TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL ANNUAL REPORT - Year Ended December 31, 2017 (Administrative Section)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMMUNITY PROFILE .......................................................................................................2 MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR ............................................................................................5 MAYOR & COUNCIL..........................................................................................................6 ORGANIZATIONAL CHART...............................................................................................8 MISSION, VISION & VALUES ...............................................................................................9 SUMMARY OF SERVICES & OPERATIONS....................................................................... 11 2017 MUNICIPAL HIGHLIGHTS ..................................................................................... 13 ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT............................................................................. 13 ENGINEERING & PARKS DEPARTMENT .................................................................. 14 FINANCE DEPARTMENT ........................................................................................... 15 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT................................................................. 16 PROTECTIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT...................................................................... 17 2017 MUNICIPAL GOALS & OBJECTIVES ..................................................................... 18 FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY & SERVICE EXCELLENCE ................................................ 19 ENHANCE LIVABILITY IN VIEW ROYAL ......................................................................... 22 COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC GROWTH ....................................................................... 25 MAINTAIN STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS ............................. 28 LOOKING AHEAD ........................................................................................................... 29 FINANCIAL INFORMATION............................................................................................. 31

COMMUNITY PROFILE

A gateway between Victoria's urban core and the growing West Shore municipalities, View Royal is a vibrant community. This year’s Annual Report outlines the Town’s achievements and major projects for 2017. It shows the progress on our 2017 municipal goals and objectives, highlights financial reporting, and gives insight into plans for the future.

*as per BCStats 2016 Census

• INCORPORATED DECEMBER 5, 1988
• 10,408 POPULATION*
• 1,436 HECTARES LAND AREA
• 30.5KM BIKE LANES
• 72 MUNICIPAL PARKS
• $466,634.92 BUILDING PERMITS
• 27.3KM TRAILS
• 307 BUSINESS LICENSES

View Royal is divided into eight distinct precincts based on such factors as topography, major transportation corridors, natural environment and the age of housing stock. These precincts are:

• Craigflower
• Harbour
• Helmcken
• Hospital
• Thetis
• Burnside
• Atkins
• Wilfert

The municipality encompasses McKenzie, Pike, Prior and Thetis Lakes and portions of Esquimalt Harbour and Portage Inlet and is situated adjacent to the established jurisdictions of the City of Colwood, Township of Esquimalt, Esquimalt First Nation, District of Saanich and Songhees First Nation.

Mayor Screech presents 150th celebration street light banner contest winner, Reece Babin, with a banner of his own artwork. Reece was one of three contest winners from Eagle View Elementary School.

Mayor Screech and Fire Chief Paul Hurst place the Town of View Royal wreath at the Remembrance Day ceremony held at the Esquimalt Memorial Park Cenotaph.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

*To be included in final version.

MAYOR & COUNCIL

Mayor and Council of the Town of View Royal were elected for a four-year term in the municipal election held in November 2014.

Following a vacancy on Council, a bi-election was held on November 18, 2017 to elect one Councillor for the remainder of the four year term (ending fall 2018).

Each Council member is also appointed to various Town and Regional committees.

Mayor David Screech (December 2, 2014 - present)

* Finance & Administration - Chair * CRD Board/Committee of the Whole - Vice Chair * CRD Core Area Liquid Waste Management * CRD Finance * CRD Hospital & Housing * Capital Region Housing Corporation * CRD Regional Parks - Chair * Funding Partners’ Council * Municipal Insurance Association * Te’Mexw Treaty Advisory Committee * View Royal Reading Centre

Councillor Damian Kowalewich (December 5, 2017 - present)

* Public Works & Transportation - Chair * Community Development Advisory Committee * Joint School District / Municipal Committee * Parents’ Advisory Committee

Councillor Ron Mattson (December 6, 2011 - present)

* Public Works & Transportation - Chair * Community Development Advisory Committee * CRD Housing Trust Fund Commission * Esquimalt Harbour Advisory Committee * Victoria Family Court & Youth Justice Committee * West Shore Parks & Recreation Society

Councillor Heidi Rast (December 2, 2008 - September 1, 2017)

* Protective Services & Community Services - Chair * Community Development Advisory Committee * CRD Climate Action Steering Committee * Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications (CREST) * Community Policing * Police Building Liaison Committee

