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Step 1:
Fact Finding

Step 2:
Issues and Opportunities

Step 3:
Strategies and Solutions

Step 4:
Program Revisions

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Vision Implementation Program Review (November 2008 - December 2009)

Introduction

Over the past year, the City has been conducting a review of the Vision Implementation Program. This has involved getting feedback from stakeholders including City staff, Vision Implementation Committee members, external agencies and community groups, and residents at-large. Many aspects of Vision Implementation have worked well. Building upon these successes as well as exploring new ideas are important elements of the review.

Background

The Vision Implementation Program began in 1999 when Council approved the Dunbar and Kensington-Cedar Cottage Implementation Action Plans and created staff positions to help implement the Visions. The Vision Implementation Program expanded to Sunset and Victoria-Fraserview Killarney in 2002, Hastings-Sunrise and Renfrew-Collingwood in 2004, and Riley Park/South Cambie and Arbutus/Kerrisdale/Shaughnessy in late 2006. Each Vision area is at a different stage of implementation and, with the approval of the West Point Grey Vision (expected in 2010), there will be over 1,000 Vision Directions spanning nine communities with a total population of about 240,000.

Current Issues

Since the program began in 1999, stakeholders have identified several challenges with the current approach to Vision Implementation. These include:

• lack of an effective implementation strategy that clearly identifies a method for prioritizing activities and defines work programs;
• lack of an effective implementation strategy with a clear way of prioritizing work related to Vision Directions;
• organizational and structural challenges resulting from the broad geographic scope and the large number of complex Vision Directions the program is responsible for; and
• lack of clarity around program mandate and the role of Vision Implementation staff, other City staff, and Vision Implementation Committees.

Purpose of the Program Review

The purposes of the review are to:

• determine the status of Vision implementation in all Vision communities—identify Vision directions that have been completed, directions that have not been completed and directions that require ongoing work;
• develop a strategy to implement “uncompleted” Vision Directions;
• identify program successes and challenges;
• determine strategies and solutions to address challenges and build on successes; and
• develop a Terms of Reference that clarifies the program mandate and the role of Vision Implementation staff, other City staff, and Vision Implementation Committees.

Changes to Review Products and Process

It was intially anticipated that the Vision Implementation Program Review would produce a Terms of Reference for the Program, an Action Strategy, and a Communications and Outreach Plan. During the course of the review, however, adjustments to the process steps and products were needed to reflect changes in resources. A final document that summarizes the review process and key lessons learned will be prepared to complete the review.

View more information on the initial process and schedule (PDF, 40KB).

Stakeholders: Public and City Departments

The Vision Implementation Program relies on many groups and individuals to carry out Community Vision directions. Consultation with these stakeholders is an important part of the program review. Key stakeholders include:

• Vision Implementation staff;
• City Staff from various departments and boards that implement Vision Directions;
• members of Vision Implementation Committees;
• external agencies and community groups; and
• residents at large.

The ideas, suggestions, and concerns contributed by these stakeholders will help to inform the review and shape the program.

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Questions or Comments? E-mail: visionprogramreview@vancouver.ca

© 2009 City of Vancouver