HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 Citizens ReportBritish Columbia, CanadaMAPLE RIDGE
CITIZENS REPORT 2013 as of December 31
VISION 2025
Maple Ridge is among the most sustainable communities in the world. As a community
committed to working toward achieving carbon neutrality, residents experience the value of a
strong and vibrant local economy and the benefits of an ongoing commitment to environmental
stewardship and creation of stable and special neighbourhoods. Maple Ridge is a world
leading example of thoughtful development and a socially cohesive community, especially as it
relates to the use of leading edge “environmental technologies,” social networks and economic
development. Other municipalities consistently reference Maple Ridge for its innovative
approaches to dealing with seemingly intractable challenges.
MISSION
A safe, livable and sustainable community for our present and future citizens.
VALUE STATEMENTS
Leadership:
To encourage innovation, creativity and initiative.
Service:
To be fair, friendly and helpful.
Reputation:
To stress excellence, integrity, accountability and honesty.
Human Resources:
To recognize that our people are our most valuable resource.
Community:
To respect and promote our community.
Stewardship:
To consider the long-term consequences of actions, think broadly across issues, disciplines and
boundaries and act accordingly.
2013 CITIZENS REPORTMAPLE RIDGE
Citizens Report 2013 n 3
P9 P39 P41
Contents
Introduction 4
Message from the Mayor 6
Your Mayor & Council 7
Administration 8
Community Development,
Parks & Recreation Services 10
Public Works & Development Services 12
Corporate & Financial Services 14
Employee Engagement 16
Sustainability 18
People, Places & Events of 2013 31
Maple Ridge Fire Department 38
RCMP: Police Services 40
Spotlight on: Bill Archibald 46
Contacts 47
SPOTLIGHT ON FINANCE
P19-P30
YOUR MAPLE RIDGE 24 HOURS
P44-P45
OUR GROWTH FROM ABOVE
P42-P43
4 n Citizens Report 2013
Sharing Our Story in the DIGITAL AGE
Ernie Daykin Mayor
Jim Rule Chief Administrative Officer
On behalf of Council and staff we are pleased to present our 2013 Citizens Report. This publication will provide you with an overview of the financial performance for Maple Ridge for the year ending December 31, 2013, as well as a review of the divisional activities and program highlights for the year.Last year we made some significant changes to our Citizens Report to make it more interesting and engaging for the public. While we definitely stretched the definition of the typical ‘popular report’ the 2012 Citizens Report was our most popular publication ever. At the 2013 Ridge Meadows Home Show, where the publication debuted to the public, we virtually ran out of our full press run.Building on the success of that publication, the 2013 Citizens Report introduces a number of enhancements to allow our citizens to delve deeper into information that is published in this document by using a couple of great technologies. If you see QR Codes you can use them to access enriched content. The link will take you to mapleridge.ca, where you will be able to view additional
photos or links to more detailed reports and information on the topics covered in this publication.In addition to our limited print run, we will be introducing the use of a tool called ‘Flipping Book’ that will allow citizens to read the publication on smartphones, tablets and home computers with an interface that is similar to the experience of flipping pages within the real publication. The core of this publication is the 12 page ‘Financial Spotlight’ that is a key requirement of the report. The rest of the publication is dedicated to showing how a strong financial plan and position allows us to realize our community vision and aspiration every day. These photos and stories are a snapshot of one year of life in Maple Ridge. They capture the hard work of our staff and the incredible accomplishments of our citizens.We are very proud of our community and accomplishments in 2013.Council welcomes your comments on this publication. Email us at mayorandcouncil@mapleridge.ca or call us at 604-463-5221.
INTRODUCTION
GFOA
2013 CITIZENS REPORTMAPLE RIDGE
Citizens Report 2013 n 5
The 2013 Citizens Report is part of a suite of publications that include the 2014-2018 Financial Plan and the 2013 Annual Report. These publica-tions allow citizens to examine the business of Maple Ridge to the level of detail that they desire. This report incorporates tools that allow citizens to more quickly access information on our website mapleridge.ca. The goal is to ensure that our work remains transparent and accessible to all.
This publication is a collaboration between Maple Ridge staff and some very talented local citizens. We would like to acknowledge Oliver Rathonyi-Reusz of InView Images for his photography that graces many of the articles in this publication. In our People and Places section there are a number of photographs that have been supplied by our local community newspapers. We would like to thank the Maple Ridge News and the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Times for supplying photos that graced the front pages of their newspapers. In this context we all get to appreciate the amazing talent that serves our com-munity every day. We would also like to thank our publications designer, Cindy Farnsworth and her col-league Doug McMaster, for pulling all of the content together. Their passion for the community and this project is evident in the final product.
Internally, we are very grateful for the help of many of our fellow staff members who have provided information for this publication. We are very proud to be able to highlight the work of our colleagues who quietly go about their work with professionalism, dedication and passion each and every day.
Finally, I have the honour of working with two very wonderful colleagues, Cindy Dale and Tracy Camire, whose professionalism and enthusiasm are an inspi-ration. Their fingerprints are all over this document. I thank them for their wonderful ideas, suggestions, corrections and cajoling. They are amazing.
We hope that you enjoy the 2013 Citizens Report and will share this with your family and friends. We are all very proud to serve this community.
Fred Armstrong Manager Corporate Communications farmstrong@mapleridge.ca Phone 604-467-7452
This publication is available both in print and in digital format. The digital version is available in ‘Flipping Book’ format and as a PDF download at mapleridge.ca under the Business Plans/Financial Reports section in the Your Government menu.
Maple Ridge is active on social media. You can follow us on Twitter @yourmapleridge and on Facebook at facebook.com/yourmapleridge. We look forward to your comments on the 2013 Citizens Report.
The Government Finance Officers’ Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has given an Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR) to Maple Ridge for its Popular Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting is a prestigious international award recognizing conformance with the highest standards for preparation of state/provincial and local government popular reports. In order to receive an Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting, a government unit must publish a Popular Annual Financial Report, whose contents conform to program standards of creativity, presentation, understandability, and reader appeal.The GFOA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting is valid for a period of one year only. Maple Ridge has received a Popular Award for the 17th consecutive year and is very fortunate to be one of only seven municipalities in Canada awarded a PAFR for 2012. We believe our current report continues
to conform to the Popular Annual Financial Reporting requirements, and we are submitting it to GFOA.
December 31, 2012 The print version of this report is 100% recyclable.
6 n Citizens Report 2013
Message from the Mayor
Council’s annual meeting schedule is avail-
able online at mapleridge.ca. The meeting
schedule is available in both a calendar for-
mat or as a chronological list. Meetings held
in Council Chambers are recorded and avail-
able for viewing a few days after the meeting,
with links to the meeting agenda information
and presentations.
1. If you knew then what you
know now, what would you
tell your 18-year-old self?
Council Meeting
Information
4. If you were stranded on
a desert island, what three
things would you want with
you?
The underlying theme of the 2013 Citizens Report is “Growth”. I was born in 1951 when the population of Maple Ridge was under 10,000 people. By graduation from high school the population had doubled to just over 20,000. In 1986, as EXPO happened in BC, Maple Ridge had doubled again to close to 40,000 people. As I write this introduction the estimated population of Maple Ridge has now doubled again to 80,000 citizens.In 1879, five years after Maple Ridge was established as a municipality, William and Amanda Hampton, my great grandparents, settled in Maple Ridge. The photo accompanying this introduction is me with my cousins Rodney and Dennis at the Hampton Farm. When my grandparents settled there were just a few hundred people living in the community.
Today the family farm is surrounded on the south by modern homes and the north still features that magnificent view of the Golden Ears mountains.As Maple Ridge gets closer to that 100,000 population milestone, the form and character of our community has changed dramatically. Back in the 40s and 50s the Agricultural Fair Grounds and the “Aggie” Hall were located in what is the town center…just east of the ACT. In 2006, when Council passed the Official Community Plan and the Town Centre Area Plan was created there was a goal to create a strong urban core to the community. In 2013, we hit our target of having 50% of the new residential units built in the Town Centre. It’s become far more than just a core; it’s become the heart for the community, a gathering place for everyone to come together. In the area where I live, the housing boom of the 50’s resulted in the stream that used to run through our property being covered over. As I look at the new developments in east Maple Ridge I see how the creeks and streams are protected and new landscaping and tree planting better reflects our natural setting and new development.Growth is not without challenges; however we are meeting these head on. I often say it is not if Maple Ridge will grow, but how we grow. We need to respect Maple Ridge’s unique character and natural environment. In 2013 the groundwork was laid for a new Transportation Master Plan, a Commercial and Industrial Strategy and Council continued a policy of setting aside money to ensure that our long term infrastructure is maintained. As you read through this report I hope that you get a sense of the solid planning and financial management that are key to us achieving our community vision.I can say, without hesitation, that my great grandparents would be very proud of the Maple Ridge of today. They were pioneers. They saw the opportunity here when there was nothing. 135 years later opportunity is still here in Maple Ridge, it may look different, but there are great opportunities nonetheless. All of us on Council want to leave a great community to call home for our grandchildren and great grandchildren. I hope you enjoy this recap of our work in 2013.
