Draft Annual Report for Year Ended December 31, 2022

SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE

[Photo: Four Council members standing in front of a Ukrainian flag in Council Chambers]

At the meeting on March 15, 2022, Town Council voted unanimously in favour of a $10,000 donation from the Town of View Royal to the Canadian Red Cross in support of its aid efforts in Ukraine. All funds for the donation came directly from revenue received by the Town from Elements Casino.

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

The Development Services Department provides the current and future land use, planning, and zoning work for View Royal and is responsible for the Official Community Plan that guides future growth. Additionally, Development Services supports economic development initiatives and programs.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Community Climate Action Strategy (CCAS) was adopted by Council on May 17, 2022, which outlines a path towards a low carbon future. A future where residents experience the benefits of a connected, healthy and economically prosperous community while taking action on climate change and adapting to climate impacts. A companion “Residents Guide to Climate Action” has also been produced to help residents consider options to reduce residential and transportation greenhouse gas emissions.
• In February, Development Services was notified by Public Services & Procurement Canada of fieldwork being undertaken in View Royal in relation to fish forage beaches adjacent to Thetis Cove and in Tovey Bay. The work builds on previous studies and ground truthing to evaluate forage fish spawning sites and is being done in support of assessing the feasibility of potential habitat offsetting beach restoration sites. Staff are monitoring the project to understand if any additional guidelines might be added to our shoreline development permit areas in support of habitat protection.
• As part of the Town’s commitment to climate action, the Town partnered with the CleanBC Better Home and Home Renovation Rebate Program to offer a top up for heat pump conversions for residential heating. The Town’s initial contract was for a six-month period from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, which ended up being extended into 2023.
• Staff continued work on the draft Building Bylaw throughout 2022. The new Building Bylaw will introduce new processes and requirements, including new BC Energy Step Code requirements, established by the Province to improve energy efficiency in buildings. The Town will move to Step Code 3 for Part 9 Buildings (single-family dwellings, duplexes, townhouses) and Step Code 2 for Part 3 Buildings (other residential and commercial buildings) starting in January 2023.
• In December 2022, staff prepared a Request for Proposal for the Helmcken Centennial Park Master Plan. The purpose of the plan is to identify long term uses of the park, an infrastructure plan, and a strategy to address sea level rise impacts.
• The Capital Regional District was awarded a grant for a Regional Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network project from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure (ICIP) CleanBC Communities Fund grant program. As a participant, the Town of View Royal will receive funding to install four Level 2 Elective Vehicle Charging Stations for public use.

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (CON’T)

[Photo: Coastal scenery captioned Stewart Avenue Water Views]

• Staff participated in two Hazardous Vulnerability Risk Assessment workshops to discuss the physical infrastructure, built environment and social impacts of climate change on the Town.
• Work continued in 2022 on the update of the 2011 Official Community Plan (OCP). An update to the OCP was identified as a priority project in Council’s Strategic Plan 2019 – 2022. While the 2011 OCP served the community well, the OCP update was needed to ensure that it meets the objectives and intent of the community’s interests and vision for the growth and development of View Royal as well as to meet legislative requirements. Progress on the OCP update included:
  • Significant promotion on the Town’s website, social media posts, newspaper advertisements, direct mail outs, signs at park entrances and notices sent through stakeholder networks.
  • Twelve neighbourhood walkshops, six online workshops, two comprehensive surveys, meetings with View Royal’s Advisory Committees, and Council workshops were also conducted to seek early and ongoing feedback from the public.
  • Staff presented to Committee of the Whole and Council several times to keep members informed and seek direction and feedback throughout the project. Even with a pandemic, View Royal community members were active participants in the project. Staff and the consulting team appreciated the passion and care that community members brought to the project.

Following the extensive work on this project, a draft OCP was completed in June 2022; however, the project was put on pause until after the municipal election in October 2022.

[Photo: Scenic view from a trail captioned Edwards Park View Point]

