Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt 2000 Annual Address
December 11, 2000
Members of Council, City Staff, Ladies and Gentlemen....
It is once again a pleasure to share with you tonight, some of the achievements of the first year of the new Millennium, and the challenges that await us. Tonight I am beginning my 11th year as Richmond's Mayor; it continues to be a great honour to serve the residents of Richmond.
As I look around this beautiful Council Chamber, with the colourful lights and serene waters outside the windows, I am thankful that we are now reasonably settled and feeling very much at home in our new building.
Designed & built with the community in mind, our new City Hall officially opened on May 20, with a public open house attended by more than 10,000 residents. Over 200 City employees, along with community members, volunteered to help support the opening ceremonies. Besides local dignitaries, it was a great honour to have with us the Mayor and Council representatives from both of our Sister Cities, Mayor Tabita from Wakayama, and Mayor Morin from Pierrefonds. Among the ceremonies held in celebration of our strong Sister City relationship was the dedication of gardens in their honour.
Several other enormously successful events were held in conjunction with the opening of City Hall, including the Millennium Charity Gala, and the Recognition Social for Richmond residents who lived in our city for over 50 years. Another very special event was the rededication of the Cenotaph.
Following those first extremely busy and exciting few weeks, the requests from the public for use of the Meeting House began to roll in, and guidelines for their use have now been drawn up and approved by Council.
We are now in our 7th month of conducting the public's business in our wonderful facility. In a recent letter to my office, our new City Hall was described to me in a very insightful way. I'd like to share a part of it with you.
"It has a sense of gravity, calmness and trustworthiness, and, at the same time, it exudes the kind of confidence that comes from being forward-thinking and progressive. Some of its building materials make an unqualified statement about Richmond's respect for its traditions and heritage, yet they merge and blend perfectly with contemporary materials that tell everyone that the City of Richmond will continue to develop as a city that is not afraid of the future. Richmond, the building seems to say, will embrace the future, because it is confident of its past."
While the move into our new premises is undoubtedly the highlight of the year 2000, many other significant issues demanded our attention. Tonight, Council will be reviewing a report from our staff, which provides a timely, informative and concise summary of City achievement highlights during the year 2000. While touching on a few of these accomplishments, I wish also to comment on some of the significant challenges that await us as we approach 2001.
Transportation issues continue to dominate and focus the attention of the public, as we strive to accommodate the growth of our city during the last 10 years. No. 3 Road has become known as a street that residents and visitors avoid rather than embrace as a downtown main street, because of its extensive traffic congestion, lack of pedestrian facilities and landscaping.
In preparation for the 98 B-Line bus service to Vancouver and the airport, Council recognized the unique opportunity, in conjunction with the work proposed by Translink, to transform No. 3 Road into a downtown main street. No. 3 Road has been under extensive construction for several months now, often testing the patience of our motorists and businesses along that busy stretch of road. I want to take a moment to provide some detail about the eventual look of No. 3 Road when the work is completed.
The most significant "above ground" changes will be between Westminster Highway and Sea Island Way, where dedicated bus lanes will be located between generous landscaped medians which will contain bus stations, trees, ground cover, floral displays, decorative lights, coordinated street furniture, flowers and colourful street banners. Sidewalks and grass boulevards along the edges of the street will provide a place for pedestrians to walk. The landscaped medians will help to add colour and nature to the area, and visually help reduce the width of No. 3 Road. Colourful lighting will be added to the medians to celebrate the upcoming festive season. Close to 300 trees and a variety of flowering shrubs have already been planted, all carefully selected for maximum effect of seasonal colour. Once completed, our more park-like main street will help to celebrate Richmond's Garden City heritage for years to come.
Ironically, commencement of full operation of the 98 B-Line had originally been scheduled for today, December 11, 2000. The recent struggles over the source of funding for TransLink's 5-Year Transportation Plan, in particular the vehicle levy, was given as the reason for further delays in the long-awaited bus service. Despite our disappointment with yet another delay, especially as we approach the busy holiday season, we have now received written assurance from the TransLink Board Chair that the buses will be up and running in April or May.
It should be noted that with the completion of the Richmond Area Transit Plan, a portion of the long-awaited, improvement to our local services was implemented, including all-day UBC service and expanded peak hour service for the direct express bus from west Richmond to downtown Vancouver via No. 1 Road. Further improvements are scheduled with implementation of the 98 B-Line.
