2015 City of Surrey Annual Report

CITY OF SURREY OVERVIEWS

CITY MANAGER’S DEPARTMENT

The City Manager’s Department provides advice and recommendations to City Council-related policies and emerging issues. The department assists in guiding the work of other City Departments, thus ensuring a coordinated and balanced implementation of Council policy. The City Manager’s office provides effective financial management by monitoring the annual budget and the 5-year Financial Plan and has the responsibility for the following operational divisions/sections:

LEGAL SERVICES The Legal Services Division provides legal services to City Council and all of the City’s Departments. City solicitors serve as court counsel, provide legal advice and render legal opinions on a wide variety of matters along with drafting and reviewing all forms of legal and legislative documentation associated with the business of the City. BYLAW ENFORCEMENT & LICENSING SERVICES The Bylaw & Licensing Division is responsible for the enforcement of regulatory bylaws, the issuance of business licenses, animal control functions, operation of the Surrey Animal Resource Centre and parking enforcement. Using both complaints from the public and a proactive approach, enforcement staff focus on working with property owners to gain compliance for safety, maintenance, beautification and livability issues within the community. PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY OFFICE The Public Safety Strategy Office is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring the City of Surrey Public Safety Strategy, an evidence-based approach aligned with the vision and strategic goals of Council. The Public Safety Strategy fosters integration across all public safety portfolios in the City and is linked with the RCMP Strategic Framework, other strategic approaches in the City and the mandate of Provincial agencies and service providers in the City of Surrey. The Public Safety Strategy provides oversight and support to RCMP Support Services.

LEGISLATIVE SERVICES The Legislative Services Division carries out the statutory responsibilities of the Corporate Officer as legislated under the Community Charter. Legislative Services provides services to City Council, City Departments and the public, and is responsible for ensuring City business is undertaken in accordance with all levels of government legislation. Legislative Services is also responsible for managing the City’s compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation which includes management of the Corporate Records program, privacy training, impact assessments, and responding to requests for information under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). INVESTMENT & INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS Investment and Intergