• Holding the line on property tax increases for several years and approving minimal annual increases in the operating budget for other years;

• Implementing, for the first time, a long term funding strategy for proper maintenance of District infrastructure, including utilities and capital facilities;

• Advocating for District’s share of public funding from senior levels of government; 

• Advocating for the interests of District’s residents on taxation issues at the regional, provincial and federal levels;

• Supporting and participating in a core services review at the District, to ensure that District staffing levels are justified and minimized where possible;

• Supporting the implementation of key performance indicators for each business area;

• Promoting shared services with other municipalities, such as fire, police and waste collection;

• Developing a strategy for long term facilities replacement; and

• Closely monitoring the construction of the public safety building (on time and on budget).

Improving Financial Management

• Advocating at the regional, provincial and national level for West Vancouver’s interests on transportation issues; 

• Supporting the Mayors’ Plan on regional transportation as Mayor Smith’s alternate on the Mayors’ Council;

• Assisting with the Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project to explore regional transportation options;

• Insisting on the retention and supply of adequate parking in our commercial areas, including Ambleside;

• Approving new development that meets “Smart Growth” criteria for alternative transportation; 

• Supporting sustainable transportation initiatives, including extending a dedicated bike and pedestrian lane across the Capilano bridge

Addressing Transportation Challenges

• Approving an updated Official Community Plan that balances modest increases in housing choices with preserving community character;

• Ensuring that new development is consistent with pre-existing plans (discouraging “spot zoning” as much as possible);

• Advocating at a regional level for measures to curtail speculative demand in housing;

• Implementing a “locals first” policy to give residents opportunities in major new development projects;

• Acquiring strategic lands to provide District directed housing (VCH lands);

• Approving the first significant dedicated rental housing the District in 40 years;

• Ensuring supportive housing units (or dedicated funds) are included in larger scale developments;

• Requiring new developments provide a range of unit sizes and types;

• Approving supportive housing for seniors (Maison);

• Preserving heritage housing while also creating infill units; and

• Supporting creative, sensitively designed and needed housing projects across the District

Increasing Housing Options

• Creating and implementing an arts and culture strategy for West Vancouver; 

• Advocating for renewed and improved arts and culture facilities that meet community needs;

• Implementing the Ambleside Business Improvement Association to help revitalize the commercial district;

• Initiating summer concerts in Ambleside park;

• Expanding and improving the Harmony Arts Festival, the Coho Festival and Pumpkinfest; and

• Supporting the Ambleside Farmer’s Market.

Enlivening the Community

• Implementing the Community Energy and Emissions Plan developed by a dedicated citizen’s working group;

• Implementing leading edge environmental building practices including the BC Energy Step Code;

• Implemented West Vancouver’s first bylaw to regulate tree cutting on private lands (interim); 

• Supported the efforts of the Tree Bylaw working group to develop a final tree bylaw;
  Dedicating Whyte Lake Park (the District’s largest park);
  Dedicating waterfront between Ambleside and John Lawson as park;

• Remediation and Improvement of the Foreshore;

• Council liaison to the Upper Lands Working Group and implemented the group’s recommendations; and

• Improved waste decrease and diversion as a member of Metro Utilities and Zero Waste Committees. 

Preserving the Environment