Progress made with community work plan
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

The final report of the Caledon Community Work Plan presented to Caledon council recently indicated most of the 63 projects have either been completed or significant progress has been made.

This was the Town's first attempt at developing a work plan this size. It was established following the 2003 municipal election. Input for improving services to residents was gathered at a meeting with community stakeholders.

The 63 action items were divided into eight themes: environment, Town service improvements, community recreation and parks, roads and sidewalks, settlement areas, recruitment of business and industry, community interests and governance.

Environment

Council endorsed the Town's Environmental Progress Action Plan in June 2005. A Community Green Fund was also established that year. Idle free zones were established at all Town facilities this past June. Caledon became the first municipality to buy green power through Bullfrog Power, Ontario's first 100 per cent green electricity retailer.

Town service improvements Caledon received the 2005 E.A Danby Award for developing the Efficient Development Implementation Team which improved customer service, with a notable reduction in processing time for building permits and site plan agreements.

Community, recreation

and parks

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan was completed in 2004. The master plan for the development of the Town Hall lands was completed in 2005. The new Margaret Dunn Library and community room was completed and opened this year. The Caledon Trailway bridge over Highway 10 will be completed this fall, providing safe crossing of all the permissive trail uses including equestrian uses.

Roads and sidewalks

The eastern route of the Bolton arterial roads (Albion Vaughan Road, CaledonKing Town Line South, Nunnville Road and Old King Road) was entirely completed by 2005. Construction of the fourlane western route along Coleraine Drive from Mayfield to King Street is scheduled for 2007. From 2004 to 2006 there have been $11.7 million of capital road improvements that included road surface rehabilitation, hard surfacing of gravel roads, reconstruction of roadways, ditching and drainage improvements, plus $400,000 of ditching and draining improvements through the operating budget. An annual budget has been set up to address traffic calming. In 2004, an assessment was done of the 100 kilometres of sidewalk in Caledon's inventory and in 2005 a budget of $150,000 was established to address all the high priority deficiencies.

Settlement areas

The Town has supported beautification programs in Bolton, Valleywood and Alton since 2004.

Recruitment of

business and industry

Caledon's first communication vehicle, Community Profile, was published in the summer of 2005 and was aimed at the business and investment community. The development of an economic development strategy or business plan has started and is 50 per cent complete. The Town's updated Web site www.caledon.ca went live in July 2005.

Community interests

Since 2003, more than $300,000 has been spent on roadside signage. Special pavement markings (SLOW, ROAD WATCH) have been placed at strategic locations. Town accessibility initiatives include a new elevator at the Caledon Community Complex scheduled for 2006-07, new grade level community rooms in Cheltenham and Valleywood, a new entry to Lloyd Wilson Centennial Arena in Inglewood, improved washrooms at the Victoria Parks Community Centre in Mono Mills and improved entry access to the Mayfield Recreation Complex.

Governance

The Town produced its first Progress Report in the fall of 2005 which consolidated the audited financial statements, the municipal performance

measurement program and the Caledon Community Work Plan. The new comprehensive zoning bylaw was adopted by council in April 2006. The new development charges bylaws were adopted by council in August 2004. The Caledon transportation needs study was completed in September 2004.