| OBJECTIVE |
STRATEGY |
MEASURE |
2008 PROGRESS |
| Financial Stability |
Plan for anticipated community needs. |
Long term Comprehensive Municipal Plan (CMP) updated annually. |
To Council in February 2008. |
| Rebuild reserves to fund planned capital expenditures. |
Balance CMP with limited long-term borrowing. |
No long-term debt required in 2008 CMP. |
| Build reserves for unanticipated community needs. |
Have unappropriated General Reserve Fund balances of $20 million by 2016. |
2008 balance of $8.9 million. CMP includes an annual allocation to the Unappropriated Reserve |
| Maintain a reasonable tax burden for taxpayers. |
Tax rate increase similar to rate of inflation and other local governments. |
Chilliwack 2008 tax increase was 3.95%, Abbotsford was 4.97% and Langley 5.95%. |
| Chilliwack remains at the low end of taxation on a representative home when compared to similar communities. |
Chilliwack lowest of 14 communities surveyed. |
| Other revenue opportunities explored. |
Available Government Grants applied for. |
| New growth pays for itself. |
DCC Bylaw reviewed and rates amended. |
| OBJECTIVE |
STRATEGY |
MEASURE |
2008 PROGRESS |
| Good Stewardship of Municipal Infrastructure |
Maintain the road system. |
Pavement quality index average above 5.5. |
Investment into road rehabilitation program. PQI approximately 5.8. |
| Maintain the utility systems. |
Service delivery interruptions minimized. |
Flushed entire water system at least once in 2008 and flushed 50% of the water system twice. Replaced 2,240 meters of aging cast iron water pipes. Cleaned and disinfected 75% of the City's water reservoirs in 2008.Cross Connection control program surveys increased by 40% in 2008 |
| Maintain municipal facilities. |
Identified maintenance program funded. |
Funded all major maintenance identified as required. |
| Protect the community from flood risk. |
420,000 cubic meters of gravel removed annually from the Fraser River. |
The Fraser River had 400,100 cubic metres removed in 2008 |
| Existing funding opportunities for gravel study and dyke upgrades maximized and senior levels of goverment lobbied for additional monies. |
Received $1,390,000 in provincial funding in 2008 for dyke relief well and erosion mitigation. |
| Maximize utilization of existing infrastructure. |
Development directed to serviced areas. |
Infill continued in 2008. 651 dwelling units built without extending infrastructure. |
| Ensure adequate water supply. |
Amount of water consumed meeting daily demand. |
Demand met. Some watering restrictions during summer. |
| Ensure quality drinking water. |
Meets drinking water standards. |
Comprehensive testing undertaken. Emergency chlorination system tested.Achieved the best drinking water quality test results in 25 years of record. |
| OBJECTIVE |
STRATEGY |
MEASURE |
2008 PROGRESS |
| Good Stewardship of the Environment |
Protect the waterways. |
Effluent meets or exceeds Provincial standards. |
Continues to meet standards. |
| Protect water course riparian areas. |
Consider scientifically determined stream setbacks in all new development applications. |
Continued to protect riparian areas by maintaining RAR standards and enforcing rules regarding Development Permit Area #11 rules. |
| Encourage recycling. |
Diversion rate for recycling items increased to 40% by 2010, 42% by 2011, and 44% by 2012. |
Recycling rate increased to 43% in 2008. Surpassed expectations by 4%.Working on a new curbside contract for 2009. |
| Protect the airshed. |
Work with the Province to assess manure methane impacts. |
Working on an air quality,energy and greenhouse gas action plan. |
| Explore economically viable methane extraction opportunities. |
New item. |
| Reduced reliance on automobiles. |
Additional transit funding.Creation of 3,800 meters of additional cycling lanes.Comprehensive neighbourhood planning.Municipal vehicle fleet right sizings. |
| Minimize burning. |
Updated the Open Air Burning Regulation Bylaw. |
| Promote a "zero waste" philosophy to minimize the generation of solid waste in the City, while maximizing reuse and recycling initiatives. |
Reduce the annual tonnage of residential garbage being generated per household. |