Councillor John Rogers (December 2, 1996 - present)

* Parks, Recreation & Environment - Chair * Parks, Recreation & Environment Advisory Committee * CRD Arts Committee * CRD Water Supply Commission * Friends of Cole Island Society * Greater Victoria Public Library * Juan de Fuca Water Distribution Commission

Councillor Aaron Weisgerber (December 2, 2014 - present)

* Planning & Development - Chair * Parks, Recreation & Environment Advisory Committee * Joint School District/Municipal Committee * Parents’ Advisory Committee * Westshore Chamber of Commerce

2017 Town of View Royal Organizational Chart

• Mayor & Council
  • Chief Administrative Officer
    • Executive Assistant
    • Director of Corporate Administration
      • Deputy Clerk/Confidential Secretary
      • Corporate Services Clerk/Receptionist
      • Archivist/Corporate Records Assistant
    • Director of Engineering & Parks
      • Deputy Director of Engineering
      • Engineering Technologist
      • Engineering Clerk
      • Parks Supervisor
      • Parks Workers (x3)
    • Director of Protective Services
      • Training Officer/ Firefighter
      • Fire Prevention Officer/Firefighter
      • Emergency Program Officer/ Firefighter
      • Pre-planning/Firefighter
      • Maintenance/Firefighter
      • Fire Department Clerk
      • Building Inspector
      • Bylaw Officer
    • Director of Finance
      • Manager of Accounting
      • Accountant/IT Coordinator
      • Accounting Clerk 2
      • Accounting Clerk 1
    • Director of Development Services
      • Senior Planner
      • Planner
      • Development Services & Licensing Clerk

MISSION - WHY WE EXIST

To build a resilient, vibrant community that fosters and balances social, environmental and economic well-being.

LIVABLE VIEW ROYAL:

simply the best place to call home.

VISION - THE FUTURE WE STRIVE TO CREATE

Liveable View Royal – simply the best place to call home.

VALUES - OUR GUIDEPOSTS

The Town of View Royal pursues good community through a corporate culture that is:

• Accountable,
• Respectful,
• Ethical,
• Collaborative,
• Innovative,
• Proactive,
• Efficient, and
• Effective.

COMMITMENT TO ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE

The Town of View Royal is committed to providing the best possible local government for our residents and business community. This commitment drives constant improvement, with particular emphasis on:

• providing strong, strategic policy-based governance,
• demonstrating collaborative leadership and effective shared decision-making within the community, with our regional partners, including First Nations,
• nurturing productive working relationships at the legislative and executive level,
• pursuing excellence founded on core values, approved plans, policies and our commitment to innovation,
• decision-making processes to be transparent and responsive,
• integrating strategic planning, business planning, budgeting and performance management systems,
• embracing evidence-based best practices for professionalism,
• enhancing customer service and related communications capacity, and
• positioning sustainability as the foundation of our municipal culture.

SUMMARY OF SERVICES & OPERATIONS

The TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL is responsible for the provision of a wide variety of local services and programs. These include:

• Transportation network (e.g. roads, bridges, street cleaning, sidewalks)*
• Stormwater management
• Garbage/household food waste collection
• Sanitary sewer collection system
• Parks, recreation and cultural facilities
• West Shore Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
• Fire protection and inspection
• Emergency preparedness planning
• Land use planning
• Building permits
• Business licensing
• Bylaw establishment and enforcement
• Economic development
• Heritage and revitalization

*excludes Admirals Road, Six Mile Road and the Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1) which are controlled by the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure.

Town Services provided by OTHER ORGANIZATIONS include:

• School system (Provincial Government and Local School Boards)
• Social and health programs (Provincial Government)
• Hospital care system (Provincial Government)
• Real property assessments (B.C. Assessment)
• Library collection and distribution system (Greater Victoria Public Library; Town is a part owner of the Downtown Branch)
• View Royal Reading Centre (Town provides partial support through a grant-in-aid)
• Planning and the management of public transit (Victoria Regional Transit System)

Town Services provided by the CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT:

• Animal control
• Sewer system management
• Water management
• Recycling

The Town is represented on the following BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, which provide a variety of services to the residents of View Royal:

• Capital Regional District Board
• Capital Regional District Hospital Board
• Capital Regional District Housing Trust Fund Commission
• West Shore Parks & Recreation Society
• Greater Victoria Public Library
• Community Policing

View Royal Archives participated in the Capital Regional District’s “50th Anniversary Quilt Project”. View Royal quilters Ann Fox and Georgia Andrews’ quilt square captured a colourful collage of the community’s features.

