Mayor Malcolm Brodie 2001 Inaugural Address
October 29, 2001
Madam Justice Gill, other distinguished guests, City Councillors, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I am honoured to have taken the oath of office this evening and to have been given the privilege of serving the people of Richmond as your Mayor.
On October 13th, the people of Richmond renewed their challenge to those of us who sit in this Chamber. They challenged us with the responsibility of providing leadership for our City. It's a challenge I am sure none of us take lightly and all aim to fulfill.
I congratulate the three new Councillors who join us at this table.
Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt returns to city council, joining the other six of us who can call on our past experience here. I know that we will all reach out and extend a hand of welcome to our newest Councillors Rob Howard and Sue Halsey-Brandt. After a few months filled with a few hundred meetings, both of you too will feel like veterans.
I want to thank all those who participated in the recent by-election. I also want to say a special thanks to the five council members who have worked so hard and so successfully during this time of transition over the past three months.
To all of the people of Richmond, I accept the opportunity to provide leadership as your Mayor and I offer two basic commitments in return.
The first is my pledge to serve as your representative. I will do my best to perform diligently and competently in an office that deserves nothing less. I will always show respect for our shared commitment in this community to inclusiveness, openness, understanding and common-sense decision-making.
My second pledge is to my colleagues on council and to the people of our city. I will strive to provide the kind of leadership that respects and inspires the individual talents and ideas that each of you contribute. Richmond is indeed fortunate to have a City Council made up of people with such abundant talents, diverse backgrounds and, above all, a true commitment to community service. By working together as a team, there is much we can accomplish on behalf of the people of this City.
World events of the past number of weeks have converged to provide a unique lens through which to study the real character of our community. There is some irony in these events. New and emerging issues threaten the very freedoms we celebrate this evening as we gather to swear-in a new civic government. At the root of the tragic events of September 11th was the dark desire to terrorize free people so that they would abandon civic order that is the lifeblood of our free democracy. Amid the anxiety that these events brought, here in Richmond our community quickly rose to meet unforeseen challenges and demonstrated a caring and concern that is without prejudice. We responded to terror and extremism with goodness and tolerance. We responded to fear and threats with inclusiveness and understanding.
At the same time, our citizens demonstrated how much they cherish their basic rights by participating in overwhelming numbers in the democratic process of choosing a new civic government.
This by-election was a mid-term event and it was eclipsed by momentous world events. Nonetheless, it became a clear demonstration of how much the people of Richmond care about their community. The turnout of both candidates and voters proved that civic participation is alive and well in this community. Our community's character is strong.
In this civic election, distinct cultural perspectives played an important role in the public debate. We should all be encouraged by the respectful way in which people with different backgrounds and different perspectives vigorously discussed important common issues. Civic participation is firmly rooted in all parts of our community.
Together, we are weaving a colourful and rich tapestry that is reflective of our diversity. That can only bode well for our future.
Our challenge as civic leaders is to ensure that our City government encourages open communications and reaches out to be inclusive. It is not enough that we simply promote open government nor that we are perceived by some to be open to citizen participation. Not everyone sees things the same way.
Our community's future will be shaped by those who look at issues and events from different perspectives. Our population consists of people of diverse religious, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, economic, educational and geographic experiences. Communication is essential to foster understanding among all people. By fostering understanding we will strengthen our ability to find common ground and move forward together.
To help foster this understanding, one of my first priorities will be to recommend to Council that we re-establish an Inter-cultural Relations Committee. This new Committee needs to bring together open-minded people who are willing to help all of us understand the different cultural, ethnic, religious, and linguistic perspectives. This Committee can serve as a resource to our civic government. It can help us strengthen our ability to communicate with people about our various perspectives. It will enable us to reach out to seek input of people from all parts of the community so that we continue to have one community rather than a collection of fragmented groups.
Richmond has a long history of open civic government. Many of the traditions we follow as a City Council were borne in this community out of a desire to involve citizens in the decision-making that takes place in this Chamber.
Our City Council provides many opportunities for the public to come forward and express their opinions.
Our extensive Committee system, consisting of both Standing Committees of this Council and many advisory committees made up of citizens, allows us to seek extensive public input prior to a final decision being made by Council.
