COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE REPORT - CAO UPDATE

CAO UPDATE

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated April 4, 2018 from the Chief Administrative Officer titled “CAO Update” be received for information.

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To provide Council with information from the Office of the CAO regarding material events and happenings at Town Hall.

BACKGROUND:

An Administrator’s report for the Committee of the Whole meeting to apprise Council of the highlights of significant activities of the Town.

INFORMATION:

Administration:

The annual volunteer dinner was held on March 10 and was attended by approximately one hundred volunteers and guests (see photo below). The View Royal/Colwood Emergency Support Services Team (ESS) was recognized by the Province with a plaque and recognition certificates were given to specific ESS volunteers for their work during the summer 2017 BC wildfires. As well, the Town gratefully acknowledged the work of the ESS Team in general with the presentation of a plaque. Members of the Emergency Radio Communication group were also recognized with service awards.

The Corporate Services Clerk recertified her WorkSafe BC Occupational First Aid Level 2 in mid-March. First aid attendants are an essential part of the first aid services required for workplaces under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations and often serve to shorten healing time of injuries, allowing our employees to resume normal activities sooner.

A Joint Advisory Committee meeting was held on March 27 to welcome new members and provide an orientation on the background and functions of the Advisory Committees. This orientation also served as a refresher to those members who had been reappointed and to other members with continuing terms.

The Town’s Spring/Summer Newsletter was delivered to View Royal residents during the first week of April.

Finance:

March was a busy month as the Finance team focused on taking the 2018-2022 Financial Plan through the bylaw approval process. The Financial Plan Bylaw was approved on March 20, 2018 and subsequently distributed to staff responsible for spending to facilitate monitoring and reporting.

The Finance team put in a significant effort to prepare for 2017 year-end audit and is appreciative of other departmental personnel that help in this work. The auditors perform their work onsite April 3-6, 2018, and we anticipate presenting the draft financial statements to Council on May 8, 2018.

Implementation of the Information Technology Strategic Plan will begin with the development of an RFP for backup/disaster recovery services, planning for the internet upgrade and fibre connection between the Public Safety Building and Town Hall, and the Town Hall data cabling upgrade. The workstation ever-greening project is well underway and should be completed over the next few months.

Development Services:

Development Services continues to respond to many inquiries about potential development in View Royal. It is good to be popular! We anticipate a rezoning application for 94 Talcott Road will be submitted by the end of the week and will bring that forward as soon as possible.

Other notable items include finally completing a few longstanding items from our Action List (with the adoption of the new Parks and Public Places Bylaw); proposing a path forward with respect to recreational cannabis in the Town; and we are close to having a final draft sign bylaw for Council’s consideration.

Limona has completed the transfer of lands (the Martino Property) as required by covenant regarding the Thetis Lake Campground Property development.

The Chilco Trail Construction RFP was let on March 15, 2018 and closes on April 18, 2018. A site visit was held on March 28, 2018 as part of the RFP program.

Engineering:

• Casino – construction of offsite works continue, both on Island Highway frontage as well as Wilfert Road;
• The CRD’s tender for the Hallowell Road project has now closed and is in process of being awarded. Work is anticipated to being late spring and complete in fall 2018;
• Installation of the Burnside Watkiss Park trail to 1950 Watkiss Way has begun;
• The boulevard spring maintenance program has started;
• The pedestrian crossing signal at the Public Safety Building is now complete and fully functional;
• The new traffic signal at Burnside/Watkiss intersection is now fully functional and staff will continue to monitor timing and feedback over the next five months, making adjustments as needed;
• Helmcken/Vickery roundabout safety improvements are scheduled to start in the coming weeks and include the removal of old, overgrown hedges to be replaced with low growing vegetation;
• Staff are working on the design for a pedestrian flash at the Colwood Interchange;

Parks

• The full-time parks position has been filled, and staff have begun the spring park maintenance program.
• Proposals have been received for the playground replacement at Centennial Park and staff will be distributing a request for public input to the neighbourhood. The contract is expected to be awarded late April.
• The invasive removal program led by Chris Junck is under way with work parties planned in Eagle Creek Park for April 8, 15 and 22 from 10am – 1pm.

Protective Services:

Although opioid overdoses have slowed, first responders are still responding to the crisis.

Fire protection contracts with Esquimalt and Songhees Nations are with both Nations for final review. The bylaw and building departments continue to be busy with complaints.

The Town recognized the accomplishments of several View Royal Emergency Support Services volunteers at its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. Certificates of appreciation were presented to volunteers by the Mayor for their service during the Provincial wildfires in Williams Lake.

The fire dispatch transfer plan for moving dispatch service from Saanich to Surrey is underway. Fire Chiefs are addressing operational data information transfer plans while CAOs are dealing with the Administrative/contractual issues. Surrey, CREST and the five municipalities involved are working together to enable an effective transition.

The new pedestrian/fire signal is operational in front of the Public Safety Building. It is functioning well for fire and is used regularly by pedestrians.

Fire and building crews inspected and confirmed on April 1, 2018 that Choices Transitional Home at 94 Talcott Road has been vacated.

The Municipal Insurance Association has developed a revised model building bylaw. This bylaw is intended by MIA to serve as a best practices approach to building bylaws and to keep up with changes in legislation. Currently, relevant changes include the recent Building Act, the Step Code, and the upcoming 2018 Building Code. Staff will be reviewing the model bylaw to understand its implications prior to recommending any changes for the Town of View Royal.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated April 4, 2018 from the Chief Administrative Officer titled “CAO Update” be received for information.

SUBMITTED BY: K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer