Monthly administrative update from the Chief Administrative Officer covering administrative, finance, and engineering department activities.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION REPORT
TO: Committee of the Whole DATE: June 9, 2022 FROM: Kim Anema, CAO MEETING DATE: June 14, 2022
CAO UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the report dated June 9, 2022 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:
An Alternative Approval Process was concluded on May 24 for bylaws related to the proposed disposition of park land to the Capital Regional District.
Front counter staff saw an increase of residents attending Town Hall with the property tax notices being mailed during the third week of May.
The Records Coordinator/Archivist gave a presentation on the Archives’ recently launched Access to Memory website at the May Committee of the Whole meeting. Digitization and uploads to the site continue with new content posted weekly.
The totem pole unveiling was held at the Public Safety Building on May 28. The well-attended event recognized and paid tribute – with speeches and songs – to the significant relationship the Town has with the Songhees Nation and the Esquimalt Nation for our fire and emergency services.
Totem pole unveiling May 28 at Public Safety Building. Carver, T. LaFortune, standing at R in photo at R.
Also on May 28, the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was held at Elements Casino and was attended by approximately 100 volunteers and their guests.
In records management, work continues with departments to identify records projects, such as folder re-structuring and inventory management, to align more efficiently with needs and workflows.
Finance:
In May, the final 2021 audited consolidated financial statements were presented to Council along with an unmodified (clean) opinion provided by the Town’s auditor, MNP. Also in May, Council adopted the 2022 tax rates bylaw and 2022-2026 financial plan bylaw ahead of the legislated May 12 deadline. Additionally, staff submitted required statutory financial reports and documents to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs prior to the May 13 deadline.
Residents received their property tax notices during the third week in May with the first resident visiting Town Hall to remit payment on May 25. This is the second year of the provincial government’s Home Owner Grant (HOG) and Property Tax Deferment centralization projects, where residents must claim their HOG and defer their property taxes directly through the province. Comprehensive online and print messaging regarding this change has resulted in a manageable flow of inquiries to staff.
With potential supply chain issues a concern, staff are working on procuring replacement devices as scheduled in the annual workstation replacement plan, including the replacement of Council devices. We are not aware of any specific delays at this point and will continue to monitor progress.
Development Services:
Residents continue to make changes to their homes to increase energy efficiency – four property owners have now received the top-up for a heat pump under the Home Renovation Rebate Program.
Development Services is now back to a full staff complement. The new Building Inspector started at the end of May. Auxiliary and contract staff will continue to work on the handover of files as well as on the Step Code project and revisions to the Town’s Building Bylaw.
The Community Climate Action Strategy was adopted by Council on May 17. The coming weeks will see a new section added to the Town’s website to highlight this work. Information will include “The Residents Guide to Climate Action”.
Engineering:
The Active Transportation Network Plan Project is entering Phase 2, “Initial Stakeholder and Public Engagement”. This phase entails an online survey, stakeholder interviews, and outdoor engagement sessions, which will be held at Portage Park by the E&N Rail Trail and Chancellor Park by the Galloping Goose Regional Trail.
The Town has signed a new contract for garbage and household food waste collection service with Waste Management effective until December 31, 2026.
Sewer operating maintenance and capital project administration for May included:
- Staff conducting annual maintenance of all Town-owned emergency generators. This work includes the regular testing of the generators as well as the replacement of 12v batteries at various pump stations.
- Removal, rebuilding and reinstallation of Pump #1 at the hospital pumpstation.
- The Helmcken Bay pumpstation replacement – The tender has closed and staff will be providing a recommendation of award to Council shortly.
Significant vegetation was cut back to expose several drain manholes in the Six Mile Rd/Atkins Road area. These lines will be CCTV videoed in preparation for the roundabout construction planned for the area.
Engineering staff have begun investigating options to address the reoccurrance of motor vehicle incidents near the Helmcken Road/Vickery Road roundabout. Improvements such as anti-skid pavement treatment at the approaches may be considered. This roundabout will also be receiving a street lighting upgrade in the coming months. The bollards that were damaged during the last motor vehicle incident have been repaired.
Repaired bollards at the Helmcken/Vickery roundabout
The Galloping Goose Regional Trail has been reopened between Talcott Road and Burnside Road West. The trail was widened and realigned to provide a shallower grade and safer trail conditions. This work is part of BC Transit’s HandyDART project.
Realigned section of Galloping Goose Regional Trail
Parks grass maintenance and completion of annual plantings have been a recent focus for Parks staff.
Annuals planted at Helmcken Centennial Park (left) and George’s Corner Park (right).
Annual irrigation system start-ups and repairs have been completed and staff have been hard at work clearing debris and hazards from parks following windstorms in May.
Large irrigation break at Helmcken Centennial Park (left) and one of a few trees that blew down in the windstorm at Eagle Creek Park (right).
Over the past year, staff have noted a concerning influx in dumping of household garbage, construction debris and compost material at Town refuse cans at bus stops and in parks. This spring, staff are rolling out a pilot project geared toward dumping prevention by affixing decals to refuse can lids to inform offenders that dumping is a bylaw offense which is subject to a fine.
Compost material being dumped at the Town Hall at the side of the building in the lower parking lot (left) and at the rear of the building behind Council Chambers (right).
Garbage dumped at Watkiss Way & Highland Road bus stop (left) and Watkiss Way and Creed Road bus stop (right).
Decals for garbage can lids in high dumping areas.
On the GIS front, addressing was updated to improve searchability of locations within the portal.
Staff conducted drone flights to get footage of View Royal for the Active Transportation Plan.
Overlooking Trans Canada Hwy, Helmcken Centennial Park and Portage Inlet (left) Overlooking Esquimalt Harbour and the Galloping Goose Trail at Atkins Rd. (right)
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the report dated June 9, 2022 from the Chief Administrative Officer titled “CAO Update” be received for information.
SUBMITTED BY: K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer
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