Mayor Ernie Daykin
THE QUESTIONS
2. Is there a community
volunteer who inspires you?
3. Name a local charity that
inspires you.
5. Which activities make you lose track of time?
Don’t sweat the
small stuff. Very, very
little of what you
worry about will ever
happen. Never take
yourself so seriously
that you cannot
laugh at yourself.
Love that 18 year
old self.
To travel before
getting married.
Be less judgmental and more forgiving; also buy a whole bunch of shares in the start up of Microsoft, at only 75 cents.
You can have a five
and ten year plan,
but you never know
where life is going
to take you. Work
hard, but relax and
enjoy yourself.
(I was a very seri-
ous young woman)
Time is precious; no
more of it is being
made, put it to good
use.
Michael MordenErnie Daykin Cheryl Ashlie Al Hogarth Judy Dueck Bob Masse Corisa Bell
THE ANSWERS: From your Mayor and Council
Buy and hold real estate.
I have been inspired
by far too many to
single out one. I am
fortunate to have
early memories of
my grandparents who
modelled volunteering
and contributing to the
community.
Lola Chapman is
the person I think
who inspires me the
most.
Tim Sarsfield, the
cook at the Salva-
tion Army. However,
I believe that every
volunteer is impor-
tant.
Ross Davies.There is a woman
who walks up and
down 240 street
everyday with her
dog picking up
garbage.
Volunteer drivers to
the Cancer Clinics.
I’m going with a tie
between the “Trail
Boss” Bill Archibald
and Geoff Clayton
formerly of ARMS,
both passionate
and dedicated.
Ridge Meadows Hospice Society. The compassion and support the Society’s volunteers give is inspiring!
The Community Chest and all of the players involved in that concept.
The Salvation Army for their diverse programs and help in the community.
Ridge Meadows Recycling Society.
Hospice volunteers.Christmas Haven.The Friends In
Need Food Bank.
Swiss Army knife
Big pot
Picture of my family
A bar, a great shop-
ping district and
family and friends
that I like. Oh, you
mean alone like
Robinson Crusoe? A
knife, compass and
good shoes.
Machete
Lots of paper
Writing devices
Water
Vegetable seeds
An axe
Fishing gear
A satelite phone
Bug spray
A knife
Drinking water
A friend
Water
Food
My wife
Reading a good
“Who Dunnit” book.
Painting.Writing or drawing always makes me lose track of time.
Household
errands.
Researching some-
thing to get enough
knowledge, to make
an intelligent choice,
on an important is-
sue. I end up staying
up way too late.
Pinterest!Researching a
subject on the
computer, there is
so much to learn out
there right at your
fingertips, it’s just
like being sucked
down through the
rabbit hole!
Citizens Report 2013 n 9
ADMINISTRATION
In 2000 Malcom Gladwell released a book called ‘The Tipping Point’ that re-vealed the circumstances under which social change, that seemed to happen very quickly, was actually the result of a unique set of events and key people.One of the things that he talked about was the role of ‘connectors’ as being agents of change. The Administration team is best described by this defini-tion. It is a small team, but our work involves a close collaboration with every department that serves our community. Communications, Emergency Program Human Resources, Strategic Economic Initiatives and Sustainability & Corpo-rate Planning support and underpin ev-ery aspect of our work.The CAO is the connection between Council and staff. A key part of this role is providing strategic advice to Council based on the knowledge and experi-ence from the organization. In turn, the CAO also works closely with the Gen-eral Managers and Directors to ensure that Council’s vision and priorities are embedded in the business and financial plans.Maple Ridge is undergoing a change from a bedroom community to the larg-
est urban hub in the northeast Fraser sector of Metro Vancouver. This is all by design. The plan was established as part of the 2006 Official Community Plan. In 2010, Maple Ridge launched a wide ranging Town Centre Investment Incentive Program to kick start our downtown. That program, by any mea-sure, has been an enormous success. In 2013, just over 50% of the new residen-tial units built in Maple Ridge occurred in the Town Centre. In 2013, Target Canada opened their new Maple Ridge store after spending close to $22 million renovating and ex-panding the Haney Place Mall location. Total private investment in the Town Centre has exceeded $100 million in the last three years.As you read through this publication you will see the diversity and scope of work that was delivered in 2013 as part of the annual business plan and the longer term 5-year Financial Plan. Our team of ‘connectors’ who work in the Adminis-tration division have been immersed in the delivery of programs and projects from the successful WorkSafeBC CORE safety audit, that resulted in a $50,000 rebate on WorkSafeBC premiums to re-
search on the feasibility of changing our streetlights to low energy LED systems.The website mapleridge.ca is a portal into much of the work done by our Ad-ministration division. The website and social media sites are monitored and up-dated by the Communications team. The Invest Maple Ridge site is a portal to the work done by the Strategic Economic Initiatives team to promote our com-munity to new entrepreneurs. The Ca-reers section is a link to the Human Re-sources team, who work closely with all departments to recruit and support the talented individuals who serve our com-munity. Our Sustainability & Corporate Planning role is found in the numerous documents in our Business and Finan-cial Planning section of the site. In ad-dition, this team maintains and updates the Performance Measurement data on the site to allow citizens to quantify the change and growth of our community. We are the connectors. Our role is to support the goals and aspirations of our Council and the plans and programs of our colleagues across every aspect of our business. It is a role that we are proud to serve, and the results speak for them-selves.
Creating Connections. Working the Plan.
Jim Rule
Chief Administrative
Officer
Frances King,
Director of Human Resources
Fred Armstrong,
Manager Corporate Communications
Laura Benson,
Manager of Sustainability & Corporate Planning
Patrick Cullen,
Emergency Program Coordinator
Sandy Blue,
Manager of Strategic Economic Initiatives
1. How many projects participated in the 2010 to
2013 Town Centre Investment Incentive Program
(TCIIP)?
A) 72 B) 84 C) 93
2. What was the total estimated value of
construction permits for the projects that were
part of the TCIIP?
A) $75 million B) $110 million C) $115 million
Answers are on page 47. No peeking ;-)
The Maple Ridge Quiz
3. How many parks and sports fields are there
in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows?
A) 96 B) 130 C) 143
4. How many total visits were there in 2013 at
the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre?
A) 235,652 B) 356,987 C) 472,571
Answers are on page 47.
The Maple Ridge Quiz
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, PARKS & RECREATION SERVICES
Community Development, Parks & Recreation Services encompasses a wide arrange of service delivery from the op-eration of parks and recreation facilities to helping build the capacity of our com-munity by supporting volunteers and neighbourhood champions. In 2013 Maple Ridge saw an enor-mous benefit from volunteers in our community. From Earth Day in April to the Santa Claus Parade in December just under 200,000 people enjoyed 58 festivals and special events organized by dedicated community members. In April of 2013, we recognized many of these amazing volunteers at the annual Volun-teer Appreciation Night hosted by Mayor Daykin and Council.Volunteers make a huge impact in the areas of amateur sports in our com-munity. Our Parks & Facilities teams maintain a wide variety of facilities that support the volunteer organizations that run amateur baseball, soccer, lacrosse, hockey, ringette, swimming and a host of other sports. We work very closely with these dedicated organizations to ensure that community facilities are maintained for the wide range of users.
One of the key roles of the Parks & Facilities department is the development and maintenance of neighbourhood and destination parks in the community. In 2013 two new parks opened in the fast growing neighbourhood of Silver Val-ley. Deer Fern Park and Cedar Park both strongly reflect the neighbourhoods that they serve. The involvement of area resi-dents ensured that the amenities in the parks were well chosen and that there is a strong connection to these spaces.In the Albion neighbourhood a new Bike Skills Park was created in the south east corner of Albion Park. In the Al-bion Sports Complex an innovative new interactive spray park was completed in late 2013 and will open to the public in 2014. Albion and Silver Valley are among the fastest growing neighbourhoods in our community. These new parks provide gathering places where children can play and neighbours can meet and establish new friendships and connections.2013 was a record year for program de-livery. In 2013 the new Parks & Leisure website was launched and a new digital program guide was introduced that al-lows citizens to browse the latest pro-
Helping Our Citizens and Community Grow
Kelly Swift
General Manager:
Community Development
Parks & Recreation Services
gram offerings and connect directly to the registration system online. Citizens of all ages are provided with opportunities to get active, experience the arts or learn new skills such as how to ride a bike. In 2013 the Community Services team worked closely with community mem-bers to support neighbourhood develop-ment initiatives, the Vibrant Downtown Taskforce and the ongoing relationship Maple Ridge enjoys with stakeholder or-ganizations working with more vulner-able members of our community.As Maple Ridge has grown and the de-mographics of the community change, Community Development, Parks & Recreation Services have embraced new ways of delivering services and support-ing our citizen engagement. One of the hallmarks of our service delivery model is nurturing the capacity of our citizens and community. The results speak for themselves. Our new parks, our amaz-ing festivals and the incredible legacy of sports and recreation are all possible because of the leadership of our citizens. We are very proud to help our commu-nity members achieve these individual and shared goals.
David Boag,
Director of Parks & Facilities
Sue Wheeler,
Director of Community Services
Wendy McCormick,
Director of Recreation
Maple Ridge Leisure Centre
11925 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, V2X 6G2
Phone: 604-467-7322
Citizens Report 2013 n 11
5. How many litres of water are used in
Maple Ridge annually?
