2023 Annual Report I CITY OF CHILLIWACK CITY OF CHILLIWACK I 2023 Annual Report 22 23 STRATEGIC GOAL #2 CONTINUED: GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE Ensure proactive and preventative maintenance of roads, utility, water systems, civic facilities, municipal fleet, and other municipal infrastructure to maximize life span. HOW WE WILL GET THERE WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2023 FLOOD PROTECTION Maintain dikes to provincial standards, ensure adequate drainage and maximize funding opportunities. Signed Memorandum of Understanding with Sqwá First Nation and Shxwhá:y Village to confirm alignment for a new dike to expand the flood protection area for all three communities. Signed an agreement together with the province, Semá:th, Matsqui and Leq’á:mel First Nations, and City of Abbotsford to make Sumas Prairie more resilient to flooding. 47,000 linear channel metres of drainage watercourses, plus three shale traps, were cleaned with approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. All dikes, pump stations and flood boxes inspected and maintained prior to high winter stream flows. Annual 2023 dike inspection reports submitted to BC Inspector of Dikes, as per the provincial Dike Maintenance Act requirements. Flood Response Plans for the Fraser River and Vedder River are updated annually to provide protocol for monitoring and responding to emergency conditions from high water levels on the respective rivers, under the City of Chilliwack’s Emergency Response Plan. Supported provincial agencies and their consultants as they plan to carry out additional sediment removals in 2024 to address the 440,000 m3 that deposited during the 2021 atmospheric river events. Received funding through UBCM for the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund Disaster Risk Education funding stream for the Chilliwack Creek Drainage Pump Station Upgrade – Preliminary Engineering Design. Upgraded three aging culverts with new concrete culverts to improve flow and prevent floodwater backup. Procured the development of a city-wide urban drainage stormwater model to identify deficiencies in the systems and to inform future capital plans. Advanced a study focusing on surface water flooding and mitigation in a Chilliwack Proper neighbourhood. Began a stormwater infrastructure master asset study to gain condition data and prioritize future stormwater utility upgrades. STRATEGIC GOAL #3: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Encourage waste diversion and a "zero waste" philosophy, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gases while protecting waterways, riparian zones and airsheds. HOW WE WILL GET THERE WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2023 PROTECT WATERWAYS AND RIPARIAN AREAS Enhance fish habitat and maintain Riparian Areas Protection Regulation standards. Collaborated with First Nations communities, local businesses and community volunteers to remove invasive species and replant native trees and shrubs along creeks. Mitigative measures undertaken to preserve and enhance fish habitats during open channel drainage maintenance. Completed an environmental and hydraulic study to identify opportunities for water quality, flow and habitat improvement in the Bell Slough. Collaborated with Fraser Valley Conservancy to enhance habitat for the Oregon Spotted Frog population. Supported biannual Adopt-a-River events and other river cleanups undertaken by volunteers. Completed design for a new culvert crossing at Bell Slough to improve fish habitat. WASTE DIVERSION Achieve a 75% curbside program waste diversion rate by 2025, promote a "zero waste" philosophy and maximize recycling initiatives. Achieved curbside diversion rate of 66%, to date. Zero waste initiatives undertaken including curbside recycling and compostable waste programs, Household Hazardous Waste Day, CityWide Garage Sales and Shred-A-Thon events. Curbside recycling contamination rate reduced from 6.2% to 4.8% through weekly recycling audits and education programs. Introduced a Book Recycling Program at the Bailey Landfill Recycling Depot. Assisted Fraser Valley Regional District in meeting region-wide separation requirements for recycling and compostable materials through source separation requirements for all properties in Chilliwack and enforcement of surcharges on loads of garbage containing more than 25% compostable waste at the Bailey Landfill. Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw increased minimum fees for paper bags to $0.25 and reusable bags to $2.00 as per provincial regulation. Promoted Waste Diversion Kits for event hosts, to provide threestream collection bins for garbage, recycling, and compost. Environmental Educational Campaign for local elementary schools to promote stewardship and create Champions of the Environment.
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