I NTEGRATED COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY PLANS IN THE BASIN-BOUNDARY REGION ANALYSIS OF PROCESS, PLANS AND INDICATORS SPRING 2014 The Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute, at Selkirk College, is a regional research centre with a mandate to support informed decision-making by Columbia Basin-Boundary communities through the provision of information, applied research and related outreach and extension support. Visit www.cbrdi.ca for more information. CONTENTS ICSP Backgrounder ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Methodology ................................................................................................................................................. 7 Approaches and Local Processes .................................................................................................................. 7 The Natural Step (TNS) Framework .......................................................................................................... 8 Quick Start Framework ............................................................................................................................. 8 Forever Fernie (October 2011) ............................................................................................................. 9 Imagine Invermere (June 2011) ............................................................................................................ 9 Imagine Kimberley (September 2011) ................................................................................................ 10 Valemount's Future (March 2013) ...................................................................................................... 10 The Alberta Urban Municipalities (AUMA) Process ................................................................................ 11 Sparwood Community Sustainability Plan (September 2009) ............................................................ 11 Smart Growth .......................................................................................................................................... 11 Grand Forks: Sustainable Community Plan (September 2011)........................................................... 12 Transitions Movement ............................................................................................................................ 12 Twelve Principles of Permaculture ......................................................................................................... 13 New Denver: Resilience Action Plan (April 2010) ............................................................................... 13 Community Defined & Lead, Consultant Supported .............................................................................. 13 Connecting to Our Future: Cranbrook Connected (June 2011) .......................................................... 14 Nelson Path To 2040: Sustainability Strategy (December 2010) ........................................................ 14 Rossland: Visions to Action (May 2008) .............................................................................................. 15 Definitions of Sustainability .................................................................................................................... 15 Content Analysis ......................................................................................................................................... 17 Pillars, Focus Areas and Strategic Directions .............................................................................................. 18 Economic ................................................................................................................................................. 18 Business Climate and Sectors ............................................................................................................. 18 Workforce ........................................................................................................................................... 20 Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................................... 21 Housing ............................................................................................................................................... 22 Social ....................................................................................................................................................... 23 Demographics ..................................................................................................................................... 23 Education/Learning ............................................................................................................................. 23 Wellness .............................................................................................................................................. 24 Integrated Community Sustainability Plans in the Basin-Boundary Region Civic Engagement and Safety .............................................................................................................. 25 Cultural .................................................................................................................................................... 26 Recreation ........................................................................................................................................... 26 Heritage ............................................................................................................................................... 27 Culture................................................................................................................................................. 28 Arts ...................................................................................................................................................... 28 Environmental ......................................................................................................................................... 29 Biodiversity ......................................................................................................................................... 29 Air & Climate ....................................................................................................................................... 29 Land and Food ..................................................................................................................................... 30 Water .................................................................................................................................................. 31 Conclusions/Areas for Further Research .................................................................................................... 32 References .................................................................................................................................................. 33 Plans Referenced .................................................................................................................................... 33 Other Works Cited .................................................................................................................................. 33 Appendix 1: Approaches, Definitions and Focus Areas .............................................................................. 35 Appendix 2: Indicators ................................................................................................................................ 38 Integrated Community Sustainability Plans in the Basin-Boundary Region ICSP BACKGROUNDER [Important note: This report was researched and written during the term of the 2005-2014 Gas Tax Agreement. Just prior to publication of this report, a new Gas Tax Agreement was introduced in BC. The new version of the agreement does not include the same provisions around Integrated Community Sustainability Planning that are referenced in this report. Rather, it focuses on other aspects of long- range planning undertaken by local governments.] Since 2005, BC local governments have significantly enhanced their efforts to engage in high-level community sustainability planning, primarily as a result of a federal funding program that promotes this type of activity. The ‘2005-2014 Gas Tax Fund’ transfers revenues from a federal tax on gasoline to local governments primarily for sustainable infrastructure projects. However, in order for local governments to receive their funding allotments under this agreement, they must demonstrate that they have undertaken ‘Integrated Community Sustainability Planning’ at some point during the term of the agreement. In addition to funding for infrastructure projects, the agreement (which in BC was made between the Governments of Canada and BC, and the Union of BC Municipalities) includes provisions for funding that enable integrated community sustainability planning, including projects that increase a local government’s capacity to prepare for, or undertake, planning processes. In the agreement, integrated community sustainability planning is defined as: “long-term planning, in consultation with community members, that provides direction for the community to realize sustainability objectives it has for the environmental, cultural, social and economic dimensions of its identity” (S. 1.1). The BC Ministry of Community Services1