Business Plan Executive Summary
Appendices to 2009-2011 BUSINESS PLAN
Summary of 2008 Auditor's Report
The 2009-2011 Business Plan provides strategic direction for the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority.
The Business Plan is developed annually by the Board of Directors and staff who review past accomplishments to develop strategic actions and targets to advance the Authority's Mission in 2009-2011.
Board of Directors approval of this document provides strategic guidance and specific direction for the implementation of the approved 2009 Budget, and forecasts our strategic direction and targets for the following two years.
The Business Plan includes 200-2011 program actions and financial forecasts. However many are subject to provincial initiatives and mandates which will affect our program delivery, including: The Clean Water Act, the Source Water Protection Plan development and implementation, the Intergovernmental Action Plan - Assimilative Capacity Study initiative and the Places to Grow and Green Belt Legislation.
OUR VISION - Conserving our Healthy Water
OUR MISSION - Working together to value, protect, enhance, and restore our watershed resources, for a healthy sustainable future
Objectives
To achieve our mission, we have five major objectives to consider, including:
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Protect, enhance and restore water
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Protect, enhance and restore land
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Protect life and property from flooding and erosion
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Provide educational and recreational opportunities for the public
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Partner with our Watershed Municipalities, provincial/federal agencies, Conservation Ontario, and other interested stakeholders to achieve mutual goals.
Principles
This Business Plan reflects our management principles, including:
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Wise use: balancing socio-economic needs and ecological health within the watershed
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Innovation and use of the best available technologies
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Proactive and adaptive programs
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Fair, open decision making process that balances individual and societal rights, privileges and responsibilities
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Strong stakeholder communication, education and consultation
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Streamlined, cooperative approach, emphasizing partnerships
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Economic implications of all management actions
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Science based, policy guided decision making
Governance and Organization
The Authority's watershed is a large geographic area, approximately 3700 sq. km, with jurisdiction in 18 municipalities. Based on the size of the Municipality, a representative(s) is appointed as a member of the Board of Directors. This Board is comprised of 26 members. Our members have a very important role and responsibility to represent the interests of their municipalities, consider the interests and needs of the Authority, and establish an effective reporting relationship with their municipal council and staff.
The Executive Committee, comprised of the Chair, Vice-Chair and members of the Board of Directors, is responsible for the general administration of the Authority, including program initiatives, approval of contracts and/or agreements, budget implementation and human resources. Our Board governs the Authority through the approval of policies and procedures, annual budgets and other business decisions. Members of the Board make up three Advisory Committees giving them the opportunity to fully participate in Authority governance, enhance communications and awareness, and improve the Authority's programs and services. The Committees provide advice and recommendations to the Board and Executive in the following areas: Engineering & Technical Services, Planning, and Land & Water Stewardship Services.
The Executive Committee is an elected committee of the Board and forms the Administration and Human Resources Advisory Committee.
Commmunications
The Business Plan incorporates the direction of the Authority's Communication Strategy focusing on delivering core messages to specific key audiences for each program area.
Service Delivery
The development of this Business Plan focuses on the following four key areas of concern: Financial (stable funding), Growth Management, Legislation and Mandate changes, and Organizational Capacity.
For more information contact srichards@nvca.on.ca