2023 Annual Report I CITY OF CHILLIWACK CITY OF CHILLIWACK I 2023 Annual Report 30 31 STRATEGIC GOAL #5 CONTINUED: VIBRANT ECONOMY Contract with CEPCO for economic development and encouragement of development in the downtown area. Work to create an environment that is positive to business creation. HOW WE WILL GET THERE WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2023 TOURISM Maintain, enhance and promote Chilliwack's natural beauty and walkability. Enhanced crosswalks with pedestrian activated flashing beacons at seven locations in the downtown area. Continued to implement improvements identified in the Cycle Vision and Active Transportation Plans to create connectivity with existing trails and facilities. DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION Encourage redevelopment in the downtown area. Revitalization tax exemptions available to promote business reinvestment in the downtown core. Multi-phase downtown redevelopment at District 1881 is nearly complete with a number of commercial businesses operating successfully within the site. Completed storm sewer upgrades on Williams Road and Yale Road to support redevelopment in the downtown area. Constructed new parking lots at Victoria Avenue and Princess Avenue, including electric vehicle charging stations, streetlights and landscaping. Completed road rehabilitation on several downtown streets: • Yale Road – Williams Street to Charles Street, • Williams Street – Reece Avenue to Yale Road, • Butchart Street – Chilliwack Central Road to McCaffrey Boulevard, • Pearson Street – Chilliwack Central Road to McCaffrey Boulevard, • Lombardy Crescent, • Elm Street – Chilliwack Central Road to Norrish Avenue, • McCaffrey Boulevard – Broadway to Cornwall Crescent. Approved public art to continue to enhance the downtown area. STRATEGIC GOAL #6: CONNECTED COMMUNITY Provide opportunities to hear from the community, meet with other levels of government and share information throughout the community. HOW WE WILL GET THERE WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2023 SHARE INFORMATION Make timely and accurate information available to the community. Over 50 print ads placed and six radio campaigns run to communicate information. 31 press releases issued. Responded to more than 203 media enquiries. Shared monthly e-newsletters about general City news and transportation projects. City website updated regularly. Information shared through the City's Facebook and Twitter accounts five days a week. The City has 16,103 Facebook and 8,536 Twitter followers. Created brochures and community information campaigns about water conservation and responsible wastewater management. Provided education and service alerts through the Curbside Collection app, which has over 25,000 users. Updated brochures and webpages about Building Protection for commercial developments and redevelopment applications. Engaged a consultant to prepare neighbourhood profiles that summarize demographic data in easy to read brochures. RELATIONSHIPS Build and maintain relationships with other governments, organizations, and the community. Continued to build relationships with the development community. Ongoing dialogue between City elected officials and other municipal, provincial, federal and First Nations officials.
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