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Council: No tax increases in 2012

RMOW CAO Mike Furey to implement performance reviews throughout organization
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Keeping their word Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden, pictured at her swearing-in ceremony in December, announced that property tax increases would be kept to zero in 2012 as part of the Council Action Plan. Photo BY brad Kasselman

She said there would be no property tax increases in 2012 during her election campaign, and this week Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden is keeping her word.

It's the first time a mayor of Whistler has been able to say, "no new taxes," in 10 years, said Wilhelm-Morden. Taxpayers have faced a decade of property tax increases totaling 34 per cent.

Along with no tax increases, there will be no utility fee increases either.

Wilhelm-Morden is also following through on her pledge of changing the corporate culture at municipal hall with new efficiencies and cost effectiveness.

So it was with calm satisfaction that the mayor received a report from municipal CAO Mike Furey outlining restructuring changes at the hall, followed by her own presentation of the Council Action Plan — the formal and detailed statement of council's top priorities, topped off by the zero tax increase statement — at Tuesday's meeting.

Within half an hour the two had outlined significant changes not only to how the municipality works but what it will be working on in the term ahead.

"I'm really pleased," she said as she finished outlining the litany of things council aims to do in the next three years. "I'm really excited about this."

"When we were sworn in during the speech that I made that evening I referred to the fact that this was a very politically significant election that we had just gone through," said the mayor, referring to the high voter turnout and the landslide victory.

The swearing-in ceremony wasn't the time to talk about the significance of the council mandate. But it's time now, she said.

"The community spoke in a very loud and clear tone. We listened to that voice and I hope we have, I don't hope, I'm confident that we have reflected that message in this action plan."

Confident — even though the budget is not yet ready in draft form. Confident— even though there was close to a million dollar shortfall for transit at the end of last year. Confident — even though the last three years have seen successive tax hikes and continual struggles to balance the books.

Wilhelm-Morden said simply:

"We wanted to give the taxpayers a break without being irresponsible in doing so. I'm satisfied that we can do that."

When asked about the transit shortfall the mayor said that had been addressed too. It all remains to be seen as the municipality must by law pass its 2012 budget by May.

"We haven't got a draft budget per se, but we're well into it," she said.

But it's not just holding the line at taxes. The action plan outlines plans to explore the feasibility and costs of free Wi-Fi access in the village, initiate a draft cultural plan and create an oversight committee to RMI (Resort Municipality Initiative) funds for tourism projects, to name just a few things.

Just as the mayor presented the Action Plan that will keep council on track this term, Furey presented the municipality's high-level organizational restructuring at the meeting.

"I think overall the structure works well but there's certainly room where we can make some changes," Furey told council.

He then outlined those high-level changes, which are effective immediately.

Chief among them is the reduction in divisions, or departments, at municipality from five to three. There is no longer a department of economic viability or, as announced in an earlier press release, a department of policy and programming. That means the elimination of two general manager positions.

"Both GM roles have been removed," said Furey.

The former general manager of economic viability Lisa Landry resigned in November. Her position will not be filled and instead the Ken Roggeman will continue on as the interim director of finance and fiscal planning and report to the general manager of the newly named Corporate and Community Services division, headed up by Bob MacPherson.

All planning functions at the hall are now amalgamated into one department — Resort Experience — rather than being spread over three departments.

"We don't have a dollar value that we're putting on the changes that we've made to date," said Furey. "We will be moving through the phase two structural review to see where that takes us in terms of monetary savings."

Phase two involves the managers below the GM team.

"I am going to be meeting with all of the managers across the organization and look at those teams and look at the current arrangements in terms of the mid-level managers, see if there's any efficiencies that can be found there, see if there's any further changes that we might do in that area," said Furey, adding that he would be leading that review.

When asked if the restructuring has helped address some of the worry permeating through municipal hall, the CAO said: "I wasn't aware of the worry at municipal hall. I think staff always appreciates clarity around any change that's happening. That's what we endeavour to do."

Staff was informed of the changes before they were made public at the council meeting.

Furey will also be implementing performance agreements in the coming months, outlining the goals and objectives and deliverables for his top staff. Following the development of the senior management performance agreements, due at the end of April, he then plans to work on an employee performance and development process to come into effect early next year.

He could not say if those performance measures were common at other municipalities.

"I know it's common at the government of British Columbia," said the former assistant deputy minister, who has been at the helm of the municipality since September.

That performance system for the CAO and the senior management is also one of the key deliverables of the Council Action Plan.

"This is the first time in many years that there will be internal accountability processes within the hall at the management level and it's important," said Wilhelm-Morden.

Council was quiet after Furey's presentation with no comments, save the mayor:

"Of course what we're interested in here is cost effective and efficient local government and this is a very good first step," she said. "There will be cost savings over time and those will become apparent as we move on. So very, very good job. Thank you."