In 2008 the annual tonnage was 0.49 tons per household. New initiatives for 2008 included free scrap metal recycling and city-wide garage sale events held in the spring and fall. |
| OBJECTIVE |
STRATEGY |
MEASURE |
2008 PROGRESS |
| Attract & Maintain Business Growth |
| Contract with CEPCO for economic development. |
New business locating in Chilliwack. |
Non-market business/industry assessment increased $88 million in 2009. |
| Work cooperatively with CEPCO in setting mutual priorities. |
CEPCO contract renewed.CEPCO undertaking a strategic plan in 2009. |
| Encourage redevelopment in the downtown area through initiatives such as the revitalization exemption. |
Revitalization exemptions applied for. |
10 new revitalization exemptions in 2008. |
| Ensure plans are in place to facilitate regional growth predictions. |
Regional growth accommodated in OCP and CMP. |
Working with the ALC. |
| OBJECTIVE |
STRATEGY |
MEASURE |
2008 PROGRESS |
| Facilitate a High Quality of Life |
Provide quality parks and recreational opportunities. |
Comparison to other communities. Taxpayer feedback. |
Chilliwack provides excellent parks, trails and recreational opportunities. New items funded in the 10 year CMP include a cultural centre and secondary library. |
| Facilitate the attraction of community events. |
Events held in local recreational facilities. |
Heritage Park and Prospera Centre booked year-round,including large scale events.Partnership with the Chilliwack Spirit of BC Committee and Tourism Chilliwack. |
| Support cultural groups. |
Facility and funding assistance. |
Operational funding in CMP. New Board members appointed.Operating and Management agreements to be negotiated in 2009. |
| Foster community spirit. |
Recognize volunteers. |
Monthly volunteer recognition awards presented. Annual Community Sport Hero Recognition |
| Support community organizations. |
Funded $678,720 through Community Development Initiatives policy in 2008. |
| OBJECTIVE |
STRATEGY |
MEASURE |
2008 PROGRESS |
| Engage the Community |
Provide community forum venues on major issues under consideration. |
Public Meetings |
Held Open Houses on DCC's, Cultural Centre Project and Cheam Centre Project. |
| Provide relevant information through the municipal website, Greenheart News, and the Leisure Guide. |
Leisure Guide, Greenheart News, Annual Report, Tax Insert made available. Updated website regularly. |
All done to satisfaction. Met statutory deadline for presentation of Anuual Report. |
| Work closely with Committees of Council. |
Committees meet regularly, have Council representation, and provide feedback to Council. |
All Committees active during year. |
| Work cooperatively with senior goverment elected officials. |
Meet regularly with MLA's and MP to review mutual issues. |
Hosted semi-annual meetings. |
| Meet regularly with Ratepayer Groups. |
Meetings undertaken. |
Met with Promontory Ratepayers, Yarrow Ratepayers and Business Improvement Area groups. |
| OBJECTIVE |
STRATEGY |
MEASURE |
2008 PROGRESS |
| Develop & Maintain a First-Rate Work Force |
Have recruiting strategies that attract the brightest and the best. |
Qualified applicants. |
Successfully filled 67 posted positions in 2008 with qualified employees,including 39 new employees to the organization. |
| Undertake on-site training for employee development as well as encourage employee professional development. |
On site training undertaken. Employees taking relevant professional training. |
Offered 27 employee training sessions on various workplace topics. Identified and supported employee training initiatives. |
| Provide opportunity for internal advancement. |
Employee turnover. |
28 employees obtained new positions within the organization to advance in their career. |
| Offer a competitive compensation package and employee programs. |
Comparison to other communities. |
Surveys undertaken in 2007 and Chilliwack offers competitive compensation. |
| Workplace Safety |
Number of workdays lost per year due to injury. |
Only 85.13 workdays lost due to injury. Awarded WorkSafeBC award. |
| OBJECTIVE |
STRATEGY |
MEASURE |
2008 PROGRESS |
| Provide Excellent Customer Service |