Another important project currently underway is the construction of the Airport Connector Bridge over the Moray Channel. Twinning of the Moray Channel is a significant and critical piece of infrastructure, as the existing swing bridge is becoming a greater obstacle to smoothly flowing traffic. When completed in September of 2001, the Airport Connector Bridge will significantly improve the flow of traffic from the airport to destinations throughout the Lower Mainland.
Another piece of the transportation puzzle that Richmond has been promised for many years, is once again being tantalizingly dangled before us, this time as a reborn Rapid Transit Study. When the initial two phases of the Study, consisting of a Management Plan and Concept Feasibility Study, are completed in March, 2001, agreement must be reached to move on to the next phase, which constitutes by far the more difficult task of determining the most appropriate technology and route for a rapid transit connection to the airport and Vancouver. If there is agreement to move forward, this third phase is projected for completion by January 2002.
Ultimately, significant funds must be identified and earmarked for construction of a Rapid Transit line. Greater Vancouver residents contribute in excess of $300 million plus GST in fuel tax revenue to the Federal government, who will ultimately to be singled out as one of the primary funding partner for this critical piece of transportation infrastructure. During a recent visit of the Finance Minister to Richmond, we have been reassured that the federal government is committed to sustainable transportation, and is prepared to examine the idea of building a rapid transit link in partnership with the various levels of government and the private sector. Stay tuned.
We have also been notified that another round of infrastructure grants will soon be made available to the municipalities of the Lower Mainland. City staff are currently identifying strategic water, sewer and road improvement projects which will be targeted for any funds that can be secured. Council has already identified a pressing need for more thorough planning and preparation for the eventual replacement of the City's aging existing infrastructure. Staff have developed computerized models to help determine long term needs and replacement costs.
Our mission statement includes a commitment to be the most appealing, livable and well-managed community in Canada. Building on Richmond's impressive victory in the Nations in Bloom international competition in early 2000, the City has continued to improve livability for our residents and visitors alike.
The enhancement of gateways to Richmond is identified as a key component of the Beautification strategy. A number of improvements have already been introduced at several key intersections, and now Garden City Road and Westminster Highway have been approved for enhancements. Improved traffic safety and beautification efforts at this heavy commuter traffic route into Richmond, will also contribute to the long term vision of creating an enhanced pedestrian circulation system along Granville Avenue and Garden City Road which will link residents to the future community park in McLennan North and the Civic Precinct.
Expansion of the popular fitness facilities at Thompson Community centre, jointly funded by the Association and the City, will be completed in the Spring. Another crowded and extremely well used facility space in the rapidly growing Hamilton Community Centre in East Richmond is being expanded. Jointly funded by the City and School Board, the expansion will double the public space available. Construction is already underway, and should be completed by the end of the current school year.
At tomorrows Community Services meeting, the Committee will be reviewing a staff proposal for the construction of two new field house facilities located at London/Steveston Park and Palmer/Garden City Park. Both of these parks are extensively utilized by Richmond Sports groups for baseball, softball and soccer. Both the Richmond Girls Softball Association and Richmond Boys Fastball Association have indicated their willingness to contribute funds they have raised towards the construction of these field house facilities.
The first phase of our federally funded project, the Millennium Botanical Garden located in McLennan North Community Park has begun. This exciting project will bring an amazing variety of trees to this park, with opportunities for public participation by way of tree-adoption complete with signage. It promises to be a lasting celebration of Richmond's garden city heritage for generations to come.
We have also begun to explore potential uses for the 20 City-owned acres at the Riverport recreational site. A call for proposals has been sent out, and several proposals are currently being examined.
We are also looking forward to the completion of the major restoration and renovation work at the Britannia Heritage Shipyard and dock. It is worthwhile reminding the public that Britannia is one of the oldest surviving canneries on the West Coast. After the City acquired the site in 1990, work was begun to retain Britannia as a heritage working shipyard focusing on preserving the skills and knowledge of wooden boat building and repair.
I wish now to switch my focus to community safety and security issues, which have been identified as the top priority for Council. A new Community Safety Division is in the process of being established, so that greater focus and attention can be directed to policing, fire/rescue, bylaw enforcement and emergency services. We are currently reviewing applications for a new General Manager for the Community Safety Division, and after the person has been appointed, I will be creating a new Standing Committee of Council, the Community Safety Committee.
An extensive organizational review of the Fire/Rescue Department aimed at improving efficiency and responsiveness is underway. Already, 10 new firefighter positions were created in order to reduce overtime costs and 35 new recruits were hired in anticipation of vacancies created by early retirements and eventual transfer of dispatch staff to E-Comm. In addition, a Firehall Relocation Study was launched to address future departmental needs and outstanding building deficiencies. The physical condition, functionality and location of our fire halls are being assessed, as well as their apparatus and human resource needs. Two aging firehalls, Sea Island and Hamilton, have been identified for serious attention.
