?Financial Risk Management PlanDo your auditors consistently provide their audit opinion without significant concerns?Financial AuditDoes administration provide regular financial forecasts to council?Financial ForecastInformation Sources:Audited municipal financial statementsMunicipal assessment roll and tax rollThe Planning and Development Act, 2007The Dedicated Lands Regulations, 2009Local municipal knowledgePART 4 – SERVICE DELIVERYINDICATORSYESTo Some ExtentNON/ACan your current standards for municipal services accommodate future growth without the need for significant service level changes?Service Standards Does your municipality regularly review and evaluate its municipal services to ensure compliance with legislated requirements?Compliance with Legislative RequirementsDo your current municipality services (e.g. maintenance of streets, water and sewage utilities, recreation facilities, etc.) have additional capacity to accommodate future growth?Municipal ServicesIf your municipality grows over the next five years, will your municipality be able to provide services to residents/rate payers at a cost they are willing to pay?Cost of Services to Rate PayersDo service sharing arrangements your municipality may have with other municipalities contain provisions to address potential growth?Service Sharing ArrangementsIs council and administration aware of the impacts an expansion of service capacity could have on the cost and efficiency of municipal services?Impacts of Service Capacity ExpansionDoes your municipality have a transportation plan that addresses future growth?Transportation PlanDoes your municipality offer housing incentives/initiatives aimed at improving housing availability and affordability? Housing Incentives/ InitiativesDoes your municipality keep track of new housing starts and the percentage of renter households to inform potential growth?Core HousingInformation SourcesLocal municipal knowledgeThe Municipal Refuse Management Regulations The Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010 The Saskatchewan Environmental CodeMinistries of Environment and Social ServiceCommunity ProfilePART 5 – PUBLIC SAFETYINDICATORSYESTo Some ExtentNON/ADoes your municipality have sufficient emergency response capacity to meet anticipated growth in your municipality?Public Safety Capacity Does your municipality’s Building Bylaw comply with the current Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act and The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Regulations? Building BylawDoes your municipality have an Emergency Plan that will accommodate growth? Emergency PlanDoes your municipality have plans in place to identify known risks/hazards from current or potential growth opportunities?Risks/HazardsIs your municipality prepared to respond to the risks/hazards that could arise from new industrial/business development?Risks/HazardsHave you assessed your municipality’s vulnerability to both natural and human-induced (e.g. pandemic, train derailments, etc.) hazards?Natural and Human-Induced HazardsDoes your council and administration consider potential disaster risks when approving developments or making infrastructure investments? Risks/HazardsDoes your municipality have a mutual aid agreement with a neighbouring municipality?Mutual Aid AgreementsDoes your municipality’s mutual aid agreement(s) with other municipalities contain provisions to address potential growth?Mutual Aid AgreementsInformation SourcesThe Building and Accessibility Standards Administration Regulations The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards ActThe Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards RegulationsThe Emergency Planning Act, 1989The Fire Prevention Act, 1992The Wildfire ActMinistry of Justice – Corrections and PolicingMinistry of Government Relations – Emergency Management and Fire Safety; Building Standards and LicensingLocal municipal knowledgePART 6 – INFRASTRUCTUREINDICATORSYESTo Some ExtentNON/ADoes your public works staff know the current usage levels and remaining capacity of your municipality’s infrastructure?Usage LevelsWill your municipality’s infrastructure capacity (e.g. water and wastewater treatment facilities, sanitary sewers and storm sewers, roads, transfer stations, landfills, recycling, etc.) meet your projected growth?Infrastructure CapacityIf applicable, do regional infrastructure facilities (e.g. water and wastewater treatment facilities, landfills, etc.) have the capacity to meet growth demands?Regional Infrastructure CapacityDo you know and regularly review how much of your current core infrastructure assets will require upgrades, replacement or expansion to accommodate your planned or potential growth?Upgrades to Core InfrastructureDoes your municipality have an Asset Management Plan to effectively manage existing and new infrastructure to provide satisfactory levels of service to current and future residents/businesses? Asset Management PlanDoes your municipality have a plan in place that is up-to-date and effective