By Erin Knutson

The City of Fernie presented its 2026-2027 Strategic Action Plan (SAP) to the public at the January 27 council meeting, held at the senior centre.

The plan is intended to guide council decisions and resource allocation over the next two years.

Director of Asset Management Lisa Janssen outlined four priority areas in the plan: Service Analysis, Housing Types, Capital Investment, and Permitting Process.

“The SAP is designed to provide transparency, foster community engagement, and align municipal services with residents’ needs and expectations,’’ stated Janssen.

Janssen explained that the plan uses a Now, Next, Later structure to prioritize initiatives based on organizational capacity and available resources. Regular progress updates will be provided to the public, highlighting the council’s strategic direction and budget implementation.

The plan will provide a transparent overview of municipal services to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Business metrics and analysis will help both the public and the city track service progress.

“Housing is a key focus,” said Janssen.

The SAP focuses on increasing diversity and the affordability of housing options. Housing priorities are slated to include options, such as multi-generational accommodation and low-income housing, to meet current housing demand.

Janssen stated that, through partnerships, policy development, and ongoing stakeholder consultation, the plan’s objectives will be addressed and reported to the public in a comprehensive, accessible annual infrastructure report card.

The capital investment component requires systematic asset management. The SAP proposes an annual infrastructure performance review and expansion of asset awareness programs.

“Sequencing considers capacities, dependencies, and additional resources, and is organized by the operational plan. City staff developed SAP to support the council now and guide the upcoming budget. It is a high-level document focused on priorities, intent, and outcomes,” Janssen said in response to questions from Mayor Nic Milligan and council members about the document’s focus and clarity.

“Timing, where is that housed – it feels a bit vague,” said Milligan of the document.

Janssen confirmed the plan’s effectiveness as a technical document and noted that a more accessible version will be developed with a communications specialist, incorporating feedback from the mayor and council.

The plan consolidates and aligns existing work to support consistent decision-making. “Residents will have access to clearer information about city services, greater transparency, and more opportunities for participation and input, which will improve communication and ensure decisions are based on shared information rather than assumptions,” she said.

The SAP aims to balance transparency, effective management, and efficient municipal services. Improvements include streamlining internal procedures and increasing visibility of permit approvals and scheduling.

Council unanimously endorsed the SAP to guide the upcoming budget preview and deliberations. The plan is designed to align municipal priorities and incorporate community input.

“Through consent, the city emphasized the plan’s commitment to transparency and incremental progress, noting that all initiatives will remain subject to council approval and ongoing public review,” said Janssen.

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