A) 8 billion B) 11 billion C) 15 billion
6. How many litres of raw sewage does Maple
Ridge send for treatment annually?
A) 7 billion B) 9 billion C) 10 billion
Answers are on page 47.
The Maple Ridge Quiz
David Pollock,
Municipal Engineer
Christine Carter,
Director of Planning
Russ Carmichael,
Director of Engineering Operations
Liz Holitzki,
Director of Licences, Permits & Bylaws
PUBLIC WORKS & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Public Works & Development Services encompasses Planning, Engineering, the Operations Centre and Licences, Permits & Bylaws. In 2013, these departments delivered an incredible list of ‘on the ground’ projects and important policy work that will guide the community for decades to come.Probably the single largest project undertaken in 2013 was the new bridge over the North Alouette River at 232 Street. The 70 year old wood structure had reached the end of its life cycle, and the bridge could no longer support heavy loads coming to and from the growing Silver Valley neighbourhood. On July 15 the old bridge was closed and the con-struction of the new bridge commenced. The new bridge opened to traffic in Feb-ruary of 2014. Other major projects included up-grades to the road and pedestrian net-work on 122 Avenue west of 222 Street and the construction of a multi-use path along the north side of Lougheed High-way from Laity Street to 216 Street that included major funding support for oth-er levels of government. Maple Ridge has just under 480 kilometers of roads. In
2013 6.5 kilometers of local roads were resurfaced as part of the ongoing main-tenance program. While this work was underway, the Planning, Engineering and Licences, Permits & Bylaws departments deliv-ered a substantial list of policy work. The Planning department prepared the final ‘Regional Context Statement’ that is a requirement of the Regional Growth Strategy. Other policy work included progress on the Environmental Manage-ment Strategy, the Commercial and In-dustrial Strategy and an overall Building Bylaw update. The Engineering depart-ment led the work on the new Transpor-tation Master Plan while the Licences, Permits & Bylaws department delivered the updated Animal Control Bylaw and draft policy updates to the Smoking and Signage Bylaws that will be completed in 2014.In 2013 the Building Inspection team rolled out new technology that allows them to complete inspections using tab-let computers that transmit the informa-tion back to Municipal Hall from the inspection site. This technology speeds up the permitting process for the devel-
Meeting the Challenges of Growth
Frank Quinn
General Manager:
Public Works &
Development Services
opment community where every saved hour improves costs and efficiency.There is no project that embodies the interconnected nature of our de-partments than the Target Canada ex-pansion and renovation completed in 2013. The Planning, Engineering and Licences, Permits & Bylaws depart-ments worked closely with each other, and the client, to ensure that an aggres-sive nine month construction schedule was possible. In February the demoli-tion of the old Zellers location began. In November the new Target Canada store, including a 25,000 square foot expansion, opened to serve our grow-ing community.Each of these departments is im-mersed in day-to-day work that is part of the Business Plan approved by our Council. Yet each of these departments is also doing policy work and pre-planning for projects that will shape our commu-nity for decades to come. Public Works & Development Services is meeting the challenges of growth with solid planning, effective use of assets and a commitment to the vision and aspirations laid out by our Council.
Citizens Report 2013 n 13
Catherine Nolan,
Manager of Accounting
Ceri Marlo,
Manager of Legislative Services & Emergency Program
Christina Crabtree,
Director of Information Technology
Dane Spence,
Fire Chief
John Bastaja,
Director of Corporate Support
Kathleen Gormley,
Manager of Business Systems
Maureen Jones,
Senior Manager of Police Services
Silvia Rutledge,
Manager of Revenue & Collections
Trevor Thompson,
Manager of Financial Planning
The Maple Ridge Quiz continues on page 39.
CORPORATE & FINANCIAL SERVICES
Creating a Strong Foundation for Today and Tomorrow
Paul Gill General Manager: Corporate & Financial Services
The General Manager: Corporate & Financial Services, Paul Gill, often talks about how his annual presentation lacks the sizzle of some of the presentations of his colleagues because his division doesn’t have photos of heavy equipment or ribbon cuttings. Yet his team works tirelessly to support the work of every department in the organization.If the Administration team are ‘con-nectors’ then the Finance, Clerks and In-formation Technology teams are the ‘ma-vens’ described in Malcolm Gladwell’s book ‘The Tipping Point.’ This team of specialists collect an enormous amount of data from across the organization which ensures efficient and effective de-livery of services, but also looks into the future to ensure that Maple Ridge has the financial capacity to meet the demands of a growing community. The details of the financial position of Maple Ridge are laid out in the ‘Financial Spotlight’ section of this document, but that doesn’t fully cap-ture some of the ground breaking work that this team delivered in 2013.In 2013, as part of the work to de-velop the 2014-2018 Financial Plan, the
Finance team once again hosted a Bud-get Q&A that was live streamed to the community. Citizens were able to pose questions in person, by phone, by email and over the social media sites. In addi-tion to this live Q&A, the team created a ‘Financial Plan Overview’ document that helped explain details of the Budget and Financial Planning process and method-ology in terms that were easy for citizens to understand.Our commitment to creating user friendly information and processes was demonstrated with tax notices designed to stand out from other mail, using pic-tures of the staff members who citizens interact with over the phone and in per-son every day. The mailer introduced a number of web-based tools that would all but eliminate the need to line-up to pay taxes. In this age, people are looking for efficiencies in their busy schedules.The Information Technology team supported a number of customer service initiatives including the rollout of tablet computers for building inspections, the website redesign and mobile app devel-opment and some very forward think-
ing work to establish a digital document management system.You can learn more about our work with the Maple Ridge Fire Department on Page 39 and our relationship with the Ridge Meadows RCMP on page 41.As this report and the 2013 Annual Re-port show, Maple Ridge is in a strong fi-nancial position. This has been achieved by integrating the annual Business Plan-ning into a longer term Financial Plan that helps us weather financial storms such as the 2008 global recession. Ma-ple Ridge’s strong financial framework allowed us to access economic stimu-lus funding available in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Investments made in that time pe-riod, combined with a strong communi-ty vision and plan, have helped leverage over $100 million in private investment in our community. It might not have a lot of ‘sizzle,’ but our work helps create a strong foundation for our ‘shareholders’ – the citizens of Maple Ridge.
Citizens Report 2013 n 15
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
We live here. We work here. We give here.
Most people don’t know that over 70% of our staff live in the community that we serve. This is our home and we are rais-ing our families and building our future along with our friends and neighbours. Our work gives us a unique perspective on the community and the interactions we have with our amazing citizens in-spire us greatly.The people in these photographs are employees and their family members. Specifically, these folks are volunteers for two groups called ‘The Community Builders’ and the ‘Green Team.’The Community Builders was formed three years ago by a group of employees who wanted to bring their passion, skills and knowledge to bear to help make our community a better place. The group started out with a couple of fundraising events to build the bank account, and then established a goal of bringing peo-ple together to complete three projects a year. In past years the group has cleared invasive plants from the forest floor in the Kanaka Creek watershed and cleaned
up garbage caches that bears have stored in area parks. The group got together to build a new ramp for the North Fraser Therapeutic Riding Association when they relocated to a new facility in 2013. Community Giving projects include a large number of departments adopting families as part of the Christmas Ham-per program and fundraising events to secure food donations and cash for the Friends In Need Food Bank.The Green Team is a group of staff who have volunteered to take a leader-ship role in promoting sustainability practices to their colleagues. Whether its energy reductions by turning off com-puters and lights to the best practices in recycling and composting, this group of champions has done an extraordinary job bringing the message of sustainabil-ity to their workplace and the public. In 2013 the ‘Ugly Sweater Day’ was used to spread the message about lowering the thermostat at work and home. The group even promoted a ‘lights off’ event where-by staff members in our facilities used
natural lighting during the day to reduce energy consumption. The most valuable thing that we all have is our time. Every hour is non-re-newable, and all of the people in these photos and many more have chosen to invest their free time in our community. We’re also engaging our families in our work. Maple Ridge is a community where 40% of citizens volunteer their time to support local sports, arts, environment and charity organizations. These are the people that inspire us. We live here. Maple Ridge is our home. You are our friends and neighbours. We work here. We are proud to serve this community as employees of Maple Ridge. And most of all we give here. Like our neighbours, it gives us a great sense of pride to support and work shoulder to shoulder with the amazing volunteers who are leading the way in our environ-ment, community service and charity sectors.