This process is more than one that is simply rooted in tradition. It is one that works. After much consultation, I will be announcing tonight a series of appointments to Council's five standing committees and recommending appointments of Council liaisons to a number of community organizations as well as to one select committee.
All appointments are based on a desire to utilize the knowledge of experienced Councillors in providing leadership at the committee level, while introducing new talents, expertise and new ideas from all.
I want to encourage Council to embrace the concern we have all heard in the community about tax increases. The challenge of grappling with the complex issues of budgeting for the upcoming year will be complicated by our short time line. Staff are already well into the meticulous process of planning the 2002 budget. Nonetheless, we must do our best to find ways of tempering projected tax increases.
Last year, this Council was faced with the prospect of cost increases dictated by forces beyond its control. While much work was done to identify corresponding cost savings, the final result was a tax increase somewhat higher than the average over the previous few years. The base has now moved up because of those costs increases that were beyond our control.
Working with staff, I am hoping the members of the Finance Select Committee and all Councillors will work to find ways of doing more with less, to find efficiencies and to be innovative in our decision-making.
I also want to suggest to Council that we consider reforming our budgeting process for the next budget cycle, if not this time, so that Council can play a more pro-active role in guiding the analysis of each and every expenditure area and exploring each and every revenue option. We must maintain Richmond as an affordable place to live and a welcome place for businesses to operate. Our citizens deserve that.
I want to say to the business community, as well, in the most positive sense, that Richmond remains open for business. For a long time we have known that our local employment base is bigger than our local labour force. While we can take pride in this fact, we must never take it for granted.
The events of the last month and a half have shown us how fragile economic progress can be. The months ahead will be challenging for economies everywhere.
We are fortunate to have a diverse economic base, strong international trade connections and an entrepreneurial spirit that has fueled our steady progress in Richmond. I am confident that the local business community will adapt to short-term change and show its true resilience.
I can assure all citizens that your City government will let business do what it does best-generate jobs and create prosperity. While being supportive, we will stay out of the way and minimize the burdens of government.
Good customer service is something that we understand at this City Hall. Part of good customer service is recognizing that time is money. We must facilitate economic development by responding to the needs of business where possible and as quickly as possible.
One of the brightest hopes for Richmond's future economy is the tourism sector. We have developed the critical mass in tourism infrastructure that knits together the strengths of our many local hotels, the commercial powerhouse of the Vancouver International Airport, unique offerings of our multi-cultural business sector and the special attractions of our heritage resources.
Our tourism industry has risen to a new level of sophistication in terms of their marketing ability and business acumen. Market studies have indicated that our community and our tourism industry has matured to the point where there is now a strong demand for a major venue to welcome visitors wanting to host trade shows and exhibitions in Richmond.
I want to reaffirm the City's commitment to Tourism Richmond's Trade and Exhibition Centre project. I am convinced that this will meet the needs of a growing market and serve as an important year-round catalyst for the local tourist business. Our hotels and the entire business community will prosper with the new business that such a centre will bring to Richmond.
The local tourism industry is working hard to immediately secure a site and to secure the necessary funding to construct and operate a trade and exhibition centre. This project is a top priority for Richmond.
The federal property east of Garden City Road appears to be the most logical location for a Trade and Exhibition Centre, though others can be considered in the interim in the event of unfortunate delays. The City has recognized for many years the strategic importance of this centrally located undeveloped site. There are many community uses that could be accommodated on the site. However there are many land use decisions that need to be made in advance of any development occurring.
Most importantly, the City must do what it can to secure this site for the benefit of the people of Richmond. Tourism Richmond's proposal to locate a Trade and Exhibition Centre on a part of the property should provide the catalyst for a determined community effort to secure this site. The Vancouver - Whistler 2010 Olympic bid may provide further momentum and we need to explore opportunities for Richmond's involvement.
The City needs to help Tourism Richmond in its lobbying efforts with senior governments. Those efforts must involve a coordinated approach, where all of the resources of the community are brought to bear and where we present our case with a common resolve.
With this spirit of consensus and cooperation in mind, I am announcing tonight the establishment of a Mayor's Special Action Task Force on the Trade and Exhibition Centre. The purpose of this task force will be to coordinate resources and assist in planning the strategy in our approach to senior governments. This Task Force will be made up of the people who can bring the important resources to the table and take the necessary action to ensure that the community is successful in its efforts to secure this important project.
