2011 Year in Review - City of Brantford

2011 Year in Review

Community Strategic PlanGrowing demands and shrinking resources need to focuscommunity resources behind common visionDeveloped through community consultation processPriorities and Strategic Actions updated for 2010-2014Continues to provide foundation of city’s commitment tobeing an accountable, responsive governmentAnnual review is completed to monitor and track the actionsundertaken and progress to reaching the long term desiredoutcomes valued by the communityThe City can not be all things to all people, BUT what we do,we can do well by providing the resources for success.

Council PrioritiesEnhance opportunities for higher educationAssess and promote culture and heritage as economic driversExpand tourism opportunities and benefits to the community. Develop a link from the arts, cultural, sports, and heritage assets of theCity to the tourism opportunities and benefits of the communityDevelop & coordinate partnerships with community organizations and otherlevels of government to address and support the needs of those most inneed. Explore the establishment of a residential addictions treatment centreand children/youth mental health services in the community. Develop a Community Prosperity Initiative.Examine the feasibility of proceeding with initiatives to enhance communityhealth and wellness

Brantford ProudEconomic diversification in our community has allowed us to weatherthe turbulence in global economy better than other communitiesRecognized for downtown redevelopment and strategic partnershipswith Post-SecondaryRecognized for municipal management-one of the few remaining SingleTier municipalitiesFour Strategic Pillars (Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural) toachieving a vibrant 21 st Century City– Brantford is working towards thatbalancePromote the positive and acknowledge the challenges facing ourcommunityEngage, educate and embrace those that want to become involved inthe development of Brantford

Accomplishments to be Proud of….Making a DIFFERENCE in our community

Corporate Administration3 rd year of 12 year plan to reduce industrialand business taxes ratios to 1.5X theresidential tax rate by 2020Clerks department introduced acomprehensive and transparent publicnotification process for all City meetingsCitizens Review Committee established toundertake a comprehensive ward boundaryand structure review for the City

Corporate AdministrationAn Organizational Review has been completed andimplementation is underway. Four General Managersreport to the CAO. Key Department Head positions havebeen filled after a period of vacancyCustomer Service Task Force created to develop customerservice strategy updateCurrently working on the development of CommunityConsultation Process to engage residents in the decisionmakingprocess on municipal issuesE-government and social media initiatives continue to beimplemented allowing citizens to seek information, engageand interact with the City

Development22 new industrial firms creating 354 jobs and leasing 784,792 sq. ftNew Bell Mobility Customer Service Call Centre creating up to 500 jobs andleasing 65,000 sq.ft downtownOLG completed $37.5 million dollar expansion to CasinoEstablished Education Works Alliance to ensure well-trained availableworkforce to meet needs of new economy and existing businesses incommunity$84 million in total construction value117 single family homes built and a total of 298 housing units createdSold 10.68 acres of industrial landOver 12,000 inspections related to building permits and over 6,000 propertystandards/lot maintenance inspections

Business SupportEstablished online Business Directory for Brantford and area409 one-on-one consultations and Business Retention &Expansion visitsHosted 15 seminars for small business community in partnershipwith community organizationsAssisted 5 Summer Company Program students between 15-29

Education2011 investments included SC Johnson Building ($2 million), Researchand Academic Centre ($40 million) and new Student Services Centre(Grand River Hall)Investment by school boards for the renovation/new construction ofschools (St. Johns, BCI, PJ)Post Secondary enrollment continues to increase with over 300 newstudentsHousing for first year students continues to increaseStudy underway through GVES to assess the impact of post-secondaryon the community and surrounding areaLaunch of Digital Archives for Local History at Public LibraryPromotion of Healthy Living in youth ages 11 to 25 in downtown core

Tourism, Arts & CultureImplemented marketing strategy for aggressive corporateplanning and conference hosting—successfully secured 4 majorconventions and conferences that will bring over 475vendors/visitors to our communityAssisted with 19 conventions to 3,789 attendeesDeveloped Itinerary Catalogue which won the Ontario TourismMarketing partnership Award for Best Marketing Program under$25,00016,202 visitors to Tourism CentreiPhone App launched featuring 22 different Brantford attractionsIntroduced new culinary initiative—When Country Comes to Town

Tourism, Arts & CultureLaunched MY Brantford Pride of Place CampaignHosted Shining Stars Tourism AwardsCompletion of artsVest program that providedsponsorship to 9 cultural organizations in Brantfordand generated over $114,000 additional investmentin the cultural communityFunding for 11 cultural organizations totaling$145,100Launched Culture Quest collaborative marketingprogram for 15 museums/art galleries

