Effective leadership is about what we do as well as how we actually do it. It involves fiscal prudence, promoting a strong, diverse modern local economy, progressive, green and inclusive policies, collaborative approaches, increased citizen engagement and lots of hard work.
It’s been an absolute honour to work constructively for the betterment of Salmon Arm these past four years. I’m well-prepared for the many issues and challenges that we’ll face in this upcoming council term and I appreciate your support for my re-election. I’m completely committed to A Salmon Arm that Works!
Here are some personal highlights from this term:
- Increased opportunities for citizens to engage with council. This includes taking council meetings on the road, increased formal public input sessions and sponsoring the new Youth Council where SAS senior students are involved with city issues and policy. It’s real learning of real issues in real time!
- The creation of the Housing Task Force and current affordable housing applications underway and supported by the city will start to address housing affordability. Thanks to Councillor Louise Wallace Richmond for co-chairing the TaskForce with me and a big shout out to the cross-sectoral members of the Task Force who have contributed their time and expertise.
- Tax policy rationalization including starting the MRDT (Hotel tax) to promote shoulder season tourism, blending of the Class 5 and 6 tax rates to support Light Manufacturing and property tax increases that have been lower than the annual BC consumer price index the past two years.
- Advocating to Become a FireSmart Community
- Supporting an Inclusive Salmon Arm
My Four Commitments to Salmon Arm citizens plus Key Specific Initiatives ->
My vision for Salmon Arm is a safe, sustainable and economically sound city where citizens are actively involved in important community initiatives.
- I view our city like I view my own neighbourhood. We listen to, learn from and look out for each other. These remain my commitments to you as well!
Collaboration is the key to Made-In-Salmon-Arm solutions that work.
- Our residents and groups are once again working actively together due to the efforts of many. I’ll continue to foster collaboration – to the Nth degree – at the council table and throughout the community. It’s critical to Be-A-Hub of ideas, information and respectful discussion.
I am committed to fiscally-responsible thoroughly-researched decisions.
- Taxation must be reasonable and justifiable. In the past two years, city taxation has been less than the cost of living increase. I’ll continue to closely scrutinize our expenditures as well as our infrastructure investments.
- As importantly, the city maintains healthy reserve accounts so that we aren’t faced with increased borrowing when key spending needs to happen. I’ll maintain this approach that is the envy of many other local governments.
I will continue to:
- work hard, thoughtfully and with integrity for all residents
- seek your ideas and opinions as well as your involvement
- ensure that city initiatives are efficient, effective and fiscally sound
- promote economic growth while protecting Salmon Arm’s natural environment and uniqueness
- listen carefully to the expertise of residents, staff and council
Key Specific Initiatives: Follow the links for my rationale and proposed timelines on:
- Fully support the Ross Street Underpass referendum: I’ll be voting Yes in the referendum on the Ross Street Underpass (RSU) and I’m urging citizens to inform themselves and to consider voting yes to the referendum question. Supporting the RSU does not alter timelines for other potential infrastructure projects.
- Implement An Affordable Housing Strategy: Broad-based with achievable targets and annual reviews while aggressively pursuing funding opportunities that are announced. We’ll continue to do more. To achieve these goals, all three levels of government must be working closely together and that is happening.
- Become an active FireSmart community
- Refresh our Active Transportation Master Plan including mobility, connectivity and public transportation improvements
- Develop a Food and Urban Agriculture Plan supporting a sustainable local food and urban agriculture system based on community input.
- Continue to Support the Economic Development strategy into the 2020’s – Our key to a strong, diverse, modern, local economy
- Focus on a Clean Growth Strategy – Greening Salmon Arm and our economy for the impacts of a changing global climate
- Support Infrastructure Projects – Key infrastructure that can be strategically built over both the short and longer terms.