Citizens Report 2013 n 17
What drives your personal passion for sustainability?I’m pretty practical about this issue. Reducing energy consumption saves money, both personally and for the taxpayers. Reducing our energy con-sumption and our carbon footprint also helps to mitigate the impacts of climate change. I believe that each of us, doing small things, can have a large impact and deliver solid results.How does that passion translate to your work?I am very fortunate to work in a role that allows me to take action towards minimizing the impacts of climate change. My current role of Research Technician in energy management al-lows me to be involved with a wide array of corporate energy efficient projects, from a pilot LED street lighting project to encouraging my coworkers to turn off their lights and computers at the end of the day. Projects like these make an im-pact on the amount of carbon dioxide the corporate assets (buildings, sewers, fleet) release into the atmosphere.Who funds your work?My position is partially funded through a BC Hydro Power Smart En-ergy Management grant and partially by the District of Maple Ridge.How does this work benefit citizens?2010 was the first year Maple Ridge received the BC Hydro grant and since then, we have completed a number of energy efficiency projects. These proj-ects, combined, result in annual energy cost savings of approximately 730,000 kwh or $65,000 per year. This is about a 5.7% decrease in our corporate energy consumption. With the recently an-nounced increase in BC Hydro rates, the District is in a good position to mitigate the rate increase, through the energy cost savings resulting from energy effi-ciency projects. And the best part is that the energy cost savings happen year after year. Another benefit of these energy ef-ficiency projects is that Maple Ridge is at the forefront of testing new technolo-gies so that those in the community who are interested can learn from our experi-ence.
It’s Not Easy Being Green. Or is it?
SUSTAINABILITY
What’s your favourite project so far?My colleagues in Operations have been testing LED street lights for the past four years. Together with the Engineering Department, my manager and I wrote a report to Council that outlines the ben-efits and challenges with LED street light technology. As a result of this report, Maple Ridge will begin work on a pilot LED street light project in a new subdi-vision. The project will help us research the business case and continue building our knowledge of this technology along-side the Operations Centre champions.
Because Maple Ridge is a growing com-munity, I see a lot of potential in utiliz-ing energy efficient technologies in new developments if the business case proves favourable. We all want cost-effective buildings that have lower environmental impacts because the buildings we create today will impact our community for the next 50 years or longer.What are you doing personally to live a more sustainable lifestyle?My boyfriend and I just converted all of the lights in our home to LED and we recently bought a NEST, the smart ther-mostat. With the NEST you can control your house temperature through your smart phone and the thermostat learns your habits so that it keeps temperatures down when you are not home. The biggest commitment we made to a more sustainable lifestyle was when we decided to purchase an electric car. We were in the market for a new car and after building the business case and do-ing extensive research on the benefits and challenges of driving electric vehi-cles, we took a leap of faith and bought a 2012 Nissan Leaf. Our “Silver Bullet”, the nickname we picked for the Leaf, was one year old on March 23. So far so good! We already have 12,000 km on it and with an average price of $1.38/L for gas; we estimate that we have saved about $1,400 over one year.What changes have you seen in your workplace as a result of the sustainabil-ity program?Just this past February, the Greg Moore Youth Centre underwent a light-ing upgrade in the activity area. The new six lamp fluorescent T5 fixtures create a brighter and more even light on the activity space. Compared to the old 400 watt mercury vapour lights they replaced, we will save approximately 10,000 kilowatt hours of energy a year.This is the kind of initiative that demonstrates how our sustainability programs are becoming embedded in our business planning work. This one project will save us between $1,500 and $2,000 per year and help mitigate the impact of increasing electricity costs on our budget.
18 n Citizens Report 2013
When you read the Vision Statement on the inside cover of this publication it’s clear that sustainability and environmental responsibility are an important part of Maple Ridge’s DNA. Looking for ways to turn those aspirational statements into action is the work of every staff member, but all initiatives need a champion. For Maple Ridge that champion is Alexandra Tudose.
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
$0.4
MILLION
$0.9
MILLION
$1.8
MILLION
$2.4MILLION
$2.6
MILLION
$1.3
MILLION
$3.0
MILLION
$3.3
MILLION
$3.7MILLION
$4.2MILLION
Funding History
Dedicated tax revenue allocated to
infrastructure renewal from 2008 to 2013
Looking to the Future
Dedicated tax revenue allocated to
infrastructure renewal in the 2014-2018
Financial Plan $4.7MILLION
Data for this chart was taken from the Infrastructure Sustainability Report presented to Council Workshop on February 17, 2014. The full report is
available at mapleridge.ca. The QR Code provides a direct link to this report.
One of the great challenges across the nation is the capacity of communities to fund the renewal and update of key infrastructure. What is that infrastructure? It’s the roads you drive on, the sidewalks you walk on and the water, sewer and storm water systems under the roads that we sometimes take for granted. The difference between what cities spend and what they should be spending is called the ‘infrastructure gap.’There’s a very simple parallel for a home owner. When you buy a new home you know that you will need to replace the roof in 25 years. The water heater will probably only last about 10 years. The pipes in your home will probably need to be replaced in 30 years. That is the ‘infrastructure’ of your home. Most people are able to dodge the financial impacts of these big ticket upgrades because they move from the house before the items need to be replaced.When you look at some of the
older cities back east you see the impact of crumbling infrastructure. Giant chunks of concrete falling from bridges or roads riddled with potholes are a common occurrence. Maple Ridge is a relatively young city by North American standards, but we have over a billion dollars of infrastructure to look after. Thankfully, your Council has taken a leadership position on this issue and taken steps to reduce the infrastructure gap in our community. Starting in
2006, Council directed staff to begin dedicating a 1% annual tax increase to infrastructure sustainability.In 2013, as a means of reducing the tax burden, this amount was decreased to 0.5 of a percent and in 2014 and 2015 the amount will move to 0.7%. The chart below details the total revenue that has been dedicated to infrastructure renewal in our community as part of past and current financial plans.Maple Ridge looks at every opportunity to fund infrastructure renewal with senior levels of government to make local tax dollars go further. The plan that has been established by your Council is reducing that infrastructure gap and ensuring that we are able to balance the needs of today without compromising our future. There’s still a big gap, but we’re facing this issue head on and making great progress.
Meeting Today’s Needs
with an Eye to the Future
2013 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT
“The estimate is that
Maple Ridge should be
setting aside $30 million
a year to maintain and
renew our infrastructure.”
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
$0.4
MILLION
$0.9
MILLION
$1.8
MILLION
$2.4MILLION
$2.6
MILLION
$1.3
MILLION
$3.0
MILLION
$3.3
MILLION
$3.7MILLION
$4.2MILLION
Funding History
Dedicated tax revenue allocated to
infrastructure renewal from 2008 to 2013
Looking to the Future
Dedicated tax revenue allocated to
infrastructure renewal in the 2014-2018
Financial Plan $4.7MILLION
Data for this chart was taken from the Infrastructure Sustainability Report presented to Council Workshop on February 17, 2014. The full report is
available at mapleridge.ca. The QR Code provides a direct link to this report.
Citizens Report 2013 n 19
Accumulated Surplus - Represents net economic resources, the amount by which all assets, both financial and non-financial, exceed all liabilities. It indicates that a government has net resources available to provide future services, but does not represent aailable cash.
Amortization - The cost of using an asset over time.
Annual Surplus/Deficit - The difference between annual revenues and annual expenses. If positive it is refered to as Annual Surplus, if negative, it is referred to as Annual Deficit
Financial Assets
Cash and temporary investments $100,894,137 $103,940,358
Portfolio investments 44,858,999 33,315,006
Accounts receivable 19,147,770 19,464,140
Recoverable local improvments 1,882,735 1,853,310
Other assets 718,361 684,971
Inventory available for resale 24,266 187
167,526,268 159,257,972
Liabilites
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 16,271,819 12,934,269
Deferred revenue 9,407,028 9,236,244
Restricted revenue 45,149,975 45,357,203
Refundable performance deposits and other 10,325,126 12,176,806
Employee future benefits 4,890,700 4,745,500
Long term debt 39,501,414 42,086,722
125,546,062 126,536,744
Net Financial Assets 41,980,206 32,721,228
Non Financial Assets
Tangible capital assets 852,168,211 814,115,960
Undeveloped landbank properties 14,385,160 14,448,184
Supplies inventory 364,511 303,347
Prepaid expenses 698,347 629,721
867,616,229 829,497,212
Accumulated Surplus $909,596,435 $862,218,440
The Consolidated Statement of Financial Position is the Public Sector version of the Balance Sheet, listing the government entity’s
financial assets, liabilities and non-financial assets as at December 31. Key things to note on this statement are Net Financial Assets
and Accumulated Surplus. Net Financial Assets are the excess of financial assets over liabilities and provides an indication of financial
flexibility. Accumulated Surplus is the total of Net Financial Assets and Non-Financial Assets.
Reporting Entity and Basis of Consolidation These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian Public Sector accounting standards using guidelines developed by the Public Sector Accounting Board (“PSAB”) of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.They consolidate the activities of all of the funds of the District and the District’s wholly owned subsidiaries C.D.M.R. Developments Ltd. and Maple Ridge Municipal Holdings Ltd. Transactions between the District’s funds and wholly owned subsidiaries have been eliminated and only transactions with outside entities are reported.
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
As at December 31, 2013
Restated
2013 2012
20 n Citizens Report 2013
Glossary
2013 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT
Consolidated Statement of Operations
The Consolidated Statement of Operations is the Public Sector version of an Income Statement, showing the government entity’s revenues
and expenses realized over the course of the fiscal year. The difference between annual revenues and expenses is referred to as the
annual surplus. The key point to keep in mind with this statement is that the annual surplus does not represent a cash surplus as the
amounts reported under expense includes general operating costs and the annual depreciation of tangible capital assets used in service
provision, but does not include the amount of cash invested in infrastructure during the year.