Engineering & OperationsRecord year for Infrastructure (9.8 km of road rehabilitation/ resurfacing;8.7 km of sewer reconstruction; water mains and 2,764 sections ofsidewalk replaced and 2,084 sections repaired)$54.5 million investment in the design and construction of WaterTreatment PlantAssisted 300 residents to successfully replace their private lead waterservice lines through the municipal grant programConstructed 7 new T-hangars (100% occupancy)Completed Farmers Market parking lot improvements and landscapingDesign, approval and construction of Transfer Station forRecyclable/Household Organics at landfill site in progressInstallation of audible traffic signals

Engineering & OperationsCompletion of new bus wash and water reclamation systemUpgrades to 150 bus stop upgradesImplementation of Real-time bus information for ridersContinued to work with other levels of Government forRegional Transportation linksDevelopment of Real Time bus information for scheduling to beinstalled January 2012

Social ServicesRate of caseload growth has slowed in 2011 from the two previousyears23% of all families who exited Ontario Works found employmentAdditional staff brought on to assist with employment assistanceOver 900 local employers have posted employment opportunities;300 positions posted with over 30,000 unique visitors monthlyEnhancements to www.newcomerconnections.ca website toconnect skilled newcomers with employers

Social ServicesCommunity consultation identified 7 priorities in theHomelessness Needs Assessment and federal funding of$398,000 was received to address priorities (2011-2014)To date 1098 individuals have been assisted in finding andmaintaining housing who would otherwise be homeless40 new affordable housing units built (20 are fullyaccessible)4 renewable energy projects (solar panels) are underwaywith provincial funding of $673,600Construction has started on Phase 3 of the redevelopmentof 105 beds at John Noble Home ($15 million)

Community Protective ServicesPoliceEffective partnerships between Brantford Police and Laurier Special ConstableService resulted in an enhance security presence in downtownHired Domestic Violence InvestigatorActive participant in Team Shutdown (auto theft initiative)Member of Provincial Strategy to Combat Online Child ExploitationMembers of the Brantford Auxiliary Police volunteered over 9,000 hours to ourcommunityFireRenovations completed to Emergency Operations CentreExemplary response and collaborative efforts in response to home explosion inAugust in securing the area and ensuring residents were provided for as well asrestoring of the neighborhood

Community Parks & Recreation, Golf &Waterfront Master PlanOpening new Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre that includes Four-PadArena and indoor track in July ($64 million project)Hosted 38 tournaments and 178 special eventsNumerous renovations and upgrades were undertaken to currentassetsCouncil approved the Official plan and Zoning Bylaws amendmentsto implement the Waterfront Master PlanCity of Brantford Junior Golf Academy launched in 2011. BusinessManager awarded Ontario PGA Junior Leader of the Year AwardPhase I of Northridge Golf Course Renovation project completed

Looking forwardStudent enrollment expected to continue to increase, leading toincreased need for student housingJoint partnership between YMCA/Laurier Brantford and localmunicipalities for downtown facility will meet needs of communityand post-secondary students ($58 million project to create110,000 sq. ft. of shared facilities)North of Shellard Neighborhood Plan and Recreation Centre PlanCity of Brantford Intensification Strategy to examine opportunitiesthroughout the City for residential intensificationOpportunity to facilitate new and existing sporting events withmajor upgrades to Wayne Gretzky Sport CentreDevelopment of a Human Resources Master Plan that will guidestrategic utilization of staff resourcesDevelopment of Downtown Streetscape plan

Enhancing relationships with County of Brant and Six NationscommunitiesSource Water Protection Policy & ImplementationEnvironmental Site Investigations on Brownfield siteMost Walkable Downtown in CanadaTransit Terminal Location StudyRedevelopment of former Harding Carpets building to allow mixof residential uses and some interim industrial usesTwo new phases of development in Wynfield West SubdivisionUpdate of City’s Official PlanLooking forward

Engaging the PublicCreation and coordination of Corporate MarketingStrategyCitizens Review CommitteeMayor’s Breakfast Series (over 121 attendees)Community Consultation ProcessExpansion of E-government and Social Media tools andcommunication channels

What Does This Mean to Me?We need YOU to become involved andwork collaboratively, embracing andsupporting the directions and prioritiesset by you….our community to be able toachieve, maintain and sustain a Vibrant21 st Century City.