Cranbrook Connected is forging onward as per the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP), stated committee chair Chris Ayling Jan. 23 in his first quarterly report to City of Cranbrook council.

The committee wants to hire a coordinator for a one-year term by February and a new committee member is expected to be brought aboard “in a couple of weeks,” he told council.

The coordinator will be a busy person, Ayling said, noting they will develop a communication plan, create a sustainability check list (best practices identified), help develop criteria for a sustainability award and build relationships to “tackle shared goals.”

Additionally, the Cranbrook Connected website is undergoing changes and the new model will be launched at the end of February.

The committee remains focused on the main issues that rose from the ICSP process, Ayling said, explaining that the number one issue with Cranbrook residents, clear from the public consultation process, was water and a desire from the community to know “how our water system works.”

An education campaign was launched last fall and the committee hopes it will remain “ongoing,” noted Ayling (pictured above), the recent recipient of the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year.

Another key issue being looked at by the committee is “restore the core,” he continued, and brainstorming of ways to “attract new commercial and residential investment.”

City council’s creation of an economic zone in the city was a good first step, Ayling said.

“I suspect we will be well on our way to achieving other goals,” he concluded.

Council members once again expressed enthusiasm and support for Cranbrook Connected.

“It’s great to see you have tangible steps to go through,” said Coun. Diana J Scott.

Coun. Bob Whetham said he is seeing “great big ideas. I’m really keen about ‘restore the core.’”

He then asked if Ayling or the committee had any views on the city possibly expanding its economic development zone to cover the industrial park.

“It should be targeted to our downtown core. It’s the heart of the community,” Ayling replied.

Coun. Sharon Cross asked is the coordinator position could be “merged” with another existing organization to “create efficiencies?”

Ayling said the one-year position would be too busy for someone to tackle part time. “We don’t really envision a merging of roles,” he said. “It’s meant (Cranbrook Connected) to reflect all interests in town.”

He explained that the city would be hiring the coordinator but he/she will be directed by the Cranbrook Connected Committee. “We would be fairly hands on with the coordinator,” he said.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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