Financial Assets - Assets that could be used to discharge existing liabilities or finance future operations, such as cash receivables and portfolio investments.
Net Financial Assets - The excess of financial assets over liabilities
Non-Financial Assets - Assets that are acquired, constructed or developed that do not normally provide resources to discharge existing liabilities, but are normally employed to deliver government services or may be consumed in the normal course of operations.
Tangible Capital Assets - Assets of long-term character that are intended to continue to be held or used, such as land, buildings, machinery, furniture, and other equipment. These assets have a sigificant value and a useful life of greater than one year. Capital assets are also called fixed assets.
Actual Budget Actual
2013 2013 2012
Revenue
Taxes for municipal purposes $68,079,360 $67,914,296 $64,939,423
User fees and other revenue 35,843,766 34,961,647 34,698,238
Government transfers 3,796,633 6,385,880 4,421,302
Development revenue 9,799,094 35,893,817 5,626,781
Interest and investment income
Investment income 2,741,371
Interest income 227,890
Less: Deferred amount (392,049)
Interest and investment income 2,577,212 1,818,000 3,486,028
Gaming revenues 896,008 500,000 819,341
Gain (loss) on disposal of capital asset (2,449,158) - (1,530,761)
Contributed tangible capital assets 39,572,808 16,500,000 16,709,532
158,115,723 163,973,640 129,169,875
Expenses
Protective services 31,159,175 34,536,700 30,619,435
Transportation services 16,504,545 17,691,105 16,781,930
Recreation and cultural 19,628,824 21,450,089 19,529,726
Water utility 14,809,051 19,895,479 13,138,936
Sewer utility 9,582,651 10,243,286 9,279,252
General government 13,565,957 16,679,983 13,307,270
Planning, public health and other 5,487,525 4,513,951 3,939,899
110,737,728 125,010,593 106,596,448
Annual surplus 47,377,995 38,963,047 22,573,427
Accumulated surplus - beginning of the year 862,218,440 862,218,440 839,645,013
Accumulated surplus - end of the year $909,596,435 $901,181,487 $862,218,440
For the year ended ended December 31, 2013
Citizens Report 2013 n 21
2013 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT
The 2013 Annual Report contains more detailed
information on the financial position and results
of operations. Copies can be obtained from the
Fraser Valley library, Maple Ridge hall and online
www.mapleridge.ca/163/Annual-Report.
22 n Citizens Report 2013
Expenses
2013 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT
ProtectiveServices
28¢
18¢
13¢12¢15¢
9¢
5¢
Recreation& Cultural Transportation WaterUtility GeneralGovernment SewerUtility Planning,Public Health& Other
Expenses & Expenditures By Object 2009-2013
The chart below shows you the total of all Expenses as well as the Developer Contributed
Assets and Capital Investments classified as ‘Expenditures For Accounts.’ The combination of
these items collectively is known as Expenditures & Expenses by Object.
Contributed Infrastructure
AmortizationExpense
Capital
Goods & Services
Debt Servicing
Labour
Total Expenses
& Expenditures
(In Millions)
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
22% 27% 24% 23% 24%
32% 36% 31% 31% 32%
1% 2% 2% 2% 2%
11% 10% 17% 19% 19%
23% 12% 14% 14% 12%
11% 13% 12% 11% 12%
$169.2 $138.3 $149.9 $146.0 $134.0
This graph shows you how much of each
dollar Maple Ridge spends goes to fund
specific services and projects.
Citizens Report 2013 n 23
Revenues
43%
Taxes
Revenues by Source 2009-2013
Gaming Revenue
Interest & Investment Income
Government Transfers
Total Revenue
(In Millions)
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
$158.1 $129.2 $134.3 $129.6 $116.7
Development Revenue
Tangible Capital Assets*
Taxes
6% 4% 3% 6% 7%
23% 12% 15% 16% 12%
43% 50% 45% 44% 46%
1% 1% 1% 0% 0%
2% 3% 3% 3% 4%
2% 3% 10% 7% 4%
Other User Fees & Other Revenue
DevelopmentRevenue GovernmentTransfers InvestmentIncome GamingRevenue
23%23%
6%2% 2%1%
This graph breaks down the Revenue Sources
for 2013 by category.
User Fees &Other Revenue 23% 27% 25% 25% 26%
This chart breaks down the
total revenues collected
from 2009 to 2013.
*Definition: Tangible Capital Asset. These
are assets that have a physical form.
Examples include machinery, buildings and
land. Each year the accounting team do an
extensive review of all assets to ensure that
the value of our community’s assets are
accurately reflected.
2013 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT
24 n Citizens Report 2013
2013 Financial Plan
2013 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT
31%
24%
If you would like more information
about the 2013 Financial Plan and
the associated 2013 Business Plan
visit our website at mapleridge.ca .
You can use the QR Code on this page
to access the information directly.
16%
11%8%7%4%
Property Taxes and Parcel Charges
2013 Projected Funding Sources
Development Fees
Fees and Charges
Reserves (Net)
Reduce Book Value of Assets (Amortization)
Borrowing Proceeds
Interest, Grants and Other
Total Revenues
$67.9 Million
$52.6 Million
$35.0 Million
$24.6 Million
$18.7 Million
$14.5 Million
$8.5 Million
$221.8 Million
47%
43%
8%
2%
Administration
Capital Program
Amortization
Debt Payments
$5.5 Million
$94.8 Million
$18.7 Million
$5.0 Million
Police Services
2013 Projected Uses of Funding
Parks, Recreation & General Government Properties
Water
Public Works & Development
Fire Protection
Sewer
Corporate & Financial
Total Uses of Funding
$20.1 Million
$19.6 Million
$18.1 Million
$14.9 Million
$9.0 Million
$8.3 Million
$7.8 Million
$221.8 Million
Total Other $103.3 Million
This chart shows
where the money is
coming from to
support Council’s
2013 Financial Plan.
This chart shows
how the money is
used for Council’s
2013 Financial Plan.
Citizens Report 2013 n 25
Capital Additions
2013 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT
61.4%
17.0%
10.1%8.8%
1.8% 0.6% 0.3%
Transportation
2013 Capital Additions
Water Utility
Sewer Utility
Recreation and Cultural
General Government
Protective Services
Planning, Public Health and Other
Total Capital Additions
$35.9 Million
$9.9 Million
$5.9 Million
$5.1 Million
$1.1 Million
$0.4 Million
$0.2 Million
$58.5 Million
Look for information and photos on
Pages 12 and 13 relating to some of
the major transportation projects that
were undertaken during 2013. The
Maple Ridge official Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/yourmapleridge,
has some photo galleries of Capital
projects such as the new 232 Street
Bridge over the North Alouette River.
This chart represents the investment that we made in
Capital Assets. Additions to our water system, sewer
system, road construction, park acquisitions and
development are all examples of Capital Additions.
26 n Citizens Report 2013
Population & Demographics
2013 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT
3,772
This graph illustrates the growth in
Maple Ridge’s population during the last
century. The blue blocks represent 20
year periods starting in 1921. As you can
see, the population virtually doubled
every 20 years. The orange blocks
represent the growth in the 10 year
period from 2001. The Maple Ridge
Official Community Plan projects a
population of 118,000 by 2041.
Source: Statistics Canada, prepared by BC Stats
1921 1941 1961 1981 2001 2011
6,476
16,748
32,232
63,169
76,052
Population by Age
2006
Census
20%
13%
11%
18%
17%
10%
6%
5%
2013
Projection
14%
9%
11%
16%
15%
13%
12%
9%
Age
Group
Ages 0-14
Ages 15-24
Ages 24-34
Ages 35-44
Ages 45-54
Ages 55-64
Ages 65-75
Ages 75+
Median
Age
Definition:
The Median Age is the
age at which 50% of the
population are younger
than this age and 50%
are older.
Why is this important?
The Median Age helps
all levels of government
plan for the delivery of
services. We use this
data to plan for policy,
program and service
delivery to ensure that
citizens have the
amenities to live
comfortably.
2008 Median Age for Maple Ridge38.7
2031 Median Age
Estimate for
Maple Ridge44.6Maple Ridge’s Historical Population Growth
Citizens Report 2013 n 27
2013 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT
Top 10 Maple Ridge Employers
West Coast Auto Group
Waldun Forest Products
Interfor
Vehicle Sales
Wood Products
Lumber
School District #42
Ridge Meadows Hospital
District of Maple Ridge
Overwaitea Food Group
Fraser Regional Corrections
Arcus Community Resources
Safeway Maple Ridge
Education
Health Care
Government
Grocery
Corrections
Health Care
Grocery
Industry
Based on Number of Employees
Debt Per Capita
Source: BC Stats, October 2011
Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey
Year
2011 Census
2006 Census
2001 Census
1996 Census
Unemployment
Rate
6.8%
4.6%
6.2%
7.6%
EmploymentRate
64.2%
66.4%
64.9%
63.7%
Employed
Persons
39,435
35,935
31,310
28,910
Maple Ridge Employment Rate
British Columbia Employment Rate
64.2%
59.5%
*Statistics Canada 2011 Census
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
$498 $535 $496 $520 $563
Based on Estimated population of 79,400
Council incorporates the use of borrowing when it makes sense.