Another major community safety project in which we are actively participating is the BC Policing Study, which was begun by the RCMP in February 2000. In an effort to help concentrate the study on urgent issues affecting the Lower Mainland, a Steering Committee was formed to consult directly with the RCMP Study Team. A municipal staff working group was subsequently charged with the responsibility of working closely with the RCMP Study Team to ensure that municipal interests were addressed. These ranged from quality and level of service, to financial accountability and shortfalls in staff complements.
The report by George Duncan, our Chief Administrative Officer, on these issues is being discussed at tonight's Council Meeting. Mr. Duncan, in his capacity as Chair of the Municipal Staff Working Group, has worked diligently and efficiently as the negotiations continue with the RCMP Study Team. He is optimistic, and states that the Staff Working Group was encouraged by the forthright and cooperative approach of the RCMP Study Team. Expectations of a productive outcome of the Study are high. Although we have a long way to go, I am also hopeful and share Mr. Duncan's optimism.
On November 17, we met with RCMP Commissioner Zaccardelli, who gave his full support to the process and direction of the Study. "The Study Team has been given my assurance that "E" Division and Headquarters in Ottawa are prepared to adapt the RCMP's systems and processes where possible, in the best interests of policing," he wrote.
The outcome of the discussions are already very impressive, and will result in meaningful changes being implemented, even as the Study is underway. I am pleased to report that the staffing complement at Richmond's detachment is now almost at full strength, although a large number of new recruits are still in their probationary period.
Tonight, Council has the opportunity to authorize staff to proceed with implementation of policy, procedural changes and recommendations, including the signing of Letters of Understanding between the City and the RCMP.
In another police-related issue, we have become acutely aware of the relationship between illegal drugs and crime in our City, as B & E's soar in tandem with the use of illegal drugs. In order to address this growing problem, Council approved the establishment of a Task Force on Drugs and Crime. For the past several months, members of the Task Force comprised of individuals from agencies and the community-at-large, have begun to map out a strategy to not only assess the pervasiveness of the problem in Richmond, but also raise awareness and educate the community, and mobilize partners to develop effective interagency frameworks to address the misuse of drugs in Richmond.
As you can see from this brief overview of key issues facing our community, I am confident that as a Council and Staff, we are moving forward to address the challenges facing us, even as we celebrate our successes. The latest statistical report which reviews the key financial indicators for the City, in a year-to-date comparison, demonstrates a noticeable improvement in the number of development applications, building permits and housing starts, as well as increased revenue from development cost charges.
Our staff are already hard at work on the 2001 budget. With the rising costs of police and fire/rescue services, it is going to be difficult to avoid a tax increase. I remain optimistic that under the strong leadership of our CAO George Duncan, every attempt will be made to keep any increase to the bare minimum.
In closing, I would like to take a moment to thank our former Member of Parliament, Raymond Chan, for his contribution to Richmond over his two terms of office. It has been a pleasure working with him on behalf of the residents of Richmond. I would also like to congratulate Joe Peschisolido on his victory as the new Member of Parliament for Richmond. I have already met with Joe and reviewed key federal issues for which we will be seeking his input and assistance. As well, we welcome back John Cummins as the Member of Parliament for Delta/South Richmond. I would also like to thank our MLAs Linda Reid, Doug Symons and Geoff Plant for working with us on important provincial issues.
I would also like to thank the media for their coverage of Council and City issues. As many of your are aware, on December 1st Shaw Cablesystems replaced Rogers as the new provider of community programming.
I would also like to remind the public that Richmond Council Meeting agendas and minutes, as well as those of our Standing Committees, are now available on our website. I was very proud to accept an award at the recent Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention for the City of Richmond as the Best Local Government Internet Web Site. I'm sure I speak for all of Council when I say congratulations to our staff for their hard work in achieving this honour.
Our staff are a creative, hard-working group, and I would like to acknowledge their continued efforts at providing service excellence to the public. Early in the new year, the cross-divisional strategic teams will again re-visit the City's Corporate Plan to ensure its continued relevancy. The work and efforts of these teams has been nothing less than outstanding, as evidenced by the many changes in the way the City looks, and the way in which people are now making decisions throughout the organization. My thanks to all of you.
I look forward to a challenging and prosperous 2001!
