Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 Citizens ReportBritish Columbia, Canada MAPLE RIDGECity of as of December 31 CITIZENS REPORT 2014 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. Citizens Report 2014 n 3 Introduction 4 Meet Your Mayor 6 Meet Your Council 7 Administration 8 Community Development, Parks & Recreation Services 10 Public Works & Development Services 12 Corporate & Financial Services 14 BC’s Newest City Turns 140 16 Hybrid Vehicles Save Money 18 2014: Financial Spotlight 19 2014: The Year in Photos 31 Maple Ridge Fire Department 38 RCMP: Police Services 40 Spotlight on: A Century of Remembrance 46 Contacts 47 Table of Contents P31 P12 P17 Learn more about the work done by Public Works & Development Services.Maple Ridge becomes BC’s newest City, AND turns 140! The Year in photos. From a chilly January to the CP Holiday Train.The ‘Your Maple Ridge Photo Contest’ images taken by your neighbours. P42 SPECIAL PHOTO CREDITS COVER Our cover image was taken by Kim Wilson who submitted this photo as part of the ‘Your Maple Ridge’ Photo Contest. PAGE 2 Nicole Maniago submitted this photo from a hike she took on the Spirea Nature Trail at Golden Ears Park. We thought it was the perfect photo for our ‘Vision’ page. ABOVE Kim Wilson caught two bald eagles stopping by for a visit on Christmas Day, 2014. 4 n Citizens Report 2014 Striving for Engagement and Understanding Nicole Read Mayor Jim Rule Chief Administrative Officer On behalf of Council and staff we are pleased to present the 2014 Citizens Report. This publication will provide you with an overview of the financial performance for the City of Maple Ridge for the year ending December 31, 2014.In addition, there are photo essays and stories that capture highlights for the year. The rest of the material is a celebration of our community. In the past few years we have stretched the definition of a ‘Popular Report’ to try to present this information in a more engaging way and combine the details of important business with information about the events and people that helped shape Maple Ridge in 2014.This year we are experimenting with two new pieces of information. The first are images or charts that we are calling Maple Ridge ‘By the Numbers.’ These factoids will be shared in a series of posts as we approach the unveiling of the 2014 Citizens Report at the Ridge Meadows Home Show at the beginning of May, 2015. The goal is to encourage citizens to access more information from this report, so they can better understand the work that goes on day-to-day at City Hall.The second thing we are doing is recording short videos of our newly elected Mayor and Council. They were elected in November of 2014, and the feature pages on them, and the associated videos, will help you get to know them better. This ‘bonus content’ can be accessed at mapleridge.ca which will provide you with links to our Facebook & YouTube sites for the photo and video materials. In 2014 we saw the huge potential of this multi-media engagement play out with the work on the Hammond Area Planning Process. The connections we made with citizens have inspired us to work to blend this traditional ‘Popular Report’ with video and social media tools to go from engagement to understanding. Ultimately, that’s the goal of this publication – to provide you with information that helps you better understand the role and work of your local government.We hope that you enjoy the look back on 2014 through this report and the special features including the amazing images that were supplied by area residents as part of the ‘Your Maple Ridge’ photo contest. We look forward to your comments and suggestions on how we can continue the evolution of this report. You can reach us at mayorandcouncil@mapleridge.ca or by calling 604-463-5221. Above all, we hope this publication reflects our pride in this amazing community. INTRODUCTION 2014 CITIZENS REPORTMAPLE RIDGE Citizens Report 2014 n 5 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, 2013. 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 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 18th consecutive year and is very fortunate to be one of only eight municipalities in Canada awarded a PAFR for 2013. We believe our current report continues to conform to the Popular Annual Financial Reporting requirements, and we are submitting it to GFOA. The print version of this report is 100% recyclable. The 2014 Citizens Report is part of a suite of publications that include the Financial Plan and the Annual Report. These publications 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 enhances many of the articles in this publication. In our Year In Photos 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 community every day. We would also like to thank our publications designer, Cindy Farnsworth and her colleague 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 inspiration. 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 2014 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 famstrong@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 2014 Citizens Report. GFOA 6 n Citizens Report 2014 MEET YOUR MAYOR Back in September I made a decision to run for Mayor. The authors of this report asked each of us to tell you why we decided to run (1), and what we want as our legacy in public life (2). For me, these are easy questions to answer. I got involved in the struggle to save our school site in Silver Valley. That was the spark that led to my decision to run for Mayor. My videotaped answer is more detailed, but each of us on Council has this kind of defining moment where we decided to become part of making our community better.When I think of what I’d like to leave as a legacy to this community I go back to some themes that I stated in my inaugural address. Building neighbourhoods that are safe, resilient, lively, vibrant and complete is of critical importance to me. That’s what I’m working to create.As your Mayor, I want to restore the confidence in the development process, the way our City is growing and evolving, and ensure that there is transparency in how these decisions are made. It is important that citizens know that all of us in City Hall are accountable for the consequences of these decisions. We know that we can do better, and right from day one we’ve all committed to this goal.As this publication goes to press we are up and running with our Task Forces on Homelessness and Open Government and working to bring solutions to the table. Our Council has begun the process of refining our community Vision and the Strategic Plan that will see us develop a list of priorities for the City to work towards. Citizens have given us a great team. Each of us is humbled to have been chosen to serve on Council for the first four year term in BC history. I have had the chance to get to know these remarkable people as we have embarked on our work, and I encourage you to learn more about them by viewing their responses to the questions we were all asked. We share a commitment to moving our community forward so that our citizens can achieve their personal goals with a sense of pride, safety and confidence in their City.A report like this looks back on the previous year, providing the financial and community highlights of the year ending 2014. I would like to thank our previous Council for their dedication and service to Maple Ridge. We will build on the legacy of their work towards many shared aspirations for our City.I think that the change in designation from District to City is symbolic of the opportunity we have, at this very moment in time, to define who we will be for the next century. In one year you will be reading the publication that articulates that vision. As you flip through and look at the information in the 2014 Citizens Report it’s easy to see why all of us on Council are so dedicated to this community and our work. You inspire us. Mayor Nicole Read Citizens Report 2014 n 7 Corisa Bell MEET YOUR COUNCIL 2014-2018 Kiersten Duncan Bob Masse Gordy Robson Craig SpeirsTyler Shymkiw 1. I heard from my friends, and through conversations in the community, that people were losing faith in government. I have always been passionate about democracy and our human rights and if we don’t continue to have a voice and lead our government, they will lead us. I believe that I can be one of those voices. 