CAO UPDATE

CAO UPDATE

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated September 13, 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 Town’s Annual Report was approved by Council on July 17 and the final version is available on the website.

In mid-July, Council Chambers was the venue for a Block Watch and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) workshop offered by West Shore RCMP Auxiliary Constables Craig Tompkins and Mike Hutchinson. This well-attended evening was informative, highlighting how to set up a Block Watch program in one’s neighbourhood and describing the elements of safety in design.

A graphic from the Block Watch and CPTED workshop showing the various realms of outdoor space.

Administration staff have been involved in the hiring process for three new positions: an Auxiliary Clerk/Receptionist to provide support for both the Finance and Administration Departments; a part-time Bylaw Enforcement Services Clerk to work with the Bylaw Enforcement Officer; and a Development Asset Technologist to work in the Engineering Department. All positions have been successfully filled with new staff starting in September.

The Town’s autumn newsletter was distributed earlier this month to over 6,000 addresses.

Archives participated in the Chilco Trails opening event held on Sunday, September 9. Despite the rain, the event had almost 100 participants and was an enjoyable time, particularly for the many young families in the Chilco neighbourhood.

Volunteer B. Stavdal (at right) chats with visitors to the Archives table at the Chilco Trails opening event.

Art Fest is scheduled for Sunday, September 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over the summer months, Administration and Parks staff worked on details with partners, the West Shore Arts Council and Blackwood Partners (Eagle Creek Village), to plan a fun-filled event.

Election preparations continue for the elections team, ensuring the details and logistics of advertising, ballots, mail ballot voting, training, venues, etc. are taken care of. The Nomination Period began on September 4 and ends on September 14. An optional information meeting for those interested in running for positions on Council was held on September 6. Content for the meeting focused on the general role and responsibilities of Council members and explored questions that potential candidates may have had. Advance voting will take place at Town Hall on October 10 and 16. The general voting day will be October 20 at View Royal Elementary and Eagle View Elementary Schools. Information about the general election is now posted on the Town’s website. Additional information will be added to the website between now and October 20 as it becomes available.

Finance:

The busy tax season continued in July, with the deadline for 2018 property tax payments on July 3. This year the Town collected 97% of current taxes by the deadline, which is comparable with prior years.

Information Technology projects progressed through July and August with the completion of the new fibre internet gateway project. Personnel now can access electronic information faster because of the increased data transfer speeds between Town Hall and the Public Safety Building. Council awarded contracts to the successful proponents of request for proposal processes for both the Microsoft Office 365 Implementation Services and Offsite Business Continuity projects, and detailed planning will begin as soon as the contracts are signed.

Renewed Fire Protection Agreements are now in place between the Town and its two First Nation partners, with 2018 billing complete.

Development Services:

On September 9 the community came together to celebrate the opening of the Chilco Trails network in the Chilco neighbourhood. After remarks by the Mayor and a ribbon cutting, members of Council led people on guided tours of the trails. Despite the rain, close to 100 people attended. The groups that make View Royal a great place to live also participated in the event—Archives highlighted the history of the Town and neighbourhood; our invasive species group highlighted the work that they do; the Fire Department and Emergency Services demonstrated some of our forest firefighting equipment and the importance of emergency planning. The small earthquake that morning certainly was a good reminder! Many residents offered their appreciation for the Town’s work and enjoyed celebrating this new recreational amenity.

Staff have also been busy working on the new parks and trails map. While publication was anticipated this month, at the request of Councillor Rogers this will be delayed until after PREAC has an opportunity to review the draft and provide feedback later in September. The map will be sent to the printer in early October and will be available for distribution later that month.

We continue to receive inquiries about the Town’s policy with respect to the sale of cannabis. The federal government legalization of recreational cannabis will proceed on October 17, 2018. The Town has chosen to delay implementation until after we have time to engage the community. There have been expressions of interest from a number of cannabis retailers about how they might participate in this community engagement process. An engagement strategy will be presented to Council in November and a formal call for volunteers (if needed) can then be issued.

Engineering:

The Development/Asset Management Technician position has been filled, with the newest member of the Engineering team commencing on September 17.

Capital projects completed over the summer months include the protected path on Island Highway from Prince Robert Drive to Helmcken Road, the wheelchair access on Helmcken Road at View Royal Elementary, as well as the following:

The Stoneridge Wetland Restoration Project continues with treatment, irrigation, and manual removal of invasive Parrot feather. With the assistance of an enthusiastic group of volunteers, a significant amount of the invasive has been removed under direction of the Town’s Habitat Restoration Consultant.

Parks

A fire at the GameTime equipment production facility in July destroyed the Centennial Park playground equipment order. Replacement equipment has now arrived and installation dates are being confirmed (anticipated to be mid-October).

A paved path has now been completed in Portage Inlet Linear Park:

The Habitat Restoration Consultant has been hard at work hosting numerous invasive removal events in Edwards Park, with upcoming events scheduled for Burnside/Watkiss Park, Knockan Hill Park, Portage Park with Shoreline Middle School, Garry Oak Meadows Park and Nursery Hill Park.

Lifecycles has been busy in Welland Legacy Park. They have grafted and planted fifty new fruit trees from the heritage collection and also sold the first generation of fruit trees that were grafted in 2015. This orchard is expanding into so many local backyards! Together with the LifeCycles Tree Care Apprentice program, they have been able to prune the whole orchard, replace the fence around the nursery, and undertake a whole host of other orchard maintenance activities. Thanks to some donations and diligent volunteer care, the native bees have been busily pollinating away. Upcoming fall events include four work parties from September - November, a workshop in October on Native Pollinators and a community Harvest Party on September 22:

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated September 13, 2018 from the Chief Administrative Officer titled “CAO Update” be received for information.

SUBMITTED BY: K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer