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Council Strategic Priorities
Message from White Rock City Council
When City Council approved the Strategic Priorities for White Rock in early 2019, we heard from the community clear priorities that included reopening Canada’s Longest Pier and the Waterfront Promenade, both severely damaged in December 2018 by a harsh and sudden winter storm.
Today we face a different storm. The declaration of a COVID-19 global pandemic in March 2020 has left our world profoundly changed. Responsively, the City moved to online services, advocated to aid residents and businesses in need, and provided alternatives to in-person Council meetings, public meetings, special events, recreation and public engagement.
Throughout this time, the City of White Rock continued to provide essential services, including fire and police, solid waste collection and recycling, clean drinking water, roads and parks maintenance, taxation and parking services. The City formed the COVID-19 Recovery Task Force in June 2020 to respond to the social and economic needs of White Rock during the pandemic.
Council’s 2021-2022 Strategic Priorities maintain, where possible, the public input principles we heard in 2019 along with input from the community during the pandemic. We have refined our priorities and will focus on our Community, Environment, Waterfront, Infrastructure, Economy and response to COVID-19. Together, we will get through this storm, and build an even stronger future for our City by the Sea.
The six key priorities are:
Our Community
We will make the best possible community decisions in collaboration with residents and stakeholders, providing an excellent quality of life.
Objectives:
- Guide land use decisions of Council to reflect the vision of the community.
- Manage the delivery of City services efficiently and effectively.
- Confirm the City is following best practices in governance.
- Select and complete the CAC projects to maximize the benefit to the community.
- Advocate on behalf of the community to senior levels of government and other stakeholder groups.
- Continue to nurture a respectful, trusting partnership with the Semiahmoo First Nation for the benefit of both communities.
Actions and Priority:
Objective | Action | Priority Type |
---|---|---|
Guide land use decisions of Council to reflect the vision of the community. | Review the Official Community Plan (OCP) | Top Priority |
Town Centre Review (with DIALOG) | Top Priority | |
Building Heights Outside the Town Centre | Top Priority | |
Affordable Housing/Housing Needs Report | Top Priority | |
Review of Waterfront Design Guidelines for East Beach and West Beach | High Priority | |
Coach House/Secondary Suites in duplexes/triplexes | High Priority | |
Single-family home zones | High Priority | |
Confirm the City is following best practices in governance. | Governance and Legislation Committee to continue to review all Council polices
| Top Priority
|
Reserve Fund | High Priority | |
Manage the delivery of City services efficiently and effectively. | Multi-Family and Commercial Waste Pickup | Top Priority |
Conduct multi-family and commercial waste pickup and analysis | Top Priority | |
Consultant to prepare a report providing implications of waste pickup resulting from the analysis | Top Priority | |
Review emergency alert systems for mass notification | Top Priority | |
Water Community Advisory Panel | High Priority | |
Examine water quality results from Water Treatment Plant | High Priority | |
Policing Service Review | High Priority | |
Select and complete the CAC projects to maximize the benefit to the community. | Community Amenity Contributions Review | Top Priority |
Review Options for Adding Pickleball Courts at East Beach and/or West Beach | Top Priority | |
Review Options for Adding Playground/Green Space in East Beach and/or West Beach | Top Priority | |
Review Feasibility of Installing Year-Round Volleyball Nets on East Beach Foreshore | Top Priority | |
Review Options for Using Portions of Hogg Park for Affordable Housing Project | Top Priority | |
Bring forward Affordable Housing Reserve Fund Bylaw and consider allocating $4 million to fund | Top Priority | |
Update Council on Previous Centre Street Hillside Walkway Reports | Top Priority | |
Review Options for Upgrading Multiple Hillside Walkways (Road Ends) to Waterfront | Top Priority | |
Confirm Ability to Use Amenity Contributions for Improving Beach Access | Top Priority | |
Review Options for Upgrading Maccaud Park with Greener Approach | Top Priority | |
Confirm Locations for Current and Proposed Bus Shelters in Town Centre Area | Top Priority | |
Continue to nurture a respectful, trusting partnership with the Semiahmoo First Nation for the benefit of both communities. | Water Service Agreements | Top Priority |
Relationship Rebuilding/Partnership | Top Priority | |
Communication Protocol - Memorandum of Understanding | Top Priority | |
Sanitary Sewer Service Agreement | High Priority | |
Drainage Memorandum of Understanding | High Priority | |
Totem Pole (House Post) Restoration at White Rock Elementary School Grounds | High Priority | |
SFN Infrastructure Investigation & Assessment | High Priority |
Our Environment
Continue to improve our environmental stewardship to preserve and protect the natural environment for future generations.
Objectives:
- Integrate storm damage environmental capital assets into strategic planning and budgeting process.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Protect and increase the tree canopy and enhance greenspace in the community.
Actions and Priority:
Action | Priority Type |
---|---|
Protection of Semiahmoo Bay | High Priority |
Energy Step Code Implementation | High Priority |
Environmental Advisory Committee suggesting improvements to bylaws and policies to protect the tree canopy. | High Priority |
Tree Management Bylaw Review | High Priority |
Policy 607 Heritage Trees | High Priority |
Policy 611 Tree Management on City Lands | High Priority |
Our Waterfront
We will enhance, promote and share our regional, premier, seaside experience.
Objectives:
- Attract visitors and residents to the Waterfront.