2. I would like to be seen as someone who is passionate about life, people and quality of life. Someone who takes very seriously the responsibility of those who came before us and made our lives the way they are today. I would like to be seen as somebody who is passionate about passing on a better tomorrow for future generations. 1. I’d been an advocate for years and I’d just got to a point where I felt I was making a difference, but I felt I could do more. By getting elected I could help people who are marginalized; who couldn’t represent themselves and help them have their voices heard. It was a good opportunity to get other young people involved. 2. I’d like to leave a positive example of leadership. I’d like people to be able to look back and say that I was open, honest and accountable. My hope is that I will set a good precedent for future leaders and get others to run, particularly other young women, to increase representation across the board. 1. Some dissatisfaction I had as a businessman going through the process at City hall. It was kind of a negative reason to begin with. Once you get elected you find out what the job really is and forget the singular incident that got you involved and you just get right into the job. 2. I would love to see the Province recognize the need for mental health care and how grossly that has been neglected and how it’s affecting every community in every way. On a local level I would be so proud and happy if we could get post-secondary education so kids have the same opportunity as kids in other communities. 1. I decided to run this time for Council because I thought the City was in for change and I wanted to be part of it. I wanted to get with these younger members of Council and help them change things. 2. I think the only legacy I really want to be known for are my kids. 1. I grew up in Maple Ridge and I’ve always believed that it’s the best place in the world to raise a family. I ran for office last fall to ensure that our reputation as the best place to raise a family continues. 2. At the end of the day ten years from now I’d like people to be proud of their community when they go out to a sports field or walk down their streets. That’s the only thing I’m looking for out of this. 1. I’ve always been active politically. What really spurred to throw my name in the hat was a development clear cut up in Silver Valley, Rock Ridge. I remember it very well; I was standing in the pouring rain beside a ditch that was running black with the soil from this cleared site. It just told me inside that we needed to do better and I needed to help us do better. 2. I think we are defined more by what we don’t develop than what we do. Making quality housing for people is important but we need to get away from the creeks, lakes and rivers. For me the most important thing is water. Clean water is the biggest factor in life. You just need it. Citizens Report 2014 n 9 The District of Maple Ridge became the ‘City of Maple Ridge’ on September 12, 2014. We now have the distinction of being both the sixth oldest community AND the newest City, the 50th to get this designation. The change in designation reflects the coming of age of our community, and evolution that has been accelerated in recent years as the community has grown at a pace nearly double the national average. The Town Centre is almost unrecognizable to citizens who lived here 20 years ago. In early 2014 Council passed a resolution to ask the province of BC for the change in designation from a Municipality to a City and the Administration team, led by Chief Administrative Officer, Jim Rule played a leadership role in our organization and in the rebirth of our community. Our local MLAs worked behind the scenes to move this matter to the cabinet, while here in Maple Ridge we started the planning for our 140th Birthday on September 12, 2014.It was a great party, featuring reenactments of speeches by actors portraying Mayors from our past, live music from talented local musicians, a music flash mob from the Maple Ridge Concert Band and most of all, the best birthday present ever, the formal announcement that on the day of our birthday we became a City. Legendary train robber Billy Miner even made an appearance, and was promptly arrested by actual members of the Ridge Meadows RCMP detachment dressed in period clothing. The following day, September 13, the Haney Farmers Market teamed up with the Maple Ridge Museum and Archives to make it a two-day celebration. In 2014 social media engagement exploded with follows on Maple Ridge’s City Twitter and Facebook pages doubling over the course of the year. There was a strong interest in the 2014 election, and voter turnout improved to over 31%, a six percent increase over the 2011 election.The City website continues to grow and evolve. In January of 2014 the new website was launched and by the end of 2014 the site had 555,894 visits, a 6% increase over the previous year. More and more, we are able to connect citizens directly with information that they are looking for during critical project periods, such as taxation and election information.In 2014 the Human Resources Department completed negotiations with our unionized staff and a new three year agreement went into effect. They have also been busy ensuring that Maple Ridge maintains the ‘Certificate of Recognition’ by WorkSafeBC. This program ensures that all City workers have a strong focus on workplace safety and offers reductions in premiums for the organization.Council has focused on the Strategic Economic Initiatives Department to ensure that their goals around the development of post-secondary program delivery in Maple Ridge are met. They hosted a major forum here in the community that brought leaders from the region’s post-secondary providers together with key government leaders to showcase what we have to offer.The City continues to champion sustainability initiatives across the organization, including energy retrofits of our facilities as part of regular maintenance cycles and in 2014 the LEED Gold certification for Fire Hall No. 1 was announced as a testament to our leadership in reducing our carbon footprint.The Administration Division is small, but they work closely with their colleagues across all divisions to ensure that Maple Ridge continues to grow with efficiency, effectiveness and engagement. BCs Newest City. Embracing our Future. Jim Rule Chief Administrative Officer ADMINISTRATION Frances King Director of Human Resources Fred Armstrong Manager Corporate Communications Laura Benson Manager of Sustainability & Corporate Planning Patrick Cullen Emergency Program Coordinator Paul Gill Acting Manager of Strategic Economic Initiatives Department Heads Citizens Report 2014 n 11 In 2014 Maple Ridge Council attended the opening of a park in the historic Hammond neighbourhood that borders the Fraser River. The park is named for one of the community’s early western settlers, Emmeline Mohun, who helped lay out the original town site. The park design was driven by community volunteers who worked closely with City staff to identify the amenities that they wanted for their neighbourhood.Led by Kelly Swift, General Manager: Community Development, Parks & Recreation Services, this process highlights one of the cornerstones of the Division’s working model; community engagement, collaboration and community capacity building. Parks and Recreation programs and facilities are managed through a partnership with the City of Pitt Meadows and School District No. 42. In 2014 that relationship was reviewed and was reaffirmed that it meets the five benefit criteria that it was intended to achieve.In 2014 the agreements with the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society and the Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Arts Council were restructured to ensure a strong alignment with broad community goals around access and effective stewardship. Last year was a banner year for festivals and events. Parks staff helped support over 80 events in 2014 including special celebrations for Maple Ridge’s 140th Birthday and the 40th Anniversary of the Museum & Archives. In addition to supporting the events, the festivals and volunteer teams helped provide training to the organizers of community events and connected hundreds of volunteers with projects that were suited to their skills and interests.The Maple Ridge Leisure Centre saw renovations that included retrofits of the lighting systems to both improve the environment for our customers and to dramatically reduce energy costs around lighting. The new designs of common areas and the workout spaces have been very well received using the taglines ‘Our Community, Our Centre’ and ‘Everyone Welcome.’ All imagery throughout the facility use real photos of customers to create a welcoming, inclusive environment that helps our citizens connect with their neighbours who have already discovered how an active lifestyle improves their quality of life.In addition to the opening of the new Emmeline Mohun Park along the Fraser River in Hammond, Maple Ridge saw the upgrade and redesign of the baseball field at Hammond Stadium, the opening of a new water spray park in Albion as well as the Mountain Bike Skills Park. The Community Services Department undertook important work with the Planning Department to complete the Housing Action Plan. Supporting work by the Social Planning Advisory Committee helped develop resolutions that were endorsed at the 2014 Union of BC Municipalities conference. Maple Ridge, through the support of our Council, is a strong advocate for improved addiction and mental health services.The Division has a consistent focus on ensuring that Maple Ridge is a connected, engaged and collaborative community. With the support of Council, amazing volunteers and active citizens, we are meeting that goal. Meeting the Challenges of a Growing Community Department Heads COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, PARKS & RECREATION SERVICES Kelly Swift General Manager: Community Development Parks & Recreation Services 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 2014 n 13 In a presentation to Council Frank Quinn, General Manager for the Division, noted that the things his team are responsible for are much like an iceberg. What you can see above the water barely hints at what’s below and in the case of our community, what’s below the ground is the majority of our billion dollar infrastructure.Mr. Quinn’s team are responsible for the water, sewer and storm water systems buried beneath the ground, as well as the roads, sidewalks and traffic signals above. Two of the most reliable utilities citizens can count on are the water and sewage treatment. Millions of litres of clean drinking water are supplied to citizens through a vast network of pumps, pipes and reservoirs. Additionally, the network of sewer pipes and pumps ensures that millions of litres of liquid waste are sent for treatment before the water returns to the ocean. Above ground there were a number of high profile projects in 2014. The new 232 Street Bridge over the North Alouette River opened early in the year, and along with that the construction of a separated multi-use pathway along 132 Avenue was completed with input from an area citizens’ committee. Similar citizen input resulted in the installation of sidewalks along ‘Shady Lane’ and River Road, as well as a new traffic circle near Kanaka Creek Elementary School. This high level of public engagement is helping ensure that both infrastructure and policy work in Maple Ridge allows citizens to have a strong voice as we examine ideas to improve our community.The Planning Department rolled out a huge public consultation around the development of the #MyHammond Area Plan Process and the community has responded to extraordinary levels. At the start of the consultation, citizens provided over 300 photos as part of a ‘Community Character’ photo project, and community elders participated in the creation of the ‘Hammond Stories’ videos that allowed all citizens to understand the history and lifestyle of this important historic neighbourhood. In 2014 there were two very well attended open houses, a second video series from the ‘Next Generation’ of residents and literally hundreds of comments and interactions on the City website and social media channels. This project and the passionate citizens of this neighbourhood have helped establish a new benchmark of public consultation.In 2014 a number of significant policies came before Council including the Commercial and Industrial Strategy, the Strategic Transportation Plan, the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and Bylaw as well as other important work that will move the community forward. In 2014 the City of Maple Ridge issued over 3,500 building related permits and Council saw close to 200 development reports. Our community continues to grow at a fast pace. The Licences, Permits & Bylaws Department processed over 3,000 enforcement requests and delivered updates to numerous bylaws from Business Licensing to Animal Control. We encourage you to look at the Budget Handbook that has a more detailed list of the work completed in 2014 and the projects and policy work that are scheduled for 2015. There’s a Lot Going on Below the Surface Department Heads Frank Quinn General Manager: Public Works & Development Services PUBLIC WORKS & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Christine Carter Director of Planning David Pollock Municipal Engineer Liz Holitzki Director of Licences, Permits & Bylaws Russ Carmichael Director of Engineering Operations Citizens Report 2014 n 15 Paul Gill, General Manager: Corporate & Financial Services leads a team of people whose job it is to account for every dollar spent by the City of Maple Ridge. To do that work requires a strong policy framework that sets out the responsibilities of all staff and the technological tools to track and report this work.In 2014 the City of Maple Ridge processed 106,199 financial transactions for everything from invoices to tax payments. Council is provided with a Disbursements Report each month and the Financial Statements of the City are audited every year. The results of that audit are reported in the financial section of this report. The City of Maple Ridge is a 100 million dollar venture with over a billion dollars of assets.This report is just one of many that are available to the public that offer citizens the opportunity to drill down to a detailed level of the City finances. Many of these reports are mandated by various regulatory bodies, but Maple Ridge has been a leader in trying to go beyond ‘what’s required’ to help connect citizens with more information on ‘where tax dollars are spent.’ The expanded section in the centre of the Citizens Report is just one example. The Financial Overview Report that’s prepared for Council has been reformated to make the document more accessible for citizens. In addition, we are using technology to expand access for citizens to the many meetings where decisions on how to invest tax dollars are made.In the summer of 2014 the Blaney Room, which hosts a wide range of public meetings, received a digital upgrade to expand the capacity of the City to broadcast meetings live to the public. Council Chambers also had a technology refresh to expand the capacity of that facility to improve the quality of broadcasts. In the fall and winter of 2014 the number of meetings that were live-streamed was increased and citizens can now access meetings using the agendas, reports and the video replay.In 2014 the Information Technology Department supported the launch of the City website and helped implement a new Google search engine native to the site. Technology has also been pushed out to offer greater interactivity for the Building Inspectors and Bylaw Officers who now use tablet computers in the field to link their work immediately back to the City’s database. Just as with our colleagues in Public Works, there is