Saint John Wins National Award for Municipal Innovation
SAINT JOHN –The Port City has received national recognition for its One-Stop Development Shop from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA).
The city of Saint John was presented with the 2016 CAMA Willis Award for Innovation, in the 20,001 to 100,000 population category, during CAMA’s national conference in Winnipeg, MB. The Willis Award for Innovation, awarded in recognition of Jack Willis for his contribution to CAMA, is presented for programs, projects or services that demonstrate exceptional innovation or meritorious initiative.
“CAMA is pleased to recognize the innovation demonstrated by Saint John with its new development shop approach,” said Don MacLellan, president of the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators and general manager of community safety services for Moncton, N.B. “It is a bold and innovative project that is transforming how the City delivers its planning and development service.”
Three years in the making, the One-Stop Development Shop came together through an inclusive engagement program, building on the standards set by the City’s Municipal Plan (PlanSJ). With more than sixty service improvements, the project involved a total process improvement to redesign the City’s development service and modernize all City development processes and bylaws, while creating new tools such as an urban development incentive program to seed sustainable urban growth.
“A total of 41 submissions from all across the country were received for this year’s CAMA awards program,” said Marc Landry, chair of CAMA’s Awards Committee, as well as the CAMA Representative for Alberta & Northwest Territories and Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Beaumont, AB. “The entire Committee was very impressed by the exciting projects that are being done by communities of all sizes. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all those who took the time to submit projects for consideration.”