The new Quincy Road Pedestrian Access trail was installed to connect upper and lower Quincy Road.

2017 MUNICIPAL HIGHLIGHTS

ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT

• As one of the Town’s Canada 150 events, students of View Royal Elementary, Eagle View Elementary and Shoreline Middle School were asked to submit a street light banner design depicting what our country means to them with a theme of the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation. Students who won the street light banner contest were presented with a certificate of achievement, a Town pin and a banner with their own artwork.
• The annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was held on April 22, 2017 and deemed a success with approximately 96 attendees.
• View Royal Archives completed phase two of the digitization project, ensuring the electronic preservation of documents well into the future. The project’s long-term goal is to enhance accessibility to these historic records for both researchers and the general public.
• The Canada 150 celebration at the historic Craigflower Manor on July 1st was a worthwhile endeavour. The Town of View Royal, the Victoria Highland Games Association and Volunteer View Royal worked together to create a vibrant community event that was well attended.
• The Administration Department facilitated a by-election in November, brought about by Councillor Rast’s relocation out of province. A total of 1,295 ballots were cast over the three days of voting, representing a voter turn-out of 15.2%. New Council member, Damian Kowalewich, was sworn in by Judge Carmen Rogers at the December Council meeting.
• Under the guidance of the Corporate Records Assistant/Archivist, electronic documents were moved over to a new shared drive. Through this work, all electronic records are stored using the Local Government Management Association’s records numbering system and will mirror the Town’s paper record numbering system.

FAREWELL TO COUNCILLOR RAST

Councillor Rast served on Town Council for nine years. She was Chair of the Town’s Protective Services & Community Services Sub-Committee to the Committee of the Whole, and Council liaison for the Community Development Advisory Committee. During her time on Council, she served as a Director for the Capital Region Emergency Services Telecommunication Inc. (CREST) and was the Town’s representative to the CRD Climate Action Steering Committee, Community Policing and Police Building Liaison Committee. She developed a close working relationship with the Protective Services Department and was unfailingly kind and respectful of staff and the public. Her steady presence at the Council table will be sorely missed. We wish her all the best in Prince Edward Island!

ENGINEERING & PARKS DEPARTMENT

• For the second year, the Town of View Royal hired a GIS Intern under the Canada Summer Jobs program. Working with the GIS administrator, the student collected data that was integrated into the existing GIS platform, providing staff the ability to readily access information on things such as street lights, signs, parks furniture, irrigation boxes and monuments. The ultimate vision for this project is that residents will be able to go to the Town website and query surrounding infrastructure located within their neighbourhoods.
• The new Eagle Creek Trail opened to the public in October 2017.
• The contract for the Master Sanitary Sewer Plan Update was awarded to McElhanney Consulting. Due to increased development and rising population, the updated plan will accommodate current and future development in a sustainable manner to create greener, healthier and more resilient neighbourhoods.
• Updates were made to Chancellor Park that included the installation of a new asphalt pad, basketball hoop, hockey net, and fencing.
• The Quincy Road Pedestrian Access trail was installed to connect upper and lower Quincy Road.
• As part of the Kayak Launch project on Shoreline Drive, the Town of View Royal partnered with World Fisheries Trust to complete oyster compensation work (reef balls) as a habitat compensation measure for the loss of native Pacific Oyster habitat caused by the new boat launch. The reef balls were pre-seeded with native oysters in the natural hatchery of the Gorge, and then moved to a shallow subtidal mud environment (Fisherman’s Wharf) where native oyster populations need reinforcement.
• In 2017, the Portage Park Restoration Program expanded to include numerous parks throughout View Royal including Burnside Watkiss Park, Eagle Creek Park, Edwards Park, Garry Oak Meadows Park, MacLennan Trail Area, Mellor Park and of course, Portage Park. This volunteer engagement and habitat restoration program included various public events and collaborations with the Greater Victoria Green Team, Volunteer View Royal, and Shoreline Middle School. These efforts totalled 308 volunteer hours and treated an area of approximately 8,500m2.

