Mayor Trasolini's Year End Address

January 12, 2010

AS MAYOR, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK ABOUT PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT THE END OF EACH YEAR. I ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, I HAVE CONTINUED TO HOST MY WEEKLY OPEN OFFICE. 
THIS HAS GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH MANY RESIDENTS, LEADERS OF VOLUNTEER GROUPS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.

WHILE A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT ISSUES EMERGED, ONE CRITICAL PROBLEM CONTINUES TO STAND OUT.   THAT ISSUE IS TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND THE NEED FOR RAPID TRANSIT NOW. 

TRAFFIC CONGESTION HAS BEEN, FOR THE PAST DECADE AND, QUITE UNFORTUNATELY CONTINUES TO BE THE SINGLE-MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE ON PEOPLE’S MINDS.

WE SPENT YEARS CREATING A VIBRANT CITY CORE IN INLET CENTRE. WE DEVOTED A LOT OF EFFORT TO PROMOTE INVESTMENT IN PORT MOODY AND ON BOTH COUNTS, WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

BECAUSE OF FAILED PROMISES, OUR SUCCESS HAS NOW SURPASSED THE CAPACITY OF OUR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

I AM CONCERNED THAT: 

• THE MURRAY-CLARKE CONNECTOR IS NO LONGER ON TRANSLINK’S BOOKS,   AND
• THE EVERGREEN LINE IS BEING DESIGNED BUT LACKS FUNDING TO BE BUILT.

IN BOTH CASES, TRANSLINK NEEDS TO SECURE FUNDS TO MAKE THESE CRITICAL PROJECTS HAPPEN.

TWO YEARS AGO, THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THE EVERGREEN LINE WOULD START RIGHT AFTER THE 2010 OLYMPIC GAMES AND THE SHOVELS WOULD BE IN THE GROUND IN THE FALL OF 2010.

WE AGREE WITH THE TIMING, BUT IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THE PROMISE WILL BE KEPT. 

THE EVERGREEN LINE IS AN IDEAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT TO HELP REVITALIZE THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.

THE CLEAR MESSAGE I RECEIVE FROM THE RESIDENTS OF PORT MOODY IS:
“BUILD THE EVERGREEN LINE NOW!”

ONE COMMITMENT ABOUT RELIEVING CONGESTION THAT I MADE A YEAR AGO WAS TO WIDEN IOCO ROAD FROM FIRE HALL #1 TO ST. JOHNS STREET.
THAT HAS NOW BEEN COMPLETED.

ADDITIONAL WORK AT THE KEY INTERSECTION OF IOCO ROAD AND ST. JOHNS  IS NOW UNDERWAY.
I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WHEN THE INTERSECTION WORK IS COMPLETED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE WILL HAVE TWO LEFT TURNING LANES FROM ST. JOHNS TO IOCO.

THIS INTERSECTION HAD ONE OF HIGHEST ACCIDENT RATES IN PORT MOODY, AND THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO IMPROVE SAFETY.
ANOTHER FUNDAMENTAL CONCERN THAT CONTINUES TO BE ON RESIDENTS’ MINDS IS FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY.

THE INCOME OF MANY FAMILIES IS SHRINKING WHILE ANXIETY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO LINGER.

AS MAYOR, I HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD IN BRINGING A BUSINESS APPROACH TO PORT MOODY’S
BUDGET PROCESS AND TO CITY EXPENDITURES.

THIS APPROACH IS EVEN MORE RELEVANT TODAY AS MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS EXPERIENCE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

AS YOUR MAYOR, I WILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE DELIVERY OF THE QUALITY CORE SERVICES THAT WE VALUE SO HIGHLY.

I WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND WILL SEEK GREATER PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT. 

TO THAT END, LAST YEAR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE INCLUDED PARTICIPATION FROM THREE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES.  THIS PRACTICE WILL CONTINUE IN THE COMING YEAR.

WE WILL BE HOLDING OUR ANNUAL BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETING ON JANUARY 28TH.

ANOTHER PRIORITY IS THE COMPLETION OF OUR OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN. PART WAY THROUGH THE OCP REVIEW PROCESS, COUNCIL DECIDED TO PAUSE AND ASKED STAFF TO COME BACK WITH A NEW DRAFT THAT WOULD REFLECT ZERO TO MINIMAL GROWTH. STAFF IS BRINGING IT BACK TONIGHT.

THIS WILL ALLOW US TO RESUME THE OCP PROCESS WHERE WE LEFT OFF. THE NEXT STEP WILL BE FURTHER CONSIDERATION BY COUNCIL AT A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WHEN COUNCIL FEELS THE DRAFT IS READY FOR A LAST ROUND OF PUBLIC INPUT, WE WILL HOST A TOWN HALL MEETING ON THE NEW OCP.

THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT WE STARTED OUR CONSULTATION PROCESS ON THE OCP WITH A BLANK-SLATE MEETING.

WE HAD NO PRE-CONCEIVED PLAN. THE BLANK-SLATE MEETING WAS A CLEAR DEMONSTRATION THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN EFFORT.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE MY REASON FOR SUPPORTING A ZERO-TO-NO GROWTH OPTION.

BEFORE ANY ADDITIONAL GROWTH IS ENCOURAGED, THE PROMISED MURRAY-CLARKE CONNECTOR AND THE EVERGREEN LINE PROJECT MUST HAVE STARTED. 

ONLY THEN WILL I – AND I BELIEVE MOST PORT MOODY RESIDENTS - FAVOUR CONTINUING OUR BALANCED APPROACH TO GROWTH.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE GROWTH NUMBERS LOOK LIKE IN THE END, ANY FUTURE GROWTH NEEDS TO BE PLANNED IN A WAY THAT CONTINUES TO SAFEGUARD OUR “SMALL TOWN CHARACTER”.

WE CAN’T ALLOW OURSELVES TO LOSE A FEATURE THAT MAKES PORT MOODY UNIQUE AMONGST METRO VANCOUVER CITIES.

WHILE WE TAKE A BREAK FROM RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ALLOW TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO CATCH UP, I WANT TO NOTE THAT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ISN’T THE ONLY BUSINESS IN TOWN.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES INCLUDING THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, HIGH TECH ACTIVITIES, RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, TO NAME SOME, ARE CRUCIAL IN THE CREATION OF LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE JOBS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

 
OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IS WORKING HARD TO ADVANCE BUSINESS INTERESTS IN PORT MOODY.  THIS INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES.

ANOTHER AREA OF PRIORITY CONTINUES TO BE CITY FACILITY INFRASTRUCTURE. PORT MOODY RESIDENTS RECOGNIZE THAT CITY FACILITIES NEED TO BE MAINTAINED, UPGRADED AND AT TIMES, REPLACED. 

IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, WE HAVE CARRIED OUT OVERDUE RENOVATIONS AND REPLACEMENTS OF A NUMBER OF CITY FACILITIES.  

NOW IT’S TIME TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO OUR NEXT PROJECT, WHICH IS THE REPLACEMENT OF FIRE HALL #1. THE FIRST STEP IS TO EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES WITHIN THE CIVIC CENTRE.  THIS IS ONE OF THE TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN THE JANUARY 27TH TOWN HALL MEETING.

THE REALITY IS THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE REPLACEMENT NEEDS THAN AVAILABLE FUNDING. 

THE VARIOUS RESERVES SET UP TO PAY FOR FACILITY REPLACEMENT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN USED FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE. IN THE SHORT TERM, WE CAN’T RELY ON RESERVES TO HELP US WITH THE NEW FIRE HALL.

PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL GRANTS HAVE BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO SECURE. DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BECOME SCARCE.

IN THE NEXT YEAR, I WILL LEAD COUNCIL TO DEVELOP A CLEAR PLAN FOR THE FUNDING AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW FIRE HALL.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT IN ORDER FOR THIS, OR ANY OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS TO PROCEED, FUNDING MUST BE IDENTIFIED FROM SOURCES THAT DO NOT HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON ‘PROPERTY TAXATION’.

WE HAVE COME THROUGH A CHALLENGING TIME IN 2009. WE STRUGGLED WITH REQUESTS FOR FUNDING FOR MUCH-NEEDED COMMUNITY SERVICES WHEN PROVINCIAL FUNDS WERE WITHDRAWN.

IN THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE HAD TO SAY “NO” MORE OFTEN THAN WE WOULD HAVE LIKED.
I AM AFRAID THAT, TO KEEP PROPERTY TAXES REASONABLE, WE WILL HAVE TO SAY “NO” TO MANY OTHER REQUESTS.

IN CLOSING, I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE HIGH DEGREE OF SUCCESS THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED IN THE PAST WAS DUE TO THE COOPERATIVE SPIRIT OF COUNCIL.  THE CHALLENGES FACING THIS COUNCIL ARE CONSIDERABLE AND SUCCESS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED IF COUNCIL CONTINUES TO WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH A COMMON VISION.

COUNCIL, ASSISTED BY OUR PROVEN, DEDICATED STAFF AND WITH THE HELP OF THE MANY KNOWLEDGEABLE VOLUNTEERS WHO SIT ON CIVIC COMMITTEES, WILL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE OUR COMMON GOALS.

I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.

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