Pam Goldsmith-Jones: West Vancouver needs continuity

Mayor Pam Goldsmith-Jones on her plans for the future of West Vancouver
 

West Vancouver needs continuity of leadership and a balanced approach to the management of the municipality’s business in the next three years.

I will build on my successful record of community collaboration and lead a Council that recognizes the need for a sensitive approach to housing diversity. Council needs to focus on a comprehensive transportation plan--including improving West Vancouver for commuter cyclists, implementing the recreational Spirit Trail in partnership with North Vancouver and our First Nations neighbours, and addressing traffic congestion. The conservation of our natural environment and the wise stewardship of our tax dollars are key priorities. Our Council will need to pull together in order to provide clear direction to the corporation and in order to build on the recommendations of our working groups.

Under my leadership, the past three years mark a creative new beginning to public involvement by establishing working groups to guide us. Council identified key challenges and found a way forward by empowering citizens to tackle diverse issues within a tight timeline, with staff support, and with the expectation that we, your government, will follow through on community based recommendations.

Ten working groups have reported out and Council adopted their recommendations on a wide range of issues including: sustainable development of the Upper Lands, Ambleside rezoning, Childcare, and Heritage, for example. This collaborative approach pioneered in West Vancouver is now being adopted in Whistler and North Vancouver. West Vancouver citizens have led the way in proactive policy development, and I will continue to foster this extraordinary civic spirit.

I will continue to add value and take responsibility for the contributions and challenges that come before me. Our new community centre will open just as the new Council is sworn in. I have worked to build a relationship with Vancouver Coastal Health that secures stable public health services in West Vancouver. The Ministry of Health will invest $10 million in lease payments to West Van over the next 30 years. A non-profit society will be the stewards of our new facility, and will deliver improved public accountability, added value, and better connection to the community.

I will continue to be a strong supporter of our local police force. It is public knowledge that our police department was audited by the Solicitor General in 2004. As Police Board Chair, my first priority was to ensure that the issues raised in that report were addressed. We had lost a significant number of our officers from 1999-2005. Today, our department is focused on a meaningful strategic plan and our officers are accountable, proactive and totally committed.

Council recognizes the need to streamline the organization and has acted in concert with our Chief Administrative Officer to restructure the organization. Our budget for 2009 will be presented in a manner that will allow the taxpayer to see what a budget looks like with a 2-3% increase for inflation, with zero increase, and with a 5% tax cut. As 92% of our tax base is made up of residential property taxes, we need to make some fundamental decisions about diversification. The times call for economic restraint and we will achieve this as a community through transparent budgeting and a willingness by Council to take the long term view and put our assets to more productive use.

I will continue to create the kind of local government where mutual respect is nurtured, where we seek partnerships to benefit the taxpayer, and where we maintain confidence in ourselves to face the future together, with realism and with hope.

 
How would you reshape your municipality? The Georgia Straight is publishing articles on its Web site from mayoral candidates in Metro Vancouver. For more information, e-mail webeditor@straight.com.