ENGINEERING & PARKS

The Engineering & Parks Department is responsible for the maintenance and capital programs for View Royal’s roads, streets, bridges, sidewalks, street signage, boulevards, bus shelters, street lighting, traffic signals and storm drains. The Parks section is responsible for the maintenance and development of over 70 parks in View Royal, including manicured and natural green spaces, trails, and sports fields, Parks also maintains the grounds at Town Hall and oversees building and fleet maintenance.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• As part of the Town’s emerging Asset Management Program, staff completed work on an asset management policy and long-term financial plan known as the Sustainable Infrastructure Replacement Plan. These efforts were funded in part by a grant through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
• The Helmcken Bay Pump Station Upgrade project was completed, which included the replacement of aging electrical and mechanical equipment to improve the operations and maintenance of the facility.
• Planning and design work was substantially completed on the proposed roundabout on Six Mile Road at Atkins Road. Construction is anticipated for the second half of 2023.
• Staff continued to collaborate with BC Transit on the rapid transit bus stop project. When complete, the Island Highway Transit Priority Lane Project will include priority bus lanes, new sidewalks, and bike lanes.
• The Pedestrian Lighting Improvement Project on Helmcken Road was completed, which improved the lighting coverage at the crosswalks at the Pheasant Lane and Vickery Road roundabouts on Helmcken Road.
• Using funding available through ICBC, additional school zone signage was installed on existing poles at View Royal’s public schools to help improve driver awareness.
• In coordination with BC Transit’s new handyDART Centre project, new curbs, sidewalks, boulevard trees, and bus shelters were installed on Watkiss Way near Burnside Rd W. A new parcel of park land was leased to the Town, the Galloping Goose Regional Trail was widened and realigned at its eastern approach to Burnside Rd W, and a BC Hydro transmission tower was replaced with a monopole on the development site.
• The Town signed a new contract for garbage and household food waste collection service with Waste Management effective until December 31, 2026.
• The design for View Royal Park’s riparian improvements were completed and will include invasive species removal, stormwater management improvements and native plantings and trees. The Town will be rolling out the execution of this in 2023.
• Following the success of the first portable toilet enclosure installed at View Royal Park, two additional enclosures were constructed at Centennial Park and Portage Park.
• The community gardens at View Royal Park prepared for its ninth year of operation. For the 2022 season, all 49 plots were reserved with returning and/or new gardeners as well as a waitlist of future participants.

ENGINEERING & PARKS DEPARTMENT (CON’T)

[Photo: Wide view of a sports field captioned Helmcken Centennial Park Ball Field]

• A decorative concrete bench was installed in Eagle Creek Park along the pathway, approximately halfway between the Watkiss Way entrance and the Little Road entrance, creating a nice place to stop for a rest. The open field on the east side of the park was also improved to allow for easy access for park users and Parks staff to perform maintenance tasks such as mowing and general clean ups.
• Crews worked to replace the 20-year-old swing set in View Royal Park. The newly installed sets include a set of tot swings and a set of three swing bays with two belt swings, a friendship swing, and a basket swing.
• The Resident Tree Planting Program was successfully rolled out to encourage residents to contribute to View Royal’s urban canopy. Funded through income received through the Town's tree removal permitting process, interested residents apply to the Town to request a free tree (or trees) to plant within their private property.
• Environmental stewardship was prevalent across View Royal parks and public spaces. In addition to work completed by volunteers through the Town’s Habitat Restoration Program, the Town partnered with the Greater Victoria Green Team for another year to engage school groups and the public in invasive species removal events throughout the year. In total, participants through both programs contributed a total of 765 volunteer hours and removed a total volume of 180m³ of invasive plants from View Royal.
• Design guidelines from the Landscape Architect and Biologists have been completed for the development of six priority road ends within the Town, supported by the Parks Master Plan. The rollout of these improvements will be done in subsequent years, budget permitting.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK PLAN

The Town developed its first-ever Active Transportation Network Plan that provides a 10-year roadmap outlining the short-term infrastructure improvements, policies, and programs needed to prioritize active transportation in the View Royal. The project entailed a one-year planning process that included detailed technical analysis and extensive public and stakeholder engagement.

FINANCE

The Finance Department provides the systems, tools, processes, and personnel to plan, record and report View Royal’s financial position and operations. It is instrumental in preparing the annual five-year financial plan, financial statements, tax and utility billings and ensuring suppliers and employees are paid accurately and on time. Under the Finance Department, the Information Technology function is responsible for the maintenance and security of electronic information systems and the delivery of technology enabled projects, including expanding online and electronic billing services.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Citizen Budget online engagement tool was open from March 12 to March 31 in conjunction with the publication of the 2022-2026 Financial Plan. This informal survey provides information about the five-year financial plan and allows people to view the impact of increasing or decreasing various service elements on their property taxes with results reported for Council’s consideration.
• The Financial Plan Insights app was launched at the same time as the Citizen Budget tool and the 2022-2026 Financial Plan document. This app invited interested constituents to explore the projects, funding sources, and operational budgets of the proposed financial plan through an easy to navigate interactive online app, with links to detailed project summaries and related information. The Financial Plan Insights app complements the award-winning Budget Variance Dashboard launched in 2021 that allows citizens to interactively explore detailed information about the Town’s budget and finances, enhancing financial transparency and accountability.
• A total of 428 business licence renewals were issued to business owners, an increase from 414 in 2021, with 112 payments made before December 31. Of the 112 payments, 46 (41%) were transacted online via the Town's Business Licence online service, compared to 48% in 2021. In 2022, 287 property owners opted to receive their tax notice by email rather than by mail, and increase of 36 from 2021. Tax collections before the due date have returned to pre-COVID levels at 99% of total taxes levied.
• At December 31, 2022, of the 2,471 sewer utility invoices issued, 560 (22.7%) were outstanding and transferred to arrears taxes for collection, compared to 532 (21%) outstanding in 2021.
• The centralization of the Provincial government’s Home Owner Grant (HOG) and Property Tax Deferment programs continued in 2022. Staff undertook an active communication campaign to remind taxpayers that HOGs and deferments must be submitted directly to the Province and, while staff fielded some inquiries, taxpayers were generally understanding and the process was smooth overall.
• In October, staff participated in Cyber Security Awareness Month by completing training to deepen their knowledge and awareness of such topics as: Understanding URLs, 2022 Danger Zones, Social Engineering, and Two-Factor Authentication attacks. Finance staff also leveraged grant funding to lead an initiative incorporating two-factor authentication to users of the Town of View Royal Microsoft 365 applications, including email.