UPDATES TO NEWSTEAD PARK

Newstead Park playground replacement equipment was replaced with a new play structure that includes slides, climbers, swings, and other fun equipment of kids to enjoy. Work also included landscaping and the installation of new curbs, drainage, and a concrete pad.

FINANCE DEPARTMENT

• The Finance Department proactively encouraged vendors to switch to payments through electronic funds transfers (EFTs) rather than paper cheques as both an efficiency measure as well as fraud risk reduction. As a result, the total payments made by electronic funds transfers were 45% in 2017, up from 40% in 2016 and 34% in 2015. The target for 2018 is for 80% of all payments to be completed through EFTs.
• In 2017, Finance and other staff worked with a consultant to update the Information Technology Strategic Plan. The updated plan refocuses efforts on basic technology infrastructure with projects that include implementation of a business continuity and disaster recovery plan, network cabling upgrade, phone system replacement, and migration to Microsoft Office 365. These projects will improve network reliability and efficiency, and provide robust tools for collaboration across the organization and within the larger community.

PACIFIC OYSTER HABITAT

Divers from World Fisheries Trust set up reef balls that were pre-seeded with native Pacific Oysters in the natural hatchery of the Gorge to compensate for habitat loss caused by the new boat launch on Shoreline Drive.

EDWARDS PARK INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL

Volunteers work to remove invasive species at Edwards Park under the direction of Chris Junck, Habitat Restoration Consultant.

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT

• Development Services staff noted a trend in new development in View Royal for 2017, much of which was targeted at rental buildings. Based on regional vacancy rates, new rental housing of all types is needed. Approved rental projects for 2017 included sites at Lakeside Village, Eagle Creek and on Watkiss Way. Some of these projects also include suites that may be suited to families.
• Staff worked on the final segments of the Chilco Trails network. The coming park land dedication coincident with Phase 7 will facilitate a pedestrian connection to the bottom of the hill (at Lund Road). The Chilco developer will be building a stub trail from a new cul-de-sac to Lund Road with an RFP to be issued to connect this stub with the existing trail at Haagensen Court.
• In 2017, Development Services processed four rezoning applications, one temporary use permit, ten development permits, three development variance permits, six Board of Variance applications and ten sign permits.
• An updated Parks Master Plan was adopted by Council in 2017. The project involved students from the Masters of Community Planning program at Vancouver Island University who assisted with community engagement work. This new plan will guide investment in park spaces for several years to come. It identifies our priorities for playground replacement, shoreline access development and a desire to add park land in the Harbour neighbourhood.
• View Royal’s business license holders were invited to an informal get-together in November to meet members of Council and representatives from the Westshore Chamber of Commerce. Input was gathered from attendees on a variety of issues including the Town’s draft sign bylaw and potential plastic bag ban bylaw.

VIEW ROYAL ACHIEVES CARBON NEUTRALITY

In 2017, the Town of View Royal was recognized for achieving corporate carbon neutrality by the joint Provincial Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Green Communities Committee and was awarded level four recognition for the ‘Achievement of Carbon Neutrality’ for the 2016 reporting year.

The Town of View Royal has been measuring and reporting on its efforts to reduce emissions since 2012. Carbon neutral operations were achieved, for example, by participation in the household organic waste pickup program and reducing vehicle emissions by switching to a solid waste truck that uses Compressed Natural Gas for much reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The Town of View Royal is proud of the progress and efforts being taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and will continue to strive toward reaching their climate goals and achievement of this recognition in the coming years.

PROTECTIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

• 2017 was a record year for emergency and non-emergency calls for service for the Protective Services Department. Volunteers and career staff were called out 1,008 times for a wide range of incidents. An impressive 19,247 hours were spent training, responding to calls and staffing the station on overnight shifts.
• Emergency responders assisted with the response to the wildfires throughout BC. The Emergency Support Services (ESS) team of 30 members deployed 4 volunteers to lead and support roles in the evacuation reception centres in Kamloops, 100 Mile House, and Williams Lake. This equates to over 460 volunteer working hours and over 3 weeks away from home. In addition, 11 ESS members volunteered to staff 1/3 of the shifts at the Evacuee Call Centre at the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre located on Keating X Rd. in Central Saanich, equating to another 400 hours of volunteer time. All this was done while still maintaining sufficient coverage in View Royal and Colwood. While the roles of our firefighters were vital to protecting property and infrastructure, our ESS team provided much needed support to the thousands of individuals and families that were evacuated.
• The Emergency Program organized and hosted the 10th Annual Emergency Preparedness fair at Juan De Fuca recreation Center. Countless hours of organizing by the Emergency Program Officer and ESS volunteers resulted in another successful event.