- Support a vibrant, year-round environment where businesses can thrive.
- Minimize the impact of railroad activity on the community.
Actions and Priority:
Actions | Priority Type |
---|---|
Develop and recommended a Waterfront Enhancement Strategy | High Priority |
Patio enclosures on Marine Drive | High Priority |
Review of Waterfront Design Guidelines for East and West Beach | High Priority |
Accessory Vacation Rentals regulation | High Priority |
Joint Semiahmoo Days/SeaFest | High Priority |
Waterfront Commercial Zones (CR3, CR4) | High Priority |
Our Infrastructure
We will build and maintain physical and organizational structures and facilities to enhance our community’s quality of life.
Objective:
- Select and complete the CACs projects to maximize the benefit to the community.
- Provide safe, reliable and sustainable infrastructure for the community while minimizing impacts on the environment.
- Ensure infrastructure required by new growth is funded by development.
- Provide a safe, accessible, centralized City facility and amenities.
Actions and Priority:
Action | Priority Type |
---|---|
Community Amenity Contributions Review | Top Priority |
Review options for adding pickleball courts at East Beach and/or West Beach | Top Priority |
City Hall and Civic Precinct | Top Priority |
Review options for adding playground/greenspace in East Beach and/or West Beach | Top Priority |
Review feasibility of installing year-round volleyball nets on East Beach foreshore | Top Priority |
Review options for using portions of Hogg Park for Affordable Housing Project | Top Priority |
Update Council on previous Centre Street Hillside Walkway reports | Top Priority |
Review options for upgrading multiple hillside walkways (road ends) to Waterfront | Top Priority |
Confirm ability to use Amenity Contributions for improving beach access | Top Priority |
Review options for upgrading Maccaud Park with greener approach | Top Priority |
Confirm locations for current and proposed bus shelters in Town Centre area | Top Priority |
Our Economy
We will support the prosperity and diversification of the City’s economic base.
Objective:
- Update the City’s Economic Development Strategy.
- Partner with the White Rock BIA, South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce, Tourism White Rock Association and the local business community to attract business to the community.
- Improve provision of efficient and cost-effective services
- Manage parking resources to meet the needs of residents, visitors and businesses.
Actions and Priority:
Actions | Priority Type |
---|---|
Complete LEAN Study to improve efficiencies and realize cost savings | Top Priority |
Tempest Business Licenses eApply | Top Priority |
Bylaw Adjudication | Top Priority |
Implement current and subsequent revised Economic Strategy | High Priority |
Fees and Charges Bylaw (increase for highway use violations) | High Priority |
COVID-19 Response
We will provide the best possible community outcomes and resilience to maximize recovery from COVID-19.
Objective:
- Partner with service agencies and other community partners to provide social support for those most impacted by COVID-19.
- Advocate on behalf of small business and work with community groups to support the local business community during the pandemic.
- Operate all facilities and provide services consistent with Provincial health orders.
Actions and Priority:
Action | Priority Type |
---|---|
Research Feasibility of Weather Coverings for Picnic Table Areas in Memorial Park | Top Priority |
Research and Develop Gamification Program to Connect Residents Safely | High Priority |
Research Feasibility of Outdoor “Comfort Stations" | High Priority |
See the complete list of the 2021-2022 Council Strategic Priorities.
BACKGROUND
Thanks to public feedback, Council’s Strategic Priorities Plan, for this term, has been created with aligned priorities from White Rock City Council, residents and businesses. The background of these facilitated sessions can be found below.
The City of White Rock held workshops on Sept. 3 and 4 to begin the process of updating Council’s 2018-2022 Strategic Priorities to ensure they meet the future needs of the community.
To view the recorded discussion, click here
Intro:
At the beginning of each Term in Office, White Rock City Council establishes a long-term vision and strategic plan for the duration of their term, through the Council Strategic Priorities Plan. This term, however, a different approach was taken. The newly elected City Council hosted two public consultation sessions for residents and business owners to share their priorities, issues, and ideas with Council.
Read the Council Strategic Priorities 2018-2022 document.
February 8, 2019
Council met to review the feedback provided by residents and business owners at the public consultation sessions and online survey and discuss their strategic priorities for their 2018 - 2022 term.
The meeting took place on Friday, February 8, 2019, at City Hall in Council Chambers. The public was welcome to attend the meeting but was not able to provide further input. Click here to watch the facilitated session.
January 9 and 10, 2019: Public Consultation Sessions
Establishing a long-term vision and strategic plan for the City is a top priority for City Council, and your feedback is an important part of Council's decision-making process.
On January 9 and 10, 2019, White Rock City Council hosted two days of public consultation sessions for residents and business owners to share priorities, issues, and ideas, and connect and interact with Council as you provided input into Council’s Strategic Planning process. Picture of the public consultation sessions can be found below.
An online survey was also available from January 9 - 18, 2019 for public input. Click here to read the survey results.
As Seen In:
- Advertisement - Peace Arch News - February 8, 2019
- Advertisement - Peace Arch News - February 1, 2019
- Article - Peace Arch News - January 11, 2019
- Print Article - Peace Arch News - January 11, 2019
- Advertisement - Peace Arch News - January 9, 2019
- Advertisement - Peace Arch News - January 4, 2019
- Advertisement - Peace Arch News - January 2, 2019
- Facebook - City of White Rock Facebook Event
- City Connects E-Newsletter - December 14, 2018