so much work done behind the scenes that citizens don’t see. Maple Ridge gets over one million emails a year and each one has been scanned to ensure spam email is blocked.This Division is also responsible for the oversight of the Maple Ridge Fire Department and the contract relationship with the RCMP. There are sections for both departments starting on page 38 of this report, but it is important to recognize Mr. Gill’s role at the National and Provincial table helping manage the contract relationship in BC with the RCMP. This insight gives our community access to information that helps us manage our detachment with great effectiveness and efficiency. From award-winning reports to a strong focus on ensuring financial accountability to Council and citizens, the Division is proud of the role it plays ensuring citizens have access to all the information. You Can’t Have ‘Accountability’ Without Managing the Accounts Department Heads Paul Gill General Manager: Corporate & Financial Services 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 CORPORATE & FINANCIAL SERVICES Citizens Report 2014 n 17 On September 12, 1874 a group of citizens gathered together at the McIver Farm and decided to incorporate the lands between the Stave and Pitt Rivers as the ‘District of Maple Ridge.’ These pioneers represented families from Port Haney, Port Hammond, Pitt Meadows, Whonnock, Albion, Ruskin and Webster’s Corners who recognized that their small isolated communities would not grow unless there was some capacity to build roads to connect these emerging neighbourhoods. The ‘District’ would unite these settlements into a new entity that took its name from a ridge of maple trees that grew along the bank of the Fraser River on McIver’s farm. Maple Ridge was born. In the early years our community was known for logging and the sawmills that were located along the Fraser River from the Stave River west to the Pitt River. Additionally, Maple Ridge had a diverse agricultural base with dairy, orchards and berry production exports supplying the region and international markets.Over time the original borders of the District changed. Port Coquitlam was incorporated in 1913, and the slice of land west of the Pitt River became part of Port Coquitlam. In 1914, Pitt Meadows ceded from the District of Maple Ridge over issues relating to the cost of dyking the lands bordering the Pitt River. As predicted by the founders of Maple Ridge, roads began to connect the community. The development of the Stave Falls Dam and logging operations meant that Dewdney Trunk Road was established, and it wasn’t until 1931 that the Lougheed Highway connected communities along the north side of the Fraser River. In the early 30s businesses moved up the hill from Port Haney along this new road, and the ‘downtown’ of Maple Ridge emerged.By the end of the 30s almost one-third of Maple Ridge’s citizens were of Japanese descent. Their role in establishing our community as a leader in agriculture, public education and international shipping has to be acknowledged. The internment of Japanese Canadians after Japan entered WWII resulted in these citizens leaving our community and their lands were sold off. This was a tremendous loss to our community. Post war, Maple Ridge grew quickly and in the early 50s our community got its first street light at the corner of what is now 224 Street and Lougheed Highway and the ferry service to Fort Langley commenced. The post war boom carried on into the 60s, and the population continued to grow exponentially. In fact, in the last century the population of Maple Ridge has doubled every 20 years. In 1974 Mayor Betty Dube, the first female Mayor of our community, led the community in a centennial celebration that is fondly remembered. In 1999 the community celebrated the 125th anniversary of the community with concerts, historical displays and the production of a book of photos, art and writing called ‘Moments in Time.’In the late spring of 2014, Council passed a motion requesting that the Province of BC consider a change of status for Maple Ridge from a District to a City. There is a protocol and criteria for these requests, and the provincial officials set about reviewing the request.Meanwhile, the preparations began to celebrate the 140th anniversary of our incorporation. On September 9, 2014, Premier Christy Clark announced that the BC Cabinet had approved the change of designation from a District to the City of Maple Ridge. The change in designation would take effect on September 12, 2014, 140 years after the incorporation of the community. On that day, Maple Ridge officially became BC’s 50th City. So that’s how Maple Ridge became the newest City in BC on the day that we celebrated our 140th birthday. How can the newest City in BC be 140 years old? Here’s how the story unfolds. British Columbia’s Newest City Turns 140 THE CITY OF MAPLE RIDGE In 2011 staff members in our Operations Centre converted a Chevy Sonoma truck that had reached the end of its life to a fully electric vehicle using off-the-shelf technology. That truck was a test bed to see what the impact was of using fully electric vehicles and analyzing the costs associated with the technology.Maple Ridge had already purchased a number of hybrid vehicles that use a combination of electric and conventional engines. The Toyota Prius and the Ford Explorer Hybrids became part of the fleet starting in 2006.In 2013 the City acquired the first three fully electric vehicles to add to our fleet. The cost of these vehicles was offset by Provincial grants which effectively made the vehicles the same cost as conventional fuel vehicles. Another bonus was the Provincial program to install charging stations throughout BC, and Maple Ridge participated in the program installing eight charging Some Unexpected Savings from Hybrid Vehicles HYBRID VEHICLES stations, two in Memorial Peace Park, three in the City Hall parkade, two outside City Hall on Dewdney Trunk Road and one at the Operations Centre.The combination of the pricing incentives and the new infrastructure to charge the vehicles made this a solid business decision. The vehicles can be recharged for pennies a day and because they are used for trips within the City, the range does not factor into the discussion. While we’ve seen a huge fluctuation in gas prices, the introduction of the hybrid technology in our fleet has resulted in savings in our fuel costs, but there has been another substantial savings.Maintenance costs are much lower with the hybrid and electric vehicles. Conventional vehicles use engines and transmissions to power the vehicles. These engines require fuel, and lubricants throughout their lifecycle. Electric vehicles are different. The motors power the wheels, eliminating the transmission, and the electric motors do not require the same level of maintenance that combustion motors do. The net effect is that we are seeing long lifecycles in some of our hybrid vehicles and reductions in the costs associated with regular maintenance. Combine that with the lower fuel bill and you have a winning business case for these vehicles. On December 31, 2014 the City of Maple Ridge had four fully electric vehicles and 35 hybrids in operation.As taxpayers, you count on us to make a solid business case for every purchase, and these vehicles are a good choice from that perspective. But more broadly, as citizens of the planet, we all need to look at ways we can reduce our carbon footprint. These vehicles meet that test as well. Less fuel burned is less carbon in the atmosphere. Less oil changes and transmission services means less hydrocarbons in the environment. No matter how you slice it, we’re saving money and the planet. 