The debt per capita is reduced as the debt is repaid.
Employment & Debt
28 n Citizens Report 2013
Property Taxes vs. Household Costs
2013 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT
The monthly costs are based on the taxes paid for a home valued
at $459,075. This was the ‘Average Single Family Home’ for 2013.
The Standard Monthly Household Costs are a combination of
Statistics Canada Census Data and a survey of service providers.
Monthly Cost of Municipal Services
Recycling (Includes Capital Costs)$5.85
Water (Includes Capital Costs)
Community Development, Parks & Recreation
Capital (Includes Debt)
Sewer (Includes Capital Costs)
Fire Services
General Government
Development Services
$39.64
$34.27
$28.17
$25.76
$22.24
$18.88
$16.97
Police Services $43.33
Standard Monthly Household Costs
Home Security System $28.00
Transportation
Food Expenditures
Clothing & Accessories
High Speed Internet
Basic Cable Television
Telephone Landline (Basic)
Cellular Telephone (Basic)
$1,341.92
$689.25
$260.75
$55.00
$45.00
$35.00
$30.00
Principal Accommodation $1,508.42
Your 2013 tax bill is comprised
of the elements listed on the chart to
the left. Below are comparisons to
standard household operating costs
using monthly averages.
As with other houshold bills, you can
pay your taxes using our monthly
‘Pre-Authorized Withdrawal Program.’
Look for more information in the Online
Services menu at mapleridge.ca.
Citizens Report 2013 n 29
2013 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT
Property Taxes vs. Taxation
Residential
2013 Total Value of All Property Types
Taxable Values By Property Class General Taxation By Property Classversus
91%
9%
77%
23%
Business Classes
Business Classes
Residential
Definition: The term Business Class on this page refers
to Utilities, Industrial, Business, Seasonal Recreation
and Farm properties.
$12,519,706,491
2013 Total Property Tax Collected
$63,125,039
In 2013, 91% of the value of property
was in the Residential Class. That’s
91% of the over $12 billion figure
supplied by BC Assessment.
Property Values
Property Taxes
While 91% of the value is in the
Residential Class, only 77% of the tax
collected comes from Residential.
23% of tax collected comes
from Business Classes,
which account for 9% of the
total property value. This
type of ratio is common
in Metro Vancouver.
Total property tax collected
in Maple Ridge during 2013
was just over $63 million.
30 n Citizens Report 2013
From Budget to Taxation
2013 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT
How Does our Budget Impact Your Budget?
We have a lot in common. You’re trying to run your
household to meet your family’s financial goals and
plan for the future, and we are doing the same on a
much larger scale. The annual tax bill you get from
the District is one of a number of expenses that you
need to budget for each year.
Over 70% of our employees are also taxpayers in
the community, so we have a vested interest in
ensuring that we have a solid financial planning
program and tight, efficient business plans.
This final page of the Financial Spotlight is
intended to connect the dots between all this finan-
cial information and your budget. In BC, local taxes
are paid based on the value of your property. That
value is set by an independent body, BC Assessment
who determine the value of all property types in the
province.
This is very important, because your budget and
our budget intersect with the property assessment.
The Budget & Your Taxes
Council reviews financial information throughout
the year and in December they review and approve
both the 5-Year Financial Plan and Business Plan for
the upcoming year.
In March, BC Assessment provides the final value
of all properties after all appeals and adjustments
have been made.
At this point the tax rate is set for all property
classes. It is a dollar amount, based on each $1000
of value for every property.
Once the rate is set, the Tax Notice can be
prepared and sent to property owners.
What’s On Your Tax Notice?
The Tax Notice is mailed out at the beginning of
June and payment is due by July 2 of each year.
You’ve probably noticed that there are more items
than your property taxes on your Tax Notice.
In addition to your property taxes, there are other
items that are collected at the same time. Line items
include the levies for water, sewer service, recycling
and some local area levies and Dyking District levies.
Your tax bill also includes payments to School District
#42, The Greater Vancouver Transit Authority, BC
Assessment, the Greater Vancouver Regional District
and the Municipal Finance Authority.
No More Line-Ups
Over the last few years we have introduced a
number of programs to help you budget for, and pay
your taxes more easily. One of the best programs is
the Pre-Authorized Withdrawal Program which allows
you to pre-pay your taxes in monthly installments.
There are details of all of our tax payment programs
at mapleridge.ca. We encourage
you to look at all the options
to avoid line-ups.
The Assessment
In January, BC Assessment mails out a Property
Assessment Notice to every property owner in BC.
The amount reflects the value of a property as of
July 1 of the previous year.
Properties fluctuate in value and it is very
important that you look at this information carefully
when it comes in the mail. If you disagree with your
assessment you can file an appeal with BC
Assessment by January 31.
Outdoor Hockey
PEOPLE PLACES EVENTS
In January of 2013 (as with December) temperatures dropped to well below freezing for just over two weeks.
Colleen Flanagan, photographer from the Maple Ridge News, captured this wonderful image of local youth taking
advantage of the deep freeze to play a little hockey out at Whonnock Lake. This iconic Canadian image is a great
way to start our look back at the people, places and events of 2013
P31
2013
P32
Students at Webster’s Corner
Elementary School challenged
students around the District to
wear their favourite team jersey
and make a donation to KidSport.
The initiative was a great success.
Photo courtesy The Times.
The television and film crews love Maple Ridge as evidenced by the number of crews working
in our community. In 2013 the industry
developed an information campaign aimed
at the Provincial Government called ‘Save BC
Film.’ The industry was concerned that many
productions were leaving BC due to more
competitive tax benefits in eastern Canada
and abroad.
Photo courtesy The Times.
The News captured Meadowridge
Independent School student
David Guo participating in the
school’s annual Chinese New
Year celebration. He’s leading
the Lion Dance celebrating the
Year of the Snake.
The Times Newspaper was given a tour of the
Interfor Hammond Mill by manager Scott Bax. The
Mill has been part of the fabric of our community for
over a century and the economic engine that led to
the development of the Hammond neighbourhood.
It is the world’s largest western red cedar mill by
capacity and supplies 15% of the production of
cedar on the planet. Pretty impressive.
LOOKING BACK ON 2013
P33
In March works crews installed
eight electrical vehicle charging
stations in Maple Ridge. Seven of
the charging stations are located
in the Town Centre.
The News told us about sisters Summer and
Tori Brack and their campaign to get rid of
the ‘R’ word -retard – which has been used
in the past to describe their beloved brother
who has Downs Syndrome. They made a
presentation to their fellow students at
Garibaldi Secondary School to help create
awareness, understanding and compassion.
Last year the new and improved Bell-Irving
Hatchery was opened with a number
of events that included the release of
salmon fry back into Kanaka Creek.
The Times captured this lovely photo of the
co-winners of the Maple Ridge Community
Foundation Citizen of the Year Sammy and
Reg Nelligan. This couple have given our
community the most precious possession
they have – their time. Both have a resume
of work that goes back almost half a century.
There was a long standing ovation when
their names were announced.
PEOPLE PLACES EVENTS
P34
Last Spring the Intergenerational
Garden had an official unveiling
ceremony attended by area
students who planted gardens
that they would tend for the rest
of the year with the support of
elders in our community eager
to pass on their knowledge of
gardening and food production.
Members of the Haney Horsemen take the first
ride over the new and improved Mill Creek
Bridge that is part of the amazing equestrian
and hiking trails in our community.
Students from Samuel Robertson
School unveil a giant Titan sculpture
that they designed and built. This
beautiful work now adorns their school.
Photo courtesy The Times.
Members of Council partake in the cutting of the carrot
cake that marks the official kick off the Haney Farmers
Market season which runs from May through to the end
of October. The Market has become a cornerstone of
our community celebrations and a great place to meet
friends and family and connect with amazing local
produce, baking, preserves and artisans.
LOOKING BACK ON 2013
P35
In July, The Maple Ridge
Caribbean Festival drew
thousands of visitors from
around the Lower Mainland.
It’s an amazing celebration of
the music, dance and foods
of the Caribbean.
In July, The News shared the story of Scott
Gordon, owner of Bee Natural Apiaries, and his
work to bolster local bee populations. Local
farmers rely on bees to pollinate their crops. Scott
is sharing his knowledge of raising bees with local
farmers to help them maintain their own hives.
Our photo gallery started with kids skating
on Whonnock Lake in January, and by
August they were escaping the heat with a
dip in the lake. Photo courtesy The News.
In August, 227 Street was shut down
for the A&W Car Show and Fundraiser
to raise funds and awareness
about MS. There were hundreds of
vintage cars spanning every era of
automotive history. A spectacular
evening for a great cause.
PEOPLE PLACES EVENTS
P36
In early September, Maple Ridge hosted the first ever True North
Fraser Bluegrass Festival at the
Albion Fairgrounds. The event drew
crowds from all over the Pacific
Northwest and for a few days a
village of RVs sprung up where the
audience and entertainers shared
their love of music and hospitality.
Photo courtesy The News.
Hundreds of citizens made their way to the
Albion Fairgrounds to witness the RCMP
Musical Ride in September. It is a remarkable
part of our Canadian history.