FINANCE DEPARTMENT (CON’T)

[Photo: View Royal Park Community Gardens featuring raised wooden garden beds]

• In December, staff completed the IT Disaster Recovery and IT Business Continuity Plan. This plan outlines appropriate responses to a variety of scenarios that impact technology services, with a range of severities. The Plan covers a wide range of disaster scenarios, including a cyber attack, and provides instructions for responding to a failure of technology services, assessing business impact, and activating a recovery plan. The Plan completes one of the objectives of the IT Strategic Plan and provides critical inputs to the overall organizational Business Continuity Plan.
• In 2022 Council approved nearly $177,000 in grants to local community organizations through its grants in aid program, of which $142,000 was funded by Casino revenue. In addition, Casino funds were also used to support a wide range of community road and safety improvements and initiatives as well as a contribution to the new skate park at Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre.

PROTECTIVE SERVICES

The Protective Services Department includes View Royal Fire Rescue which is a composite paid and volunteer fire department responsible for fire suppression, fire inspections, and related training and education. It also encompasses policing provided under contract with the RCMP through the West Shore detachment, emergency planning and preparedness, and enforcement of municipal bylaws.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Emergency calls and general calls for service increased in 2022 where the department saw historical highs in its response numbers. The volunteer firefighter compliment remained stable, however challenges persist in securing community members to volunteer. The Fire Chief, in conjunction with Westshore Fire Chiefs worked to develop a program to share volunteer firefighters between stations and recruit qualified applicants from Greater Victoria to ensure adequate staffing on night shifts.
• Town staff provided support with the development of the Capital Regional District’s project to create an interactive Extreme Heat Vulnerability Mapping Dashboard. Staff provided local expertise and data to identify the locations of both populations and buildings that should be prioritized for education and planning efforts for future extreme heat events.
• In May, Protective Services staff facilitated both Fire Extinguisher and Building Safety Training at the Eagle Creek Surgical Centre for 30 staff.
• Bylaw Enforcement purchased a bike and all associated equipment to start a new bike program. The bike patrol program saw the Bylaw Enforcement Officer spend a portion of each week biking throughout View Royal and its parks. The bike patrol program has been very well received and has resulted in an increased file load for Bylaw Enforcement as the Bylaw Enforcement Officer is more accessible to the community.
• The Great BC Shakeout took place on October 20, 2022. Town Hall staff participated in this annual event followed with a practice earthquake preparedness training session involving the set-up of our Emergency Operations Centre at the Public Safety Building.
• 2022 was the first year since 2019 that the Firefighters’ Association was able to host their Halloween open house. Over 500 guests attended the hall for an evening of treats and the haunted house. The Firefighters’ Association also hosted their annual pumpkin smash event for charity on November 6.
• Four VRFD members assisted Westshore RCMP with two beach days for students of Craigflower Elementary School. The day included a canoeing component with M34 used as a transport/rescue boat.

TOTEM POLE AT PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING

[Photo: Ceremony for the raising of the Totem Pole at the Public Safety Building]

In May, the Town celebrated the raising of a totem pole at the Public Safety Building. The well-attended event recognized and paid tribute – with speeches and songs – to the significant relationship the Town has with Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation. Signifying protection, community, and friendship, the pole, carved by Tom LaFortune, stands proudly in the front of the building.

[Photo: Scenic waterscape captioned Postage Park View of Richard’s Island]

2022 MUNICIPAL GOALS & OBJECTIVES

The 2019 - 2022 Strategic Plan provides an opportunity to step back, look at the bigger picture and identify a few key areas or opportunities that require special attention or emphasis. Six strategic priorities have been identified for 2019 - 2022:

• ENHANCE LIVEABILITY,
• COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH,
• ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP,
• FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND SERVICE EXCELLENCE,
• GOOD GOVERNANCE, and
• COMMUNITY SAFETY AND SECURITY.

The Plan is based on ongoing public input and specifically includes input from a survey conducted in Spring 2019 following the last municipal election. It is the roadmap for Council’s decision-making and for the work of municipal staff.