18 n Citizens Report 2013 The next 12 pages of our report are dedicated to the 2014 Financial Spotlight. We’re the first to admit that pages and pages of numbers can be pretty daunting, but we are required to publish some of this information, and over the last few years we’ve dedicated ourselves to making the data a bit easier to understand and are highlighting important stories that may be hidden in this information.Last year we held a Live Question and Answer period as part of the preparation of the 2014 Financial Plan. The QR code below will take you to the video of that session, which was broadcast live and allowed citizens to ask questions, in person, by telephone, by email or on our City Facebook and Twitter feeds. In addition to the live responses, we also recorded all the questions and created a written response to the Frequently Asked Questions and posted them online at mapleridge.ca/faq. If you go to that link you will find FAQ lists for many departments, but when you scroll down you will see the questions asked in the April 2014 and the December 2013 Q&A sessions.Here are some examples of the most Frequently Asked Questions about the 2015 Financial Plan; The average tax increase is 3.5%. Why did my property taxes go up more than that?Firstly, we have to understand what we mean by ‘average’. An ‘average’ means that there are people on the high side and people on the low side. When it comes to our budget and we are talking about a tax increase of 2% we do not take what everyone paid last year and add 2% to it. That is not the system, it is not the methodology we are given by the Province to work with, and so we can’t do that. The methodology that we use results in us pooling all the assessed values for the Residential Class, seeing what they went up by on average and setting one tax rate. Because we do that, you will have people on both sides of the average. Every year Just the FAQs Please we do a presentation for Council on this. We’ve been tracking certain properties for well over a dozen years and when you look at them you will see the experiences that different homes have. In some years they received very large increases, in other years not so large and over a longer term you will see a trend toward the average, but that doesn’t help you in any particular year. There’s more about this question on Page 30 in the article ‘The Real Average.’ Why don’t we just tag our tax increase with the Consumer Price Index, or the cost of living index, or inflation? Why do we come up with our own rate?There are several consumer indices which is the first thing to keep in mind. Secondly, what is a Consumer Price Index? If you pick one, it represents the change in prices on a basket of goods. A typical basket of goods includes items such as groceries, rent, mortgages, gas and heating. The Consumer Price Index doesn’t include fire trucks, police, the sort of things we have to buy as a municipality. It’s not an apples to apples comparison. The City doesn’t buy the typical basket of goods. The basket of goods we buy on behalf of our citizens is very different, thus the difference between our cost increases and what the Consumer Price Index might represent. I’m concerned about the police budget, is it going up by $925,000 every year? The police budget is going up by about $900,000 this year and a large part of it is driven by pension rates. We’re not sure what those increases will be in 2015, but year-over-year we have seen an increase in police costs in excess of $500,000 for a long period of time. Look for the rest of the questions at mapleridge.ca/faq. If you have a question about the City’s budget you can email us at budget@mapleridge.ca. We are proud to present this snapshot of the City’s financial position. 2014 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT 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 cash equivalents $14,098,635 $7,036,384 Portfolio investments 140,752,034 138,716,752 Accounts receivable 18,910,387 19,147,770 Recoverable local improvments 1,772,386 1,882,735 Other assets 739,180 718,361 Inventory available for resale 374,343 24,266 176,646,965 167,526,268 Liabilites Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 17,215,076 16,271,819 Deferred revenue 9,516,042 9,407,028 Restricted revenue 44,195,434 45,149,975 Refundable performance deposits and other 12,006,924 10,325,126 Employee future benefits 5,086,600 4,890,700 Long term debt 36,828,024 39,501,414 124,848,100 125,546,062 Net Financial Assets 51,798,865 41,980,206 Non Financial Assets Tangible capital assets 881,235,810 859,057,643 Undeveloped landbank properties 14,385,160 14,385,160 Supplies inventory 336,897 364,511 Prepaid expenses 568,450 698,347 896,526,317 874,505,661 Accumulated Surplus $948,325,182 $916,485,867 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, 2014 Restated 2014 2013 20 n Citizens Report 2014 Glossary 2014 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. Restated Actual Budget Actual 2014 2014 2013 Revenue Taxes for municipal purposes $71,350,132 $71,230,476 $68,079,360 User fees and other revenue 38,572,819 37,143,448 35,843,766 Senior government transfers 2,511,485 4,854,461 3,796,633 Development revenue 8,693,788 18,393,256 9,799,094 Interest and investment income Investment income 2,764,104 Interest income 239,684 Less: Deferred amount (578,909) Interest and investment income 2,424,879 1,853,000 2,577,212 Gaming revenues 1,056,051 1,050,000 896,008 Gain (loss) on disposal of capital asset (1,353,953) - (2,449,158) Contributed tangible capital assets 23,232,212 16,500,000 46,582,459 146,487,413 151,024,641 165,125,374 Expenses (segment report) Protective services 31,988,914 35,220,668 31,159,175 Transportation services 17,323,495 18,795,864 16,624,764 Recreation and cultural 21,183,974 22,571,923 19,628,824 Water utility 15,375,275 20,010,147 14,809,051 Sewer utility 9,341,867 10,271,937 9,582,651 General government 14,517,314 18,987,635 13,565,957 Planning, public health and other 4,917,259 4,674,976 5,487,525 114,648,098 130,533,150 110,857,947 Annual surplus 31,839,315 20,491,491 54,267,427 Accumulated surplus - beginning of the year 916,485,867 916,485,867 862,218,440 Accumulated surplus - end of the year $948,325,182 $936,977,358 $916,485,867 For the year ended ended December 31, 2014 Citizens Report 2014 n 21 2014 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT The 2014 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 2014 Expenses 2014 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT Expenses & Expenditures By Object 2010-2014 23% 22% 27% 24% 23% 30% 30% 36% 31% 31% 1% 1% 2% 2% 2% 11% 10% 10% 17% 19% 13% 26% 12% 14% 14% 11% 10% 13% 12% 11% (In Millions) Labour Capital Goods & Services Debt Servicing Contributed Infrastructure Amortization Expense Total Expenses & Expenditures 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 $157.4 $176.4 $138.3 $148.9 $146.0 Sheet3 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total Expenses in 2014: $114,648,098 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. This graph shows you how much of each dollar Maple Ridge spends goes to fund specific services and projects. Protective Services 28¢ 15¢19¢ 13¢ 8¢ 13¢4¢ Transportation Services Recreation and Cultural Water Utility Sewer Utility General Government Planning, Public Healthand other Citizens Report 2014 n 23 Revenues 2014 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT Revenues by Source 2010-2014 This chart breaks down the total revenues collected from 2010 to 2014. This graph breaks down the Revenue Sources for 2014 by category. *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. 