The Maple Ridge Downtown BIA
hosted the first annual Zombie Walk
through the downtown. A tad creepy,
for sure, but it was part of some early
Halloween fun.
The Times newspaper shared the story about the
bumper crop available at the Laity Pumpkin Patch.
This is an annual tradition in our community, a place
where youngsters pick out the pumpkin that will be
carved up for Halloween night. Sunny weather in the
late fall made it one of the best years ever.
LOOKING BACK ON 2013
P37
The Maple Ridge Library
hosted a Diwali celebration
in November. This Times
Newspaper photo shows dancers
from the Asian Arts Banghra Club
performing for the delighted
crowd.
After a nine month renovation and expansion,
Target Canada opened their new location in
Maple Ridge just in time for Christmas shopping.
This photo courtesy of The Times, shows Target
employees Colleen Dalzell and Sabrina Tikhomiroff
who were eager to show off their new location.
On December 24 Jason and Shaylee
McLean had a visit with Santa as part of
the annual Christmas Haven event held in
Maple Ridge. This wonderful event makes
sure that everyone can enjoy the blessings
of the season. Photo courtesy the Times.
Lorraine Bates, co-chair of the Maple
Ridge-Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper
Society, is shown here among the
incredible donations made by local
citizens to support the annual Christmas
Hamper program. The generosity of folks
in Maple Ridge remains as one of the
‘Christmas Miracles’ of our community.
Photo courtesy The Times.
PEOPLE PLACES EVENTS
MAPLE RIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT
For close to 50 years, from 1945 to 2001, Maple Ridge was served by a vol-unteer fire department. Back in 1945, there were only about 7,000 people liv-ing in Maple Ridge. In 2001, when the conversion to a ‘paid on call’ system was introduced the population was closer to 65,000 people.In 2003, the community set about cre-ating the ‘Fire Master Plan’ that would look at the most efficient and effective way to deliver fire protection to the com-munity. The new model, introduced in 2005 is somewhat unique in BC and Canada. It is called a ‘composite’ model that combines full time firefighters with a contingent of ‘paid on call’ members to supplement when an emergency requires extra personnel.At the same time, the new model set some performance measurement targets. Specifically, the Fire Master Plan calls for four professional firefighters and their vehicle to arrive at a call within 7 min-utes of being dispatched in the urban re-sponse area. In 2003, that standard was only being met for one in four calls. In 2013, the department met that target for
eight out of ten calls. The Maple Ridge composite model offers a balance of fis-cal prudence and service to citizens, especially when compared to the ap-proach taken in similar size communi-ties around Canada.At any given time there are 12 profes-sional firefighters on call in our com-munity, along with Chief support. These firefighters work at Hall No.1 in down-town Maple Ridge and Hall No. 3 in west Maple Ridge on 203 Street. In between calls your firefighters are involved in field training in hazardous materials, advanced first aid, special res-cue techniques and risk assessment to ensure that when they arrive to answer your call they can attack the problem with efficiency and effectiveness.There is no ‘down time’ for the crews. If they aren’t training or doing equip-ment maintenance, they are out doing building inspections in our businesses and high occupancy buildings, where a fire can have a catastrophic effect. In fact, as they inspect the buildings they make notes so that they can plan how they would attack a fire to minimize property
The Fire Master Plan:
Meeting the Needs of our Growing Community
Dane Spence,
Fire Chief
damage and loss of lives.Staff is involved in fire investigation work and support the work of our By-laws Department. The Fire Department experts have been providing input on the development of policies around wildfire protection and cost recovery for some services.In their spare time, our firefighters are dedicated volunteers in every aspect of community life. In 2013, your Fire De-partment raised in excess of $31,000 for local charities. They are proud to serve the community they live in. Last year three members of the Maple Ridge Fire Department were recognized for 30 years of service to the community. One of those firefighters was Chief Pe-ter Grootendorst, who retired to a new teaching position at the Justice Insti-tute of BC. Over his career, he saw, and helped guide, the evolution of the Maple Ridge Fire Department to the innovative service model of today. When you need them, they will be there, thanks to a great plan.
7. How many calls did the Fire Department
respond to in 2013?
A) 2356 B) 3308 C) 4213
8. What percentage of apartment dwellings were
inspected by the Fire Department in 2013?
A) 43% B) 68% C) 100%
Answers are on page 47.
The Maple Ridge QuizStaffing Levels
6 Chief Officers
49 Career Firefighters
49 Paid On Call Firefighters
3 Civilian Administration Staff
Fire Hall No.1: Staffed 24/7
22708 Brown Avenue.
Fire Hall No.2: No staffing
27503 112 Avenue.
Fire Hall No.3: Staffed 24/7
11777 203 Street.
Dane Spence
Fire Chief
Citizens Report 2013 n 39
9. What is the 2013 ratio of citizens to police
officers in Maple Ridge?
A) 874 to 1 B) 967 to 1 C) 1237 to 1
10. How many crime incidents were committed per
1000 people in Maple Ridge in 2013?
A) 28 B) 42 C) 75
Answers are on page 47.
The Maple Ridge QuizRidge Meadows RCMP Detachment
11990 Haney Place
Maple Ridge, BC V2X 9B8
Emergency Phone Number: 9-1-1
ridgemeadows.rcmp.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/sgt.good.will
Twitter: @RidgeRCMP
Staffing Levels
93 RCMP Officers
10 RCMP Officers assigned to Integrated Teams
3 Community Safety Officers
45 Civilian Staff
RCMP - POLICE SERVICES
On December 2, 2013, Superinten-dent David Fleugel came before Council and made a detailed presentation on the Ridge Meadows Detachment Business & Financial Plan. The delivery of police services is the single largest budget item for Maple Ridge. The presentation outlined staffing lev-els, policing ratios, case loads and the crime rate for the community. Clearly, our members are very busy protecting our community.Maple Ridge was the first community in BC to sign the new 20 year Provin-cial policing agreement. Many of the aspects of the new contract - increased local reporting and transparency, con-sultation on costs and collaboration on local enforcement goals – are things that have been happening in Maple Ridge for many years. In Maple Ridge one of the biggest chal-lenges is working with the people in our community who are dealing with chron-ic drug use and mental health issues. The Community Safety Officer program is one of the ways that Maple Ridge has
partnered with the RCMP to meet this challenge head onThe uniformed officers are supported by a team of Maple Ridge employees who help keep the members on the streets by handling and processing as much of the administrative work as possible. The members are supported by the incredible volunteers from the Block Watch, Speed Watch, Citizens on Patrol and the RCMP Youth Academy programs. Maple Ridge is now a hub for the In-tegrated Forensic Identification Services. Civilians and members work side by side on this team supporting the inves-tigations of their colleagues. This civilian support helps contain costs and allows the uniformed members to concentrate their unique skills on other aspects of in-vestigations. This local capacity has been a huge asset for local investigations.One of the great benefits of the RCMP contract is the ability to access the spe-cial skills and training of the RCMP Inte-grated Teams 24/7. From detailed inves-tigations of traffic accidents to the K-9 and tactical teams, local officers know
RCMP Service Delivery is Evolving with our Community
Superintendent
David Fleugel
Officer In Charge
that they can access the unique skills and training they need to keep us safe.One of the shared goals of your Coun-cil and RCMP team is visibility. In 2013, Maple Ridge was selected for a visit from the world famous ‘Musical Ride.’ The event served as a fundraiser for numer-ous local charities and helped citizens learn about the history of the ‘Mounties.’ Members volunteer their time to be part of the ‘Red Serge Patrols’ at local com-munity festivals. The mere presence of an officer in red serge evokes that same sense of law and order and instills a sense of calm at events.Supt. Fleugel told Council “I’m part of the team” during his presentation. When you look at the engagement of our RCMP officers in the community and the results that they are delivering, it’s clear that we are committed to a shared vision of a safe and livable Maple Ridge. Our RCMP detachment is meeting the chal-lenge of delivering police services with efficiency and effectiveness in a growing community and in a changing world.
Citizens Report 2013 n 41
1929
This photo from the collection of the Maple
Ridge Museum and Archives was taken in
1929 by Western Canada Airlines, a company
that operated from 1926 to 1930 primarily
as a passenger service. Maple Ridge had a
population of approximately 4,900 people. In
the foreground you can see the Haney Brick
and Tile Company which used the clay in the
area for their products. The Bank of Montreal
is located on the waterfront, and along with
Fuller Watson would soon move up the hill
to what is now the corner of 224 Street and
Lougheed Highway. Notice the extent of
logging north of town.
1956
Also from the collection of the Maple Ridge
Museum and Archives, this photo shows our
community in 1956 when the population
was approximately 12,000. The Agricultural
Fairgrounds are located in the centre of
town in that open area. The Brick and Tile
Company is still in operation and the Haney
Wharf is still relatively unchanged from the
earlier photo. The UBC Research Forest has
been established and the old logged area
is filling in.
OUR GROWTH
42 n Citizens Report 2013
MAPLE RIDGE FROM ABOVE. OUR GROWTH IN PHOTOS
1981
The population is just over 32,000 now and
the Haney Brickyard has ceased operation.
