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Action Plans from Surrey Mayor on Economy and Crime
- Mayor Dianne Watts State of the City Address

thumbs_up_from_mayor_web.jpgIn her State of the City address to the Surrey, Mayor Dianne Watts, presented a plan for the accelerated development of the city at a time when the economy is most in need of stimulus. “I must say that the world has changed since my last State of the City address in 2008.” said the Mayor, adding that the changes in the world even since the November election are dramatic.

 “The Mayor hit the mark on all points from economic development stimulus plans to public safety strategies.” said Inde Sumal, President of the Surrey Board of Trade. “There is a good mix of plans to address our economic and social trials, ranging from the reduction and forgiveness of development cost charges (DCC) and property taxes in Economic Investment Zones, to the relocation of city hall to the downtown centre along with focused development in the downtown core.”

The mayor’s development plans address six major points; (see notes below)
1.    Capital spending to create construction and permanent jobs
2.    Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Investment and Job Creation
3.    Business retention and expansion program
4.    Establishing Economic Investment Zones
5.    Streamlining processes, and
6.    Pre-servicing with engineering services of business lands

    The other theme Mayor Watts addressed was gang violence and other crime. She said she was “appalled” at the inability of the court system to deal with gang activities.  She said the system was broken and was failing the city on a daily basis. Other points in this area included:

•    Simplifying paper work requirements to bring charges, to free up police
•    An end to remand two for one credits which are being manipulated to the criminal’s advantage
•    If there’s not enough jail space, build more
•    Help the individual offenders who need help with effective sustaining and funded programs
•    End public safety funding downloading from senior governments
•    No to a metro police force, use integrated units as now – they work
•    Eliminate the practice of granting criminals bail when they are a threat to public safety
•    A fundamental shift in our judicial system, start the conversation on judicial accountability including the possibility of electing judges.

The presentation received frequent applause and a standing ovation at the end.  It appears to have set very strong confident tone to meet the continuing economic and social issues that have arisen from the international economic collapse..  

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Notes:

1: This program worth $465 million will create more than 4 thousand jobs over the next three years, as well as to capitalize on the infrastructure programs from the provincial and federal governments.  The city is ready to move on $171 million in projects for 1,500 jobs.  Provincial infrastructure jobs include the Port Mann Bridge and South Fraser Perimeter Road projects and the Surrey Memorial hospital expansion equaling about $4 billion of infrastructure investment for 23 thousand new jobs. 

2:  Includes many well known business leaders who will provide a wide range of perspectives from cutting red tape, streamlining processes or working on strategic partnerships with the private sector.

3:  recognizing the critical value of small business as the largest employer and the backbone of the city’s economy the program is designed to encourage proactive outreach from the city through its community partners such as the Board of Trade and business owners and operators promoting the viability and success of the business community.  Foremost among the strategies is the South Fraser Economic Summit, a partnership between the City and the Surrey Board of Trade, which, last year, featured Rudy Giuliani headlining a strong day-long program of experts. This year it will feature former British Prime Minister Tony Blair;

4:  a first for the city and the province, designed to attract investment and development by significantly reducing and or delaying implementation of DCC’s and property taxes in the City Centre and Bridgeview’s South Westminster;

5:  including priority given to high density projects in City Centre, improving inter-departmental communications, creating an approvals checklist, and e-business access to eliminate in-person trips to city hall;

6:  investing $5 to $10 million to ensure “building permit ready” lots are available; 

Contact:  Anita Huberman. CEO,
               Surrey Board of Trade
               604.581.7130
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