43% 23% 13% 5% 2%2%1% (In Millions) 43% 41% 50% 45% 44%Taxes 5% 6% 4% 3% 6%Development Revenue 13% 27% 12% 15% 16%Tangible Capital Assets* 23% 22% 27% 25% 25%User Fees & Other Revenue 2% 2% 3% 10% 7%Government Transfers 1% 2% 3% 3% 3%Interest & Investment Income 1% 1% 1% 1% 0%Gaming Revenue Total Revenue 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 $146.5 $165.1 $129.2 $134.3 $129.6 Taxes User Fees & Other Revenue Tangible Capital Assets Development Revenue Government Transfers Interest & Investment Income Gaming Revenue 24 n Citizens Report 2014 2014 Financial Plan 2014 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT 2014 Projected Funding Sources Property Taxes and Parcel Charges $71.2 Million Fees & Charges $37.1 Million Development Fees $35.4 Million Reserves (Net) $28.2 Million Reduce Book Value of Assets (Amortization) $19.4 Million Borrowing Proceeds $18.5 Million Interest, Grants and Other $7.2 Million $217.1 MillionTotal Revenues Sheet1 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 33% 17%16% 13% 9%9%3% This chart shows where the money is coming from to support Council’s 2014 Financial Plan. 2014 Projected Uses of Funding Parks, Recreation & General Government Properties $21.3 Million Police Services $21.0 Million Public Works & Development $16.3 Million Water $18.3 Million Fire Protection $9.4 Million Corporate & Financial $9.3 Million Sewer $8.3 Million Administration $5.1 Million Capital Program $83.9 Million Amortization $19.4 Million Debt Payments $4.9 Million Total Other $108.9 Million Total Uses of Funding $217.1 Million This chart shows how the money is used for Council’s 2014 Fnancial Plan. If you would like more information about the 2014 Financial Plan and the associated 2014 Business Plan visit our website at mapleridge.ca . You can use the QR Code on this page to access the information directly. 50% 39% 9% 2% 2014 Capital Additions Transportation $24.6 Million Recreation & Cultural $7.7 Million Protective Services $2.9 Million Sewer Utility $2.9 Million Water Utility $2.3 Million General Government $1.6 Million Planning: Public Health & Other $0.8 Million Total Capital Additions $42.8 Million Citizens Report 2014 n 25 Capital Additions 2014 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT Sheet3 Page 5 24.6 7.7 2.9 2.9 2.3 1.6 0.8 Capital Additions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 57% 18% 7% 7%5%4%2% 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. Look for information and photos on Pages 12 and 13 relating to some of the major transportation projects that were undertaken during 2014. The Maple Ridge official Facebook page, www. facebook.com/ yourmapleridge, has photo galleries of Capital projects. 26 n Citizens Report 2014 Population & Demographics 40.2 44.6 2014 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT Population by Age Ages 0-14 20% 14% Ages 15-24 13% 9% Ages 25-34 11% 11% Ages 35-44 18% 16% Ages 45-54 17% 15% Ages 55-64 10% 13% Ages 65-74 6% 12% Ages 75+ 5% 9% AgeGroup 2006Census 2031 Projection Median Age 2011 Median Age for Maple Ridge 1921 1941 1961 1981 2001 2011 2031 Median Age Estimate for Maple Ridge 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. This graph illustrates the growth in Maple Ridge’s population during the last century. The blue bars represent 20 year periods starting in 1921. As you can see, the population virtually doubled every 20 years. The orange bar represent the growth in the 10 year period from 2001. The Maple Ridge Official Community Plan projects a population of 118,000 by 2041. Maple Ridge’s Historical Population Growth 76,052 63,169 16,748 32,232 6,476 3,772 Source: Statistics Canada, prepared by BC Stats Citizens Report 2014 n 27 2014 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT Employment & Debt 2013 $496 2012 $535 $520 20102014 $458 Top 10 Maple Ridge Employers Industry School District No. 42 Education Ridge Meadows Hospital Health Care City of Maple Ridge Government Overwaitea Food Group Grocery Fraser Regional Corrections Corrections Ridge Meadows Association for Community Living Health Care Arcus Community Resources Health Care Safeway Maple Ridge Grocery West Coast Auto Group Vehicle Sales Waldun Forest Products Wood Products Based on Number of Employees Source: BC Stats Debt Per Capita Based on estimated population of 80,434 Council incorporates the use of borrowing when it makes sense. The debt per capita is reduced as the debt is repaid. Year Unemployment Employment Employed Rate Rate Persons 2011 Census 6.8% 64.2% 39,435 2006 Census 4.6% 66.4% 35,935 2001 Census 6.2% 64.9% 31,310 1996 Census 7.6% 63.7% 28,910 Maple Ridge Employment Rate British Columbia Employment Rate 64.2% 59.5% *Statistics Canada 2011 Census 2011 $498 28 n Citizens Report 2014 Property Taxes vs. Household Costs 2014 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT The monthly costs are based on the taxes paid for a home valued at $457,302. This was the ‘Average Single Family Home’ for 2014. The Standard Monthly Household Costs are a combination of Statistics Canada Census Data and a survey of service providers. Your 2014 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 household 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. Monthly Cost of Municipal Services Police Services $45.43 Water (Includes Capital Costs) $41.82 Community Develpment, Parks & Recreation $35.69 Capital (Includes Debt) $29.42 Sewer (Includes Capital Costs) $26.84 Fire Services $22.62 General Government $18.98 Development Services $18.03 Recycling (Includes Capital Costs) $5.85 Standard Monthly Household Costs Principal Accommodation $1390.08 Transportation $932.00 Food Expenditures $673.67 Clothing & Accessories $287.58 BC Hydro (Electricity) $89.00 FortisBC (Gas) $81.36 Cell Phone (Basic) $69.33 Home Insurance $65.08 Cable Television (Basic) $53.56 Telephone Landline (Basic) $35.37 Internet (Basic) $32.85 Home Security System $28.00 Citizens Report 2014 n 29 2014 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT 1 Residential91% BusinessClasses9% Taxable ValuesBy Property Class 2014 Total Value of All Property Types $12,640,147,899 2014 Total Property Tax Levies Residential78% BusinessClasses22% General TaxationBy Property Class VERSUS Property Values In 2014, 91.4% of the value of property was in the Residential Class. That’s 91.4% of the over $12.6 billion figure supplied by BC Assessment. Property Taxes While 91.4% of the value is in the Residential Class, only 77.8% of the tax collected comes from Residential. 22.2% of tax collected comes from Business Classes, which account for 8.6% of the total property value. This type of ratio is common in Metro Vancouver. Total property tax levied in Maple Ridge during 2014 was just over $66 million. Definition: The term Business Class on this page refers to Utilities, Industrial, Business, Seasonal Recreation and Farm properties. (for general purposes, NOT school, GVTA, BCA, etc.) $66,224,164 Property Values vs. Taxation The 2014 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. Understanding Your Tax Notice What are you paying & who gets the money? Total Municipal TaxesThese are the funds collected to pay for the operation of the City of Maple Ridge. We would recommend that you look at the 2014 Financial Overview Report at mapleridge.ca for a more detailed breakdown of what these ‘categories’ fund. Your local taxes consist of: 1. General, Debt & Library 2. Drainage Improvements Levy 3. Parks & Recreation Improvements Levy 4. Parcel Charges Total Utility ServicesThese funds are collected for specific uses. In the case of the Water and Sewer levies, a significant portion goes to Metro Vancouver to fund the infrastructure to deliver these services. The Blue Box Service Levy goes to the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society who provide this service in our community. Some communities bill their Water, Sewer and Recycling separately, often at the beginning of the year. We have opted for the single bill, both to save mailing and transaction costs, and to be more transparent with an ‘all in’ number. School TaxesThe Provincial Government determines how much is required for School Taxes. School Taxes are paid to the Province, not the local School District. Total Other Government TaxesVarious government organizations havethe authority to collect money usingproperty taxes. We are required to collect money for: 1. Greater Vancouver Regional District 2. TransLink 3. BC Assessment 4. Municipal Finance AuthorityThese organizations use this money tofund their organizations. 