2017 Annual Report

6 City of Chilliwack 2017 Annual Report Mayor’s Message On behalf of Chilliwack City Council, I am pleased to present the 2017 Annual Report for the City of Chilliwack. This report contains important information related to City operations, including a financial overview, highlights and accomplishments and progress made on Council’s strategic goals in 2017. In 2017, we added compostables collection to our curbside collection program, substantially increasing our waste diversion rate. We also introduced our first mobile app, Chilliwack Curbside Collection, to remind residents of their collection day and help them sort their waste effectively. The app currently has over 6,000 users and is an easy way to be reminded of your garbage day. The Neighbourhood Grant Program saw another successful year of supporting locally driven projects that encourage deeper community connections through matching grant funding. We saw a total of 31 celebration and activity events and two community projects in 2017, ranging from block parties to large community celebrations and local park projects. We added almost 18,000 square metres of dog off-leash area in 2017, making Chilliwack a little bigger for our canine companions. Three projects contributed to this expansion: the Vedder Park dog off-leash small dog area relocation, a trial, non-designated area along the Vedder North Dyke Trail and a new dog off-leash area on Sheffield Way. Through effective community consultation, we were also able to add or replace playground equipment at five different parks throughout our community. These upgrades provide more opportunities for families with kids of all ages to get outside and play! Strong partnerships with the Provincial and Federal governments continued in 2017. Thanks, in part, to Western Economic Diversification Canada’s funding through the Canada 150 Grant Program, renovations to the Landing Spray and Skate Parks were completed. Additionally, thanks to funding from both the Provincial and Federal governments, the Vedder Bridge Replacement Project reached substantial completion. Our new, beautiful, well-lit bridge features wider lanes and protected pathways for pedestrians and cyclists and it works in combination with the new adjacent roundabout to reduce congestion and vehicle emissions. As you will see in this report, we accomplished many goals in 2017. The City’s successes would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of many people: our Council, members of our advisory committees, volunteers, residents and our City staff. Please accept my sincerest gratitude for all you do to ensure Chilliwack is a great community to call home. For everyone who has contributed to our community, the Annual Report represents the goals we have achieved, promises fulfilled and our objectives for the future. Happy reading! Mayor Sharon Gaetz