The old Bank of Montreal building is
now home to the Billy Miner Pub and the
wharf has been shortened and now serves
as a public park space. The Agricultural
Fairgrounds were relocated to the Albion
Flats, and in this photo Haney Place Mall
has just finished construction and opened to
the public. The old Cam Neely Arena is still
in the centre of town and the Haney Bypass
has also been constructed by this time. Part
of the old brickyard was turned into a park
and is the home of the Maple Ridge Museum
and Archives. This photo is by Waite Aerial
Photography.
2014
You can see the changes that have occurred
in the 30+ years since the previous photo.
The population is estimated at close to
80,000 citizens and the Town Centre has
been reconfigured by a number of new
residential developments. Target Canada
expanded the west side of Haney Place
Mall and Memorial Peace Park is located
where the old Cam Neely Arena used to sit.
You can see that the logging done a century
ago is invisible today. North/south street
connections at Edge Street and 227 Street
in the area south of Lougheed Highway have
created connections to the Haney Bypass.
This photo is by Waite Aerial Photography.
FROM ABOVE
Citizens Report 2013 n 43
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Your Maple Ridge24 HOURS
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Citizens Report 2013 n 45
46 n Citizens Report 2013
Bill Archibald
Bill and John became great friends, and within a few
months Bill was hanging out at Allco Park and hatched a plan
to build a trail connecting the park to some old Abernethy
& Lougheed Logging rail beds, so horses could get over to
Golden Ears Park.
In 2013, Mayor Ernie Daykin presented a plaque to Bill
Archibald recognizing his 50 years of volunteer service to our
community. From that first trail in 1963, Bill and a dedicated
team, The Haney Horsemen, established over 200 kilometres
of trails in our community. Bill’s expertise in trail building
was called on to establish trail networks in Victoria, Quali-
cum Beach and Port Alberni. That’s where he earned the nick-
name ‘Trail Boss.’
Bill even served a two year term as Alderman in the early
80’s and remembers when the new Council Chambers were
opened. He went on to
teach at Pitt Meadows
Secondary School and
was beloved by his stu-
dents.
In terms of lega-
cies, Bill has so many.
Locally, there’s the lo-
cal equestrian trail
network, the largest in
BC. He was also there
at the beginning when
the Greater Vancou-
ver Regional District
established their Re-
gional Park network.
Bill, along with a large
and committed group
of conservation enthusiasts were there to ensure that Kanaka
Regional Park would be preserved for future generations. Na-
tionally, Bill brought his passion and expertise to the Trans
Canada Trail project.
When asked what his favourite place is, Bill’s eye tear up a
bit when he mentions ‘Archibald Way’ a trail that was dedi-
cated in his honour in the Thornhill area. Bill is still a passion-
ate voice for the preservation of our natural setting. He told us
that volunteering has brought him a great sense of belonging
and a great deal of satisfaction.
I think the town of Weyburn were the ones that had a tear
in their eye as Bill left to come to us. His passion, his energy
and his vision have made Maple Ridge a great place to live.
We salute him and thank him for 50 plus years of dedication.
Thank you Bill.
“HI, I’M BILL ARCHIBALD from Weyburn Saskatch-
ewan”!
Those words boomed out over the speakers at the Maple
Ridge Agricultural Fairgrounds the very day that Bill arrived
in Maple Ridge to put down roots.
Bill was born in Vancouver, but as soon as he and his mom
were released from the hospital they journeyed by rail to Ma-
ple Ridge, where Bill spent those first few months of life at
his uncle’s farm. It would take a number of years for Bill to
find his way back to us, but in the interim he grew up in Van-
couver and earned a degree in Agriculture and his teaching
certificate from UBC.
Bill started his career as a land agent for the oil industry,
working to secure land leases throughout the prairies. When
that business dried up he tried his hand at selling investments,
Encyclopedia Britan-
nica and raising cattle
in northern Alberta,
but ended up in Wey-
burn, Saskatchewan,
where he settled with
his prairie bride, Pat.
There he worked as a
teacher and became
deeply involved in the
community.
In 1963, he and his
wife decided to move
to BC so they could be
closer to Bill’s mom.
Bill had tears in his
eyes as they started the
long drive to BC. He
left behind a lot of great
friends.
On July 16, 1963 the Archibald family drove into Maple
Ridge, their new home. Bill had been hired as a teacher at
Garibaldi Secondary School teaching math and science. As
they drove down Lougheed Highway Bill’s kids saw horses at
the fairgrounds at Albion flats, so he pulled in for the family
to take in the fair.
A gentleman named John Denton was the announcer for
the fair, but he needed to find someone to fill in while he com-
peted in one of the equestrian events. Bill had called bingo
in Weyburn, so he walked over and volunteered to help out.
John told him to introduce himself to the crowd. On his first
day in Maple Ridge, within minutes of arriving in town the
words “Hi, I’m Bill Archibald from Weyburn, Saskatchewan”
echoed across the grounds.
RECOGNIZING EXTRAORDINARY CITIZENS
SPOTLIGHT ON:
Maple Ridge 11995 Haney Place Maple Ridge, BC V2X 6A9 Canada
General Information Tel: 604-463-5221 Fax: 604-467-7329 Hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
enquiries@mapleridge.ca
mapleridge.ca
Mayor & Council Tel: 604-463-5221 mayorandcouncil@mapleridge.ca
Clerk’s Tel: 604-463-5221 Property & Risk Management: 604-467-7315 clerks@mapleridge.ca
Communications
Tel: 604-467-7452 farmstrong@mapleridge.ca
Emergency Program Tel: 604-467-7301 Nights & Weekends: 604-463-9581 emergencyprogam@mapleridge.ca
Engineering Tel: 604-467-7339 engineering@mapleridge.ca
Finance Accounts Payable: 604-463-5221 Accounts Receivable: 604-466-4334 Property Taxes & Utilities: 604-467-7316 revenue.collections@mapleridge.ca
Fire Department Non-Emergency: 604-463-5880 Emergency 9-1-1 fire@mapleridge.ca
Human Resources Tel: 604-467-7350 hrenquiries@mapleridge.ca
Licences, Permits & Bylaws Building: 604-467-7311 permits@mapleridge.ca Bylaws & Licensing: 604-467-7305 licencesandbylaws@mapleridge.ca
Operations Centre Tel: 604-463-9581 Public Works Emergency – 24 hours: 604-463-9581 operationscentre@mapleridge.ca
Parks & Leisure Services Direct Info Line (24 hours): 604-467-7322 Cemetery: 604-467-7307 Facilities: 604-465-2499 Greg Moore Youth Centre: 604-467-7354
Leisure Centre: 604-467-7322 Planet Ice: 604-467-2883 Volunteer Services: 604-467-7459 Youth Services: 604-467-7354 parksandleisure@mapleridge.ca
Planning Tel: 604-467-7341 Environmental Enquiries: 604-467-7499 planning@mapleridge.ca
Purchasing Tel: 604-466-4343 procurement@mapleridge.ca
RCMP – Police Services Non-Emergency: 604-463-6251 Emergency 9-1-1
Strategic Economic Initiatives Tel: 604-467-7320 invest@mapleridge.ca
Non-Municipal Services Arts Centre & Theatre (ACT): 604-476-2787 Garbage (Metro Vancouver): 604-466-9277 Library: 604-467-7417 Recycling: 604-463-5545 Schools: 604-463-4200 Seniors’ Programs: 604-467-4993 SPCA: 604-463-9511
Citizens Report 2013 n 47
THE MAPLE RIDGE QUIZ1. How many projects participated in the 2010
to 2013 Town Centre Investment Incentive
Program (TCIIP)?
A) 72
B) 84
C) 93
2. What was the total estimated value of
construction permits for the projects that were
part of the TCIIP?
A) $75 million
B) $110 million
C) $115 million
3. How many parks and sports fields are there
in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows?
A) 96
B) 130
C) 143
4. How many total visits were there in 2013 at
the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre?
A) 235,652
B) 356,987
C) 472,571
5. How many litres of water are used in
Maple Ridge annually?
A) 8 billion
B) 11 billion
C) 15 billion
6. How many litres of raw sewage does Maple
Ridge send for treatment annually?
A) 7 billion
B) 9 billion
C) 10 billion
7. How many calls did the Fire Department
respond to in 2013?
A) 2356
B) 3308
C) 4213
8. What percentage of apartment dwellings
were inspected by the Fire Department in
2013?
A) 43%
B) 68%
C) 100%
9. What is the 2013 ratio of citizens to police
officers in Maple Ridge?
A) 874 to 1
B) 967 to 1
C) 1237 to 1
10. How many crime incidents were committed
per 1000 people in Maple Ridge in 2013?
A) 28
B) 42
C) 75
How did you do?
1 out of 10: You need to re-read this report
2 - 6 out of 10: You are an engaged citizen
7 – 10 out of 10: You could be a Council
member with this kind of knowledge!
SERVICES & CONTACT INFORMATION
Q&A
mapleridge.ca
As we produced this publication
there were a number of items
that we wanted to share with you
that would not fit in the print edi-
tion. The QR code that you see
on this page will take you to en-
hanced content on our website
also look for this QR code on
some of the inside pages. Take
a moment to check out extended
photo galleries and additional
information about some of the
content in this year’s Citizens
Report.