It has been nearly three months since I was sworn in as a Richmond City Councillor.
I am really enjoying working with my fellow councillors, the mayor and staff. There are innumerable moving parts within the City of Richmond. I am amazed at the commitment and dedication of the people who work for the city, as well as all of the people who donate their time by volunteering on the myriad of committees and organizations within our city.
There is a wealth of knowledge and experience with all of the different stakeholders. I find myself constantly reading, questioning, observing and listening in order to understand all of the different viewpoints, needs and opportunities. It seems that nearly every decision made by council will have a cascade of repercussions. One group will be served, while another may find itself having its funding reduced.
Some of the things I have learned in the last few months include: Steveston wants a new community centre, affordable housing isn’t actually that affordable, there is massive demand for infant and toddler daycare spaces, while three to five-year-old care is underenrolled.
Even if we had an unlimited budget, because we are an island, we have limited space and we would still have to make hard decisions on how to best use that limited resource. Money is limited and we have to determine how best to use it. Councils of the past have determined the city should invest in capital projects, such as building daycare space, rather than investing in operations, which is why the city does not run the daycares. We have the opportunity to decide if this policy serves us best.
So far, we have made some tough decisions, including allocating community grants and approving the budget. This next month, we will be working to create our term goals: the guideposts for the next four years to help us to make the hard decisions as they come up. Over the past three years, the term goals were:
1. Community safety
2. Community social services
3. Economic development
4. Facility development
5. Financial management
6. Intergovernmental relations
7. Managing growth and development
8. Sustainability
9. Arts and culture
10. Community wellness
11. Municipal infrastructure improvement
12. Waterfront enhancement
13. A well-informed public
As we move forward for the next four years, what are the most important things that we should be addressing? How do we keep Richmond a strong vibrant city? What would make Richmond even better?
When looking for my first accounting job in order to article as a chartered accountant, the advice that I heard the most often was, “The people are the most important. Make sure you find people that you like as this will determine whether or not you like your job.” I think this holds true for our community.
How well do we know our neighbours? How engaged are we in our community? Do we belong to clubs, organizations, teams etc. where we are loved, valued and engaged? How does the city play a role in that?
The city builds infrastructure and facilities and creates programs. Accessible, affordable, welcoming, practical places and spaces play a key role in citizens getting out, getting together and enjoying life together.
I grew up with South Arm Community Centre as my hub of activity. I attended preschool there, took my babysitting basics course there, and volunteered as a leader in training there. I now take my kids to preschool and parent and tot open gym at South Arm, as well as work out and attend Toastmasters. I feel well-served and engaged. Are you as engaged as you would like to be? What can we do more of or differently to help you?
I would love to hear from you, please drop me a line: [email protected].