I will chair this Task Force and I am asking the President of Tourism Richmond or a suitable representative, as well as the City's Chief Administrator to join me on it. We will also welcome many others to join us. Our goal will be to move this project forward quickly. Our objective is to get a commitment from the federal government for the lands and get commitments from all senior governments and the private sector for the funding to start the development of a Richmond Trade and Exhibition Centre.
By working together with our two federal Members of Parliament and our three local MLA's, I am convinced we can make this project a tremendous success for our community.
I want to comment on the wonderful opportunity we have to work with senior governments to achieve success not just with this important project, but to move forward on many other fronts as well. Richmond is fortunate to have two strong voices in Ottawa. Our Members of Parliament Joe Peschisolido and John Cummins are working hard to represent the people of our community.
Never before has Richmond had so much influence at the provincial level. With all three of our Members of the Legislature sitting in the provincial Cabinet, Ministers Geoff Plant, Linda Reid and Greg Halsey-Brandt, we have a unique opportunity to communicate Richmond's needs and Richmond's views to those who make the decisions provincially.
You can be assured of my sincerity in developing a strong, productive and cooperative relationship with our senior government representatives at all levels.
Regional governance has been the focus of much attention lately, especially in relation to regional transit. The people of Richmond share a common concern over the quality and level of transit services provided by TransLink here in Richmond.
Quite frankly, transit services in Richmond simply do not measure up. Recent transit planning has unfolded in the form of the new B-Line Service. To date, not only has the service failed to meet the expectations of Richmond commuters, the implementation of so called "transit improvements" on an always-gridlocked Number 3 Road have been anything but positive.
TransLink did make an effort, as did the City, to consult with Richmond residents prior to the implementation of new transit services. Obviously, those consultations were not effective. The message delivered may not have been clear. Certainly, the changes implemented do not please Richmond residents.
As a City government, we must be committed to resolving this problem. At the outset, I believe a frank and open discussion with Richmond residents on this issue is important. We don't need to hear the city viewpoint. We need to hear from the citizens. We need to hear about your expectations of transit services and about your ideas for changes.
Accordingly, I am asking that Council give direction to its Public Works and Transportation Committee to hold a community-wide public hearing to hear from the public on this important issue as well as to address the traffic problems on No. 3 Road. Once we have listened carefully and gathered that input, I believe we will be in a better position to move forward to consider changes that will truly improve transit services and the roads in Richmond.
It is also essential that Richmond's voice at the regional level is a strong one. The issues being considered by the GVRD and the TransLink Board will have considerable impact on Richmond taxpayers. Accordingly, I believe it is important that the Mayor sit as one of Richmond's two representatives on the GVRD Board. I will recommend that I sit on the GVRD Board with Councillor Kumagai who has developed considerable knowledge over his years as a GVRD Director and a TransLink Director. I want to thank Councillor McNulty who has served well on the GVRD and on whose expertise we will draw in his other roles. Councillor Kumagai has asked that he be relieved of his duties on the Translink Board though we must await the coming weeks before considering this change. Certain processes must be followed with Translink to ensure that Richmond continues with its strong representation.
As I mentioned at the outset, there is much this Council can accomplish on behalf of the people of Richmond by working together as a team. We are backed by a capable, professional and committed public service here in City Hall, our Public Works Yard, Fire-Rescue Department, our local RCMP detachment, in community centres and other city operations throughout this community. There are many issues to tackle over the next year. We will work with the RCMP to address community safety and with all our emergency services to address their facility requirements. We look forward to the positive challenges posed by the Amphitheatre, the Tall Ships, group homes and the heritage tram to mention only a few. In 1998, our City adopted a vision for the community and the City administration. It's a vision that had guided subsequent Councils and City staff. Our vision is to be the most appealing, livable, and well-managed community in Canada. Over the past four years, with this vision as a guide, our civic employees have demonstrated a commitment to innovation, creative thinking, diligence and customer service, implementing new ways of doing business as a government. In many areas, our City government has become a model for others to follow, our employees the trend-setters. Given the new challenges and opportunities facing our community in the weeks, months and years ahead, we will have to continue changing and adapting, reviewing and updating our strategy and our focus. I am confident that with this Council's leadership, the commitment of our City staff when combined with the will and input of the dynamic and diverse people of this great community, we will be successful.
Thank you