30 n Citizens Report 2014 2014 MAPLE RIDGE FINANCIAL SPOTLIGHT Santa Claus is Coming to Town The ‘Red Bell’ decorations were donated by the Downtown Business Association in 1967 and have been an iconic part of Maple Ridge’s Christmas celebration ever since. This photo was taken just a few minutes before the start of the annual Santa Claus Parade in December 2014. P31 2014 YOUR MAPLE RIDGE P32 The year started with cold temperatures. In this photo Kazue Nakamura-Huber and her son are bundled up as they walk along the dykes at the north end of 216 Street. Photo Courtesy The News CBC Radio did a full day broadcast from the Billy Miner Restaurant and Pub in January. Stephen Quinn, host of ‘On the Coast” and his sidekick and traffic guru Lisa Christiansen keep us all informed and entertained from 3:00 to 6:00 pm weekdays. City of Maple Ridge Photo Sophie Zhao performed a fan dance as part of a Chinese New Year celebration at Meadowridge School. The dance is a celebration of Spring and the hope for a great New Year. Photo Courtesy The News 6000 books arrive at the CEED Centre destined for distribution to children in the community as part of a program to encourage literacy in families with financial challenges. Andrew Hargrave from PLEA Community Services Society waves to the camera as the books are sorted for distribution. Photo Courtesy The Times LOOKING BACK ON 2014 P33 Darin McClain, Manager of the Bell- Irving Hatchery, shows some of the thousands of salmon fry that were released into the Kanaka Watershed as part of the ‘Goodbye Chums’ event held every Spring in our community. Photo Courtesy The Times In March, Amanda Rohl and Alex Angus announced that they would be getting married on June 14 as part of the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Maple Ridge Bandstand. They tied the knot surrounded by family, friends and bandmates from the Maple Ridge Concert Band who organized the event. Photo Courtesy The News 14 year old Sean Okawa graduated from Thomas Haney Secondary and was offered scholarships from McGill University in Montreal and Simon Fraser University closer to home. This extraordinary young man is interested in biochemistry and is looking forward to the challenges of university. Photo Courtesy The News Donna Wakefield and Connie-Jean Moore with the Garibaldi Art Club were joined by Maple Ridge Art Gallery curator Barb Duncan in the park that inspired an art show. The show ran throughout March and April, and this painting, by artist Diane Speirs, now hangs in Mayor Read’s office. Photo Courtesy The Times YOUR MAPLE RIDGE P34 Cindy Lea-Stephenson reacts to learning that she and her partner George Saunders were heading to England for a free trip courtesy of the Global TV Show ‘Operation: Vacation.’ Friends and family plotted the reveal for weeks, and as you can see, they were successful in the surprise! Photo Courtesy The Times At the end of May the ‘Ka-Vroom: Maple Ridge Secondary Soap Box Derby’ shut down North Avenue west of 224 Street for the afternoon. Seven year old Dayton McKellar entered his ‘Batmobile’ into the race. Photo Courtesy The News Bob Shantz was named Citizen of the Year by the Maple Ridge Community Foundation. Bob has been involved in many local charities and in recent years has been the chair of the Rotary Duck Race. Photo Courtesy The News In May, 2014, the first Open House in the #MyHammond Area Planning Process took place. Area residents submitted hundreds of photos as part of the Community Character Photo Project, and they served as a backdrop for the displays at the Hammond Community Centre where the meeting was held. The #MyHammond hashtag has been used as part of the social media outreach for this project. City of Maple Ridge Photo. LOOKING BACK ON 2014 P35 Big Feast Chef and Owner Mike Mulcahy instructs local youth on how to cook potato pancakes at ‘Food Revolution Day’ held at the Haney Farmers Market in May of 2014. City of Maple Ridge Photo The judges are taking a close look at the goats as part of the Annual Country Fest celebration held at the Albion Fairgrounds. Photo Courtesy The News Scott Lamb, Quest Hansen and Joshua Tokaryk paint a salmon icon at the storm drain near the intersection of 224 Street and 124 Avenue as part of their Youth Futures Day Camp. This lets people know that this drain leads to a salmon bearing stream. Photo Courtesy The News In August, 2014 there was a three hour Commercial opening for the returning sockeye salmon. The fish were landed at the Albion docks for an eager public. Photo Courtesy The News YOUR MAPLE RIDGE P36 Kathleen Hatley, a member of the Emerald Pig Theatrical Society, portrays Mayor Betty Dube as part of the Maple Ridge 140 Celebration held at Memorial Peace Park on September 12, 2014. City of Maple Ridge Photo Teniko Okabe couldn’t make it to the hospital to deliver her baby, but fortunately the Maple Ridge Fire Department and BC Ambulance Service were there to help bring newborn Carter Ramsay into the world. Carter is surrounded by his four year old brother Jayce, mother Teniko and father Ben. Photo Courtesy The News The Laity Pumpkin Patch is part of the fall traditions in Maple Ridge. Nine year old Nikysha Edwards found herself the perfect pumpkin to carve for Halloween. Photo Courtesy The News In October of 2014 a huge fire at Fraser Cedar Products Shake and Shingle Mill in east Maple Ridge required a full deployment of the Maple Ridge Fire Department and mutual aid from Mission and Pitt Meadows. Photo Courtesy The Times LOOKING BACK ON 2014 P37 The Maple Ridge Fire Department hosts a community Fireworks display each year on Halloween down at the Albion Fairgrounds. It was a fun night despite a bit of rain. Photo Courtesy The Times In 2014, Maple Ridge went to the polls to select the Mayor and Council who will serve the first four year term in BC history. After the votes were counted Nicole Read was elected as our new Mayor. Voter turnout rebounded by 6% in this hotly contested election with just over 31% of eligible voters casting a ballot. Photo Courtesy The News Canadian music legend Jim Cuddy performed as part of the CP Holiday Train stop in December 2014. This annual event is one of the largest fundraisers for the Friends In Need Food Bank. Photo Courtesy The News Over in east Maple Ridge work has been underway on an upgrade to the Ruskin Dam. Heavy rains late in the year required a controlled release of water from the Stave Lake reservoir. The effect is quite spectacular. Photo Courtesy The News YOUR MAPLE RIDGE Citizens Report 2014 n 39 When Maple Ridge Fire Chief Dane Spence appeared before Council and spoke about the projects that he felt were most significant for 2014 he spoke to the development of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and Bylaw for properties in the forest interface, the Superior Tender Shuttle Service Accreditation for the Fire Underwriters Survey and improvements to the retention and recruitment program for firefighters to ensure the department has on call resources to serve the eastern portion of our community.The first project, the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and associated Bylaw recognizes the risk of a forest fire coming to our community as happened in the interior of BC over a decade ago. The plan ‘hardens’ the properties in the forest interface with the use of more fire resistant materials and better practices around landscaping. Combined with the work the department has done in training to fight fires in this environment, Maple Ridge is making progress to ensure that our community is safer from a catastrophic blaze like those that decimated communities in other parts of British Columbia.The second project demonstrates the capacity of the department to bring large volumes of water to a fire that is not part of the City water system. This can have an impact on the insurance rates for residents in these rural areas and ensures that a structure fire can be controlled so it doesn’t spread and cause greater damage to property and the environment.The final project reflects the unique approach that Maple Ridge uses to provide fire protection services for our community. The Maple Ridge Fire Department uses a ‘composite’ model of career firefighters that are supported by paid-on-call firefighters who are called in when extra manpower is required. Fire Halls No. 1 and No. 3 are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so that the appropriate number of personnel are available to deal with a structure fire. As greater resources are needed, they are activated.Chief Spence noted that the combination of the composite staffing model and the