Looking Back and Looking Forward

As we move into a new year, I like to start by looking back over the previous 12 months. A lot was accomplished in Williams Lake in 2009, not only by the City but by a developers, businesses and organizations. Some highlights include, but are not limited to:
· New Fire Hall
· Wal Mart
· Signal Point Townhouse Development
· Crime Rate Significantly Reduced
· Timber Wolves Hockey Club re-established
· Kiwanis Park Disabled Playground
· Courthouse Square Improvements
· Retirement Concepts Expansion
· Stampede Grounds Announcer’s Booth
· Community Corner (old Petro Can station on Oliver St.)

As I look forward into 2010, it should be another productive year for our community. The Taseko Mine project should move further through the assessment process and continued economic recovery should help bolster the forest industry. The City will continue to pursue a Community Forest Licence and other economic development initiatives such as resolving access issues to allow Phase II of the Prosperity Ridge development. Thanks to a number of Federal and Provincial grants, we will rehabilitate Mackenzie Avenue, renovate the old Fire Hall to become a new Arts Facility, upgrade the water heating system at the Sam Ketcham pool and conduct an assessment of our aquifer. We will also work with the CRD to take advantage of the 2010 Olympic Games with an exhibit at the Richmond O-Zone, celebrate and promote our Forest Capital of Canada designation and implement a new Arts and Culture service. A new Official Community Plan will be completed as will our Integrated Community Sustainability Plan and Parks, Trails and Outdoor Recreation Master Plan, providing Council and the community with some good direction into the new decade.

I am expecting that the 2010 municipal budget will be somewhat of a challenge. The community continues to express their desire for amenities and services such as water and sewer to Woodland Drive, an indoor soccer facility, new skateboard park, increased policing and even more recycling opportunities to name a few. There is also the need to enhance our water production infrastructure, upgrade our storm sewer outfalls, repair our City streets and become Carbon Neutral.

Council is aware of the financial challenges currently faced by residents, business and industry so balancing increasing service demands and costs with a limited capacity for taxation increase will require some creativity on the part of City staff in developing next year’s budget. We are embarking on an improved budget process whereby the community has more information and opportunities for feedback at earlier stages in the process rather at the eleventh hour. When difficult budget decisions are required, it is beneficial to provide as much information and have as much input as possible.

Despite the challenges we face, the City will continue to provide amenities and services to the best of our ability and strive to find ways to improve efficiencies and reduce costs.