Provide customer service training to employees. |
Training provided. |
Provided group training for all employees. |
| Seek taxpayer / customer feedback. |
Customer feedback system in place and followed up on. |
Almost all feedback was positive. Complaints followed up on promptly. |
| Provide fast and efficient service. |
Timeliness of customer service. |
Turn-around times met regularly. Offered premium plan review service for building permits. |
| OBJECTIVE |
STRATEGY |
MEASURE |
2008 PROGRESS |
| Provide a Safe Community |
Provide the community with effective fire and life safety education to reduce losses. |
Add emergency preparedness to present fire and life education programs and deliver to the public and targeted groups. |
Added new public educator/fire inspector. |
| Plan for the response and recovery of the City and the community in times of disaster. Establish a partnership with neighbouring fire departments to address regional hazardous material emergencies. |
Renew and exercise emergency plan.Train Council and senior staff.Move the EOC to an alternate site.Work with neighbouring communities to provide better Haz Mat response. |
City Plan for emergency preparedness completed and training with senior City staff on EOC operations completed in 2008. |
| Increase staffing levels to provide better/safer firefighter coverage and reduce response times. |
Provide full time staffing of Hall 4 to reduce response time and increase efficiencies for south Chilliwack.Increase staffing levels to two full time engines. |
Provided daytime coverage with an engine and two firfighters for south Chilliwack. |
| Increase training capacity for both career and paid-on call firefighters.Work with corporate sponsors for inkind donations for training grounds. |
Begin planning for a training site and facility for firefighter training. |
Funding identified in CMP for site improvements. |
| Identify and inspect properties using abnormally high amounts of electricity in residential or mixed-use occupancies for fire and safety reasons. Data requested from BC Hydro and scanned for high consumption of electricity. |
Establish an Electrical and Safety Initiative(EFSI)Team(to include Fire,Bylaw,RCMP and an electrical inspector) to identify and inspect properties using high electrical energy. |
Reviewed consumption and electricity in Chilliwack to identify potentially dangerous electrical problems and fire hazards.Confirmed a problem does exist. |
| Support RCMP's initiatives regarding drugs and drug related crime. |
Health & Safety Team (Fire, Bylaw and RCMP) work together to close and cleanup residential properties. Bylaw tickets issued. |
The Bylaw Department shut down 26 marijuana grow operations and conducted 276 health and safety inspections in 2008. |
| Support RCMP youth programs initiatives. |
Youth liaison positions funded. |
Funding continues. Prioritized high usage areas of youth, performed youth probation checks, ran the annual RCMP youth academy, ran the billiards club for high risk youths, and worked with schools on youth education programs. |
| Support RCMP activities in the downtown area. |
Fund bike patrols, downtown RCMP station. Feedback from taxpayers. |
More police presence in the Downtown Core. Crime-free multi-family housing initiatives have helped reduce crime. |
| Maintain an adequate number of police officers, consistent with provincial averages. |
Police to population. |
Funded 1 new member, 6 new civilian staff support positions, the equivalent of 2 new members in the RCMP Teams, and maintained a population to member ratio of under 800. |
| Improve traffic education. |
Education undertaken. |
Safer City Coordinator worked with schools and ICBC to reduce accidents. Accidents in the Vedder Corridor reduced by 50% |
| Improve the safety of parks and public places. |
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design(CPTED)principles are applied in park and public space upgrades. |
Two employees are CPTED trained. Improvements during year done with CPTED principles in mind. |
| Improve coordination between social agencies in the Community |
Preparation of an analysis of social issues. |
Established the Chilliwack Health and Social Development Network. |