for conducting inspections of infrastructure?Plan for InspectionsDo your public works staff know the age and condition of your core infrastructure?Age and Condition of Core InfrastructureIs there adequate source water in the region to handle future demands?Source WaterAre your municipality’s public facilities and infrastructure regularly monitored, maintained and kept in a reasonable state of repair?Municipal Facilities and InfrastructureDoes your municipality make full use of existing infrastructure and facilities before consideration is given to developing new infrastructure and facilities?Existing Infrastructure and FacilitiesInformation SourcesMinistry of Government Relations’ SaskMuniMaps ()Municipal Information Dataportal’s Utility and Waste Information ()The Municipal Refuse Management RegulationsThe Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010The Saskatchewan Environmental CodeLocal municipal knowledgeCMHC Lifecycle Costing Tool For Community Infrastructure PlanningTangible Capital Asset ReportingMunicipal Asset ManagementPART 7 - DEMOGRAPHICS AND ECONOMIC TRENDSINDICATORSYESTo Some ExtentNON/AAre the changes in your municipality’s demographics and tax base monitored?Population TrendsIs your municipality aware of the population trends for your municipality?Population TrendsDo you feel that population growth and development is necessary to maintain the viability of your municipality?Population Growth and DevelopmentIs your municipality aware of the number and value of building permits issued in your municipality?Population Growth and DevelopmentDoes your municipality know the composition of age groups of the population in your municipality? Age GroupsDo your plans for growth and projected population trends align?Growth PlanHas the number of businesses in your municipality grown over the past five years? Business GrowthDoes your municipality create conditions (e.g. recreation and cultural facilities and services, property taxation policy, police and/or fire services, utilities) to encourage businesses to provide stable employment in the community?EmploymentOpportunities Does your municipality monitor or review employment impacts of business development trends in neighbouring and/or other similarly sized municipalities?Employment OpportunitiesDoes your municipality have information about local employment opportunities of current businesses and from future development of businesses in the community?Employment OpportunitiesDoes your municipality have the necessary information for council, developers and/or investors to make informed decisions regarding growth and development of your municipality?Community InformationAre the majority of residents in your municipality supportive of new development?DevelopmentInformation SourcesStatistics Canada Population Survey/Census (e.g. 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 Census)Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of the EconomyCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)saskbiz.ca - The site provides comprehensive economic and quality of life information for communities and regions in Saskatchewan.The Community Information Database ()Community ProfileLocal municipal knowledgePART 8 - REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPSINDICATORSYESTo Some ExtentNON/AWould you consider your relationships with neighbouring municipalities to be healthy?Regional Growth OpportunitiesAre you taking steps to improve your relationships with neighbouring municipalities?Regional Growth OpportunitiesDoes your municipality have an established process to evaluate regional growth opportunities?Regional Growth OpportunitiesDo you share plans and discuss how to accommodate growth with neighbouring municipalities?Regional PartnershipDoes your municipality share its plans for growth and population projections with regional organizations, such as First Nations communities, health authorities, school divisions and planning districts?Sharing Growth Information Does your municipality have inter-municipal agreements in place for certain services that reflect your neighbours’ planned or potential growth scenarios (e.g. fire protection, waste management, etc.)?Inter-municipal AgreementsWould your municipality consider pooling resources with neighbouring communities to jointly fund new development opportunities?Regional PartnershipsDo you actively work with surrounding governments and communities to prepare growth plans? Regional PartnershipsDo you understand the implications a major new or expanded industry in your region would have for your municipality?Growth ImpactDoes your municipality have a process for resolving inter-municipal disagreements?Dispute ResolutionInformation SourcesLocal municipal knowledgeOfficial Community PlanZoning BylawCommunity ProfileSaskbiz website FILENAME \p \* MERGEFORMAT G:\PDB\Common\POLICY\Growth Management\Readiness for growth\Municipal Growth Readiness Checklist - Final July 2015.docx ................
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