bylaw that requires the installation of sprinklers in new construction in our community are two ways that Maple Ridge is ensuring citizens are protected from harm in an efficient and effective manner.Maple Ridge firefighters respond to over 3,000 calls for service in a year. From fires to the most serious medical emergencies, they are there to help citizens in times of dire need. One of the symbols on the Fire Department crest is the ‘jaws of life’ apparatus used to help extricate people from vehicles or confined spaces, but sometimes the skills that they bring are their high level of first aid training.On Sept. 11, 2014 Maple Ridge firefighters were on hand with paramedics from the BC Ambulance Service to help Teniko Okabe deliver her baby boy Carter, continuing a multi-year run where firefighters have had the honour of welcoming new children to the community. The fast response by Maple Ridge firefighters combined with the high level of cooperation between the BC Ambulance Service and RCMP helps ensure that our citizens are safe. Fighting Fires Before They Start Saves Lives, the Environment & Property MAPLE RIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT Dane Spence Fire Chief 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 Stafing Levels 6 Chief Officers 64 Paid-on-Call Firefighters 52 Career Firefighters 3 Civilian Staff Citizens Report 2014 n 41 Back in 1874 when Maple Ridge was first incorporated Canada’s national police force was known as the Northwest Mounted Police. Up until the 50s Maple Ridge was served by the peace officers that were part of the BC Provincial Police (BCPP) Force and a Municipal Police Force. When the BCPP disbanded many of the police officers became part of the RCMP ‘E’ Division.Maple Ridge’s policing has been contracted to the RCMP since the 60s. Since that time our population has quadrupled from approximately 20,000 residents to close to 80,000 residents. The detachment has evolved in that time as well; both in the number of police officers serving our community and the skills and techniques that are used to reduce crime for our citizens. There is a ratio of one police officer for every 777 citizens in Maple Ridge. In the last year they reported a drop in property and violent crime as well as improvements in the number of crimes solved in our community. The detachment works closely with the City of Maple Ridge to ensure that there is a strong alignment of the national and provincial policing goals with those of the community.The police officers are supported by a dedicated team of Maple Ridge civilian employees who work behind the scenes processing paperwork and doing routine tasks to ensure that the trained police officers are out on the streets to the highest degree possible. In addition to these paid staff, the RCMP’s work is aided by dedicated volunteers from Block Watch, Speed Watch, Citizens on Patrol and the RCMP Youth Academy program.Last year the region invested half a million dollars in upgrades to the crime lab that is located in Maple Ridge and serves as a Regional hub for work done by the Integrated Forensic Identification Services. The location of this lab in our community brings special skills that are valuable to law enforcement in Maple Ridge.In 2014 the RCMP were front and centre at numerous community celebrations. The ’Red Serge Patrols’ add a special flair to the festivities and create a strong sense of security for citizens. The officers in full dress uniforms are backed up by a dedicated team of volunteer Auxiliary Officers helping citizens and keeping the peace.In September members of the RCMP detachment wore historical uniforms and were a key part of the Maple Ridge 140 Birthday celebration by arresting ‘Billy Miner’ as he wandered into the celebration. Later in the year, after attacks in eastern Canada against military members, both serving and retired members came out in force to march in full uniform for the Remembrance Day parade, and uniformed officers worked diligently in the crowd to ensure our safety. It was a display of resolve and solidarity around our freedoms.The RCMP delivers policing services for Maple Ridge citizens with great efficiency, effectiveness and, above all, caring and compassion. They are partners in our goals around safety and security. RCMP is the Fabric of our Community Ridge Meadows RCMP Detachment11990 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 94 RCMP Officers 10 RCMP Officers assigned to Integrated Teams 3 Community Safety Officers 43.5 Civilian Staff RCMP - POLICE SERVICES David Fleugel Superintendent: Officer in Charge P42 2014 PHOTO CONTESTYour Maple Ridge P43 PHOTO CONTEST We asked citizens to send us images of the places and things that inspire them as part of the ‘Your Maple Ridge Photo Contest.’ The submissions were spectacular. Here are our favourites, in print form, and these, along with all the images submitted, will be in a photo gallery on the City Facebook page at facebook.com/yourmapleridge. Enjoy the beauty captured by your neighbours. P44 2014 PHOTO CONTESTYour Maple Ridge P45 PHOTO CONTEST “ A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense, and is thereby, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety.” ANGEL ADAMS 46 n Citizens Report 2013 A Century of Remembrance During 2014 Maple Ridge celebrated its 140th Anniversary, but there was a more somber anniversary, the 100th Anniversary of the start of World War I (WWI). Maple Ridge’s iconic Memorial Peace Park name derives from its role as the place that our community gathers to honour the men and women who served our nation in conflicts that began in 1914, and are ongoing around the world. The cenotaph was first dedicated in 1923 and stood at the Maple Ridge Cemetery in the western part of our community. It is humbling to note the names on the Cenotaph of soldiers who lost their lives in ‘the war to end all wars.’ Many of the surnames are now street names in our community reflecting the fact that these young men came from the founding families of Maple Ridge, and their loss was felt greatly in what was a small tight knit community. In 1939 World War II (WWII) began, and the young men and women in our community answered their nation’s call and joined all branches of the armed forces. The Cenotaph reflects the reality that many of them did not return home, and in 1951 the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #88 established the tradition of marching to the Cenotaph as part of the Remembrance Day ceremonies.It became apparent that the long march down Dewdney Trunk Road was a hardship for the senior and wounded veterans and a plan was made to bring the Cenotaph to the civic centre of Maple Ridge. In conjunction with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953, the Cenotaph was moved downtown to a place on 224 Street just a bit south of THE CITY OF MAPLE RIDGE SPOTLIGHT ON: where it is today. This was made possible by the Maple Ridge Women’s Institute, who had been the driving force for the creation of the monument after WWI. Memorial Peace Park was born. In 2001, when the Civic Centre was rebuilt, the Cenotaph and Bandstand were moved to their current locations to become the centerpiece of Memorial Peace Park. In addition to the Cenotaph there are four stones that have been inscribed with the names and dates of key battles in WWI. Two more were added after WWII and they all sit in a special garden west of the Cenotaph. In 2001 the section of road from Brown Avenue to Haney Place along 224 Street was renamed ‘Veterans Way’ to further honour those who serve our nation.As this publication goes to press in 2015, it is the 100th Anniversary of the second battle of Ypres, one of the four battles memorialized by the special stones in Memorial Peace Park. Lest we forget. 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: 604-467-7477 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 rm.inquiries@rcmp-grc.gc.ca 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 SERVICES & CONTACT INFORMATION Look for bonus content, links to videos and additional photos by following this QR Code using your tablet or smartphone.