CAO Update

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Committee receive the March 3, 2016 CAO Update Report 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

With recent Council approval for the Town’s participation in Pitch-In Week, planning work has been underway with requests out to groups such as the schools, CRD Parks, J. Hebb, E. McCusker, View Royal Fastball and others. During the week of April 16 – 23 several activities are being planned including “20 Minute Makeovers” where residents can organize a garbage clean-up on their respective streets and in neighbourhood parks; the Town will host a hot dog and tree seedling give-away; organized walks in Thetis Lake Park and Portage Park; and a Repair Café to name a few events. More information will be made available on the Town’s social media, in the Goldstream Gazette and on the Town’s public notice board as details solidify.

View Royal Archives have been conducting oral history interviews with members of the community. This initiative has resulted in recorded recollections from long-time View Royal residents and is being well-received.

Last week Council approved a change to its advisory committee structure including amendments to the committee mandates and procedures. These revisions will be rolled out in the next few weeks, including the appointment of volunteer committee members.

The Town has recently accepted an offer of $730,000 for 280 Island Highway, the former fire hall property. Staff is working towards removal of the Vendor’s conditions, including the placing of notices in the Goldstream Gazette pursuant to legislative requirements for the disposition of land.

The Town’s information-packed spring/summer newsletter, compiled by the Administration Department, will be distributed by Canada Post beginning the third week of March.

Finally, Council will be hosting an open “Town Hall” meeting on Tuesday, April 26 beginning at 7 p.m. This event will be an opportunity for residents and business owners to come and share ideas and concerns with Council.

Development Services

The Parks Master Plan update continues to forge ahead. The community survey closed on February 28th and over 155 responses were received. Our student consultants have begun to analyze the data and are beginning to prepare for an Open House in April (tentatively April 13th) where the draft plan will be available for the public to provide comments on.

Staff are also preparing a number of reports related to projects identified in the Strategic Plan, including the sign bylaw review (on this agenda), the parks and public places bylaw, and a review of the business license bylaw. These items will come forward for Council consideration and input throughout 2016.

On the development side, staff are working on four subdivision applications at present, including ones on Chilco Road and Jedburgh Road. A revised form and character application for the second phase of Eagle Creek is expected this month, and we continue to be busy with inquiries about various properties in the Town.

Engineering

The Engineering Department continues to be involved in the construction of various developments:

Eagle Creek
1900 Watkiss Way
430 Six Mile
Thetis Vale phase 6 & 7

The CRD and Westside Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery Select Committee issues and Hallowell Road Project continue to take a significant amount of staff time.

Working with administration organizing “pitch in week”
Parks Mater Plan
Installation of Fitness Equipment in View Royal Park

The development of the 2016 Operating and Capital budgets is in progress.

Protective Services

Considerable focus was directed towards the transition of the Victoria tent city occupants to new accommodations at the former Youth Correction Center, 94 Talcott Road. The Fire Chief has had daily and weekly consultation with Our Place, BC Housing and RCMP to continue and maintain a favorable transition. The Fire Prevention and Building Department are conducting walkthrough fire and building safety inspections on the site every two days. Residents and staff have been very receptive to the site visits. It should be noted that no calls for service, either emergency or non-emergency have been received from the site.

Congratulations to Firefighters COLEMAN, IWASKOW and TAYLOR for their recent participation and completion of the Vancouver Wall Center Firefighter Stair Climb. Over $6000 has been raised by the team for donation to BC Cancer charities.

Also of note, the recognition received from the Eagle Creek developer towards our Building Official Gary FAYKES. It was noted that Inspector FAYKES delivered significant customer service and facilitated a smooth occupancy process and approvals for the first tenants.