VIEW ROYAL FIRE ATTENDS BC WILDFIRES 2017

During the months of July and August, the View Royal Fire Department deployed over 20 members and equipment to battle wildfires that were threatening the communities of Williams Lake, Clinton and Cache Creek. Over the 5 week deployment, more than 2000 combined hours were spent by View Royal firefighters site prepping, mitigating hazards, firefighting and evacuation planning. View Royal formed part of a larger task force charged with the responsibility of protecting over 400 million dollars in logs, infrastructure and lumber stock in the communities’ mills.

The experience gained across the board will be invaluable to the Town of View Royal and its neighbours in assessing our own needs should a major wildfire threaten this community.

Successful operations such as these are only possible with the support of our volunteer firefighters’ families and the support of Mayor and Council in the authorization of the deployments.

2017 MUNICIPAL GOALS & OBJECTIVES

The 2015 - 2018 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. Four strategic priorities have been identified for 2015 - 2018:

• FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND SERVICE EXCELLENCE,
• ENHANCE LIVABILITY IN VIEW ROYAL,
• COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH, and
• MAINTAIN STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS.

- FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY & SERVICE EXCELLENCE -

STRATEGIC PRIORITY:

• Ensure we are providing quality services to our residents on a cost effective basis
• Focus on Capital Asset Management Program

DESIRED OUTCOMES:

• Optimized corporate efficiencies
• Confidence in the fiscal health and financial sustainability of the Town
• Diversified revenue base
• Predictable property tax and user fee increases

- ENHANCE LIVABILITY IN VIEW ROYAL -

STRATEGIC PRIORITY:

• Proceed with parks improvements in accordance with the Parks Master Plan
• Ensure key bylaws and policies reflect community’s needs

DESIRED OUTCOMES:

• Stewardship of valued parkland
• Alignment of community values with enforcement tools
• Build relationships and engagement through community events
• A strong and growing volunteer corps, investing in View Royal

- COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC GROWTH -

STRATEGIC PRIORITY:

• Explore creative new ways to encourage redevelopment of existing lands
• Lead by example through investing in a high quality public realm
• Support opportunities for local services and employment

DESIRED OUTCOMES:

• Private investment in the redevelopment of strategic sites on significant community corridors and at gateways to View Royal because Town seen as desirable place to be
• Engagement with business community to understand how the Town can support economic development
• Diversified revenue base
• Strategic municipal investment in the public realm
• Continued implementation of the Official Community Plan (2011)

- MAINTAIN STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS -

STRATEGIC PRIORITY:

• Participate in discussions about improving regional governance

DESIRED OUTCOMES:

• Continue to be a “bridge” between the “core” and “western” communities
• Respected participant in the region
• Recognized as a progressive and innovative municipality

LOOKING AHEAD

View Royal Council and senior staff have worked together to develop a strategic plan, setting the course for Council’s term which completes in the fall of 2018. While it is valuable to reflect on what we accomplished in 2017, it is also important to keep moving ahead on a strategic path. Accordingly, the strategic plan priorities were reviewed in early 2018 and the four themes of Enhance Liveability in View Royal, Financial Sustainability and Service Excellence, Community and Economic Growth, and Maintain Strong Relationships With Our Neighbours were considered with a view to projects/initiatives that can be undertaken in 2018 and beyond.

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND SERVICE EXCELLENCE

• ensure we are providing quality services to our residents on a cost effective basis;
• focus on a Capital Asset Management program.

ENHANCE LIVEABILITY IN VIEW ROYAL

• proceed with parks improvements in accordance with Parks Master Plan;
• ensure key bylaws reflect community needs;

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

• explore creative ways to encourage redevelopment of existing lands;
• lead by example through investing in a high quality public realm.

MAINTAIN STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS

• participate in discussions about improving regional governance;
• collaborate with neighbouring municipalities to improve public communications for emergency/disaster events.