2020 Citizens Report

CAO INTRODUCTION

2020started with such promise. At the beginning of January TransLink launched the new R-3 RapidBus service to the town centre; the result of a multi-year advocacy by this and previous councils to provide improved access to transit. In response to the uptake in ridership numbers and the demand for park and ride facilities, the City secured a lot adjacent to the bus loop to provide extra parking for commuters. In February we had the much-anticipated grand opening of the newly renovated Maple Ridge Leisure Centre Aquatics Area. The photo here was taken of the Mayor and I at that event. Within a month we closed the pool and the use of public transit plummeted as concerns over the spread of COVID-19 gained traction. The City’s Emergency Operations Centre was activated and we began a year like no other. We assessed the situation, altered the way we operated and acted to resume work on the business plan. The term ‘doing business differently’ became our mantra and this report is a testament to what we were able to accomplish in 2020. Our IT team provided support to staff who were working from home and quickly upgraded equipment in Council Chambers to accommodate virtual meetings as Zoom replaced face-to-face meetings. Council did not miss a meeting and I am exceedingly proud that we were still able to deliver on key elements of their Strategic Plan.

In 2020 we rolled out a new quarterly reporting program to update Mayor, Council and the public on achievements to date and I encourage you to visit mapleridge.ca/2369 to explore past presentations. You will also find links to the new performance dashboards that were rolled out in 2020. These accomplishments reflect how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the development of digital tools which will remain an important part of howwe engage citizens moving forward. I want to conclude this introduction by acknowledging the support of Mayor and Council as we navigated a challenging year. I also want to thank every staff member for their professionalism, adaptability and dedicated service to our citizens. We hope you enjoy this look back on a very unique year.

Al Horsman, Chief Administrative Officer

4