Strategies
Term of Council Priorities 2018 to 2022
The 2016 - 2025 Strategic Plan is a 10-year plan. The 7 Strategic Plan Priorities are high-level priorities that support the community vision and that encompass all 70 City Services delivered by the City. While the City will continue to deliver all 70 City Services to the community every day, aligning staff and financial resources around a few key areas allows for more focused efforts towards the achievement of specific goals by the end of 2022.
For the remainder of the 2018 to 2022 Term of Council, the administration will be prioritizing these focus areas
These eight Term of Council Priorities (listed in no particular order) align with and support the desired outcomes of each of the seven Strategic Plan Priorities.
Climate Change
The City is committed to improving the health of Hamilton’s population through the reduction and prevention of outdoor air pollutant exposure and the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.
Goal: Reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions to achieve net zero before 2050 (over 2006 baseline). Interim targets of 20% by 2020 and 50% by 2030.
Strategic Plan Alignment:
- Healthy & Safe Communities
- Clean & Green
- Built Environment & Infrastructure
Multi-Modal Transportation
The City is committed to providing transportation options that meet legislated standards for both personal travel and goods movement in an accessible, convenient, efficient and affordable manner. There are a variety of modal choices available (e.g. automobile, truck, transit, walking and cycling) that all share the right-of-way. Safety measures will be built in to ensure road safety for all road users in-line with the principles of Vision Zero strategy (road safety reform with a target of zero fatalities or serious injuries on roadways through improved education, enforcement, engineering, evaluation and engagement). Where possible, mobile technology is enabled, to improve connectivity and promote alternative transportation choices that minimize impact on the environment and, in turn, enable residents to pursue active lifestyles.
Goal: Achieve a 48% non-single occupant vehicle modal split by 2031 with a target of 15% for Walk/Cycle, 12% for Transit and 21% auto passenger and shared modes, in accordance with the Transportation Master Plan.
Strategic Plan Alignment:
- Economic Prosperity & Growth
- Healthy & Safe Communities
- Clean & Green
- Built Environment & Infrastructure
Homelessness & Affordable Housing
Providing housing and keeping people in housing is achieved through administering effective programs that not only address the provision of physical affordable housing infrastructure at acceptable standards, but also builds capacity in the community. This is done to ensure everyone has a home and that the continuum of housing needs (from shelters, transitional and supportive housing, to rent-geared-to-income, as well as affordable rental and affordable homeownership) are addressed.
Goal: Transform Hamilton's housing and homelessness system to move closer to ending chronic homelessness and to meet annual benchmarks of housing households from the Access to Housing Waitlist.
Strategic Plan Alignment:
- Healthy & Safe Communities
- Built Environment & Infrastructure
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
The City is committed to creating and nurturing a city that is welcoming and inclusive.
Goal: Equity-seeking communities will feel safe, supported and have an enhanced sense of belonging through strengthening community capacity, City responsiveness and creating inclusive engagement opportunities.
View the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Metrics (additional metrics under development)
Strategic Plan Alignment:
- Community Engagement & Participation
- Culture & Diversity
- Our People & Performance
Integrated Growth and Development
The City of Hamilton is committed to planning for and implementing infrastructure in a manner that manages growth in a way that minimizes impact and creates opportunities for both residential and business development, while ensuring the city’s overall long-term sustainability.
Goal: Meet City of Hamilton growth targets by 2051 for population and employment in accordance with the Provincial Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe: A Place to Grow (2019), as amended.
Strategic Plan Alignment:
- Economic Prosperity & Growth
- Built Environment & Infrastructure
Trust & Confidence in City Government
The City of Hamilton is committed to promoting an open approach to government. Ensuring public information is readily available and accessible, by promoting partnerships and by strengthening and improving its ability to consistently undertake coordinated, transparent and inclusive, evidence-based engagement practices, the City is committed to enabling residents, business owners and community stakeholders to become more involved in decision-making processes and find value in partnering and investing in City programs.
Goal: Provide the public with greater access to City government information and opportunities to become more engaged in decision making processes that impact their community.
Strategic Plan Alignment:
- Community Engagement & Participation
- Our People & Performance
Fiscal Health and Financial Management
The City uses financial management tools to plan, direct, monitor, organize and control spending to ensure that the fiscal health of its finances, including its reserves and debt levels. Ensuring the efficient and effective use of tax dollars and revenues leads to competitive property taxes and user rates. Financial health is balanced with the need to maintain infrastructure assets, grow the non-residential property assessment base and maintain overall competitive residential property taxes.
Goal: Enhanced ability to fund operations (including capital), both current and future, to support sustainable service delivery.
Strategic Plan Alignment:
- Built Environment & Infrastructure
- Our People & Performance
A Healthy, Respectful and Supportive Workplace
The City’s workplaces are healthy, safe, inclusive and supportive. Teamwork, integrity and respect for individual perspectives, expertise and diversity are valued and recognized.The City is a welcoming workplace. High performing employees are proud to work for the City of Hamilton, are committed to the City’s success, and are recognized for a job well done.
Goal: Ensure a healthy, respectful and supportive workplace.
View the A Healthy, Respectful and Supportive Workplace Metrics
Strategic Plan Alignment:
- Our People & Performance
Date modified
November 01, 2022