We have a lot to be proud of in West Vancouver:  a beautiful and safe community, excellent schools, cherished library, active seniors’ centre, modern recreation facilities, and thriving arts community.  I’m committed to honoring those assets. But we can do better, and I envision a more livable, more vibrant, and more engaged West Vancouver.

A LIVABLE COMMUNITY - Delivering vital services effectively, efficiently and sustainably

What is a livable community?  It is one that delivers core services such as police, fire, water, and maintenance of roads and parks effectively, efficiently, and sustainably, by

• streamlining service costs,
• expanding revenues sources,
• encouraging internal and external collaboration, and
• fostering a positive corporate culture.

Prioritize and Simplify the Strategic Plan

It all starts with an effective Strategic Plan, because that is our road map for the future. The Municipality’s “Balanced Scorecard” contains over 200 strategic initiatives.  And while it certainly captured all the input from the public consultation process, it is a bit overwhelming.  We are a relatively small municipality, and we just can’t do it all. We must focus on what matters most.

A VIBRANT COMMUNITY - Community members want more

But basic core services aren’t enough. I’ve heard from community members who want a more vibrant community:

“Community Day 2009”

• more activities for children and youth,
• more support and diversity of local business, and
• more entertainment and cultural attractions.

Revive the Town Centre¹ – In Cottages to Community (a book of history and photographs, published recently by the West Vancouver Historical Society), it notes that “Ambleside is West Vancouver’s downtown, the main centre for shopping, business, and cultural activities”. Dundarave, Horseshoe Bay, Caulfeild, and even the Village at Park Royal are thriving. Ambleside could do better at providing the core services residents need, and the vibrant attractions residents want. And City Hall can help by

• facilitating more regular and collaborative meetings among Ambleside merchants,
• reviewing and updating bylaws that limit business opportunities and success, and
• considering initiatives to establish Ambleside as an arts and cultural destination.

It wasn’t that long ago that we had 2 movie theatres and a bowling alley in Ambleside. Now we have neither. The Youth Centre is popular, but not enough.  The Harmony Arts Festival is a wonderful community event, but where do you go after it’s over?

More Activities for Children and Youth – While a school trustee, I was a member of the Field Sport Forum Working Group for 2 years.  During that time we produced a Sport Field Master Plan containing recommendations to provide for the use, maintenance, improvement, addition to, and funding of sports fields in West Vancouver.  The current field inventory is not meeting demand. Sports contribute to healthy individuals, strong families, and vibrant communities. I’m committed to keeping that document alive, and to continuing to work with youth and sports groups to determine how community assets can be supported and enhanced.

“Youth Board of Education 2011”

AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY- People are our greatest resource, let’s listen to them

The two most serious and complex issues for community members are

• Limited housing options (and density); and
• Transportation (and traffic).

Housing stock in West Vancouver consists of roughly 65% single detached, 25% apartments, and 10% townhomes or duplexes.  Many empty-nesters want to downsize to turn-key, low maintenance residences; many seniors would like apartments with small gardens; and young adults are looking to return to West Vancouver in order to raise a family like their parents did. But there are limited housing options for all three groups. And this is not good for the community.

Listen to Working Groups

As a member of both the Field Sport Forum Working Group and the School Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, I experienced first-hand how effectively engaged citizens can define good process and produce quality recommendations. For example, the Community Dialogue on Neighborhood Character and Housing Working Group conducted a proactive consultative process, and made 20 constructive recommendations just over three years ago. Yet many of those recommendations have still not been implemented. We must consider and respond to the work of these groups in a respectful and timely fashion.

Utilize Technology to Consult and Inform

To engage the public, we must use the most effective technology at our disposal:

• Social media to solicit feedback on key agenda items before public council meetings, and
• Update the Municipal website to reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the community, and make it interactive and easy to navigate.

Echoing words from the report of the Neighbourhood Character and Housing Working Group,

“A unique community demands unique solutions. West Vancouver can and must rise to the challenge because a do-nothing approach will not keep it as the community we remember, we know today, and we want for the future”.

I’m very excited about my upcoming term on council, and it gives me great pleasure to serve this community for the next three years.