By Chris Lewis | June 10, 2021
Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker provided residents with an outlook on the City’s future this past week.
The annual presentation, offered this year online instead of in-person because of Covid-19 restrictions, was hosted, as usual, by the Mount Pearl - Paradise Chamber of Commerce.
Aker said the city’s strategic plan had to be adapted over the past two years to deal with the unique challenges posed by the pandemic.
“As we continue to do things differently, health and safety remain paramount,” Aker said. “We continue to guide our decisions and planning for the future with these considerations top of mind.”
The mayor made clear the City is still committed to ‘digital transformation.’ This includes the rolling out of new payroll, taxation, utility billing, and accounts payable systems – all of which was being done by staff working from home.
He described the City as becoming a more connected and accessible organization.
Over the next year, Aker added, the City hopes to work toward an improved permitting software and asset management system.
Another item in the strategic plan, Aker noted, is citizen engagement.
“We actively participated in food drives and fundraisers, and continued our investments in community groups and associations,” Aker said. “The business community supported essential (Covid testing) workers who stood on the front lines in our city, providing meals and snacks to those workers in true Newfoundland and Labrador winter conditions.”
This year, a citizen engagement platform titled “Hey Mount Pearl” was launched, which got a warm reception, he added. It gave residents a chance to provide feedback on initiatives such as the City centre revitalization plan, and the 2021 budget.
The City’s urban forestry plan, Aker reported, was also a success last year, resulting in the planting of more trees. Over the course of this summer, he said, the City will spend some $100,000 on tree planting.
After consulting the general public, Aker said, the City found its residents desiring more places to enjoy the outdoors. That resulted in trail lighting for Power’s Pond, and a focus put on grooming trails throughout the winter.
“We’ve also been focused on reducing energy consumption, both to support our climate change action plan, and to decrease our overall electricity costs,” Aker said.
From this, the City has projected some $70,000 being saved in electricity costs –something he sees as a major positive in the face of increased costs to come once Muskrat Falls comes onstream.
‘Find Your Centre’ is another initiative Aker touted. In recognition that change is happening, Aker described a slowing in the city’s population growth compared to previous years and an increase in the average age of its citizens – a challenge faced by the entire province.
As well, Aker said, economic and business activity has shifted with the boom and bust of the oil industry. The City’s strategic plan is meant to address those challenges.
The Find Your Centre project will, Aker said, set the stage for the revitalization of Mount Pearl’s core over the next two or three decades.
“It’s a long-term vision that outlines strategies for public and private real investment that will encourage the city’s centre to grow and thrive well into the future,” Aker said.
The plan is rooted in what he described as the three Rs: recreation, relaxation, and retail and will promote developments that encompass those three ideas.
“While conceptual, this framework will inform and guide decision making in future development in the city’s centre,” said Aker. “In turn, this will ensure the city’s centre becomes and remains a distinct core that contributes to a rich quality of life, a strong sense of place and a prosperous economy.”
A concept model of the future City centre will be on display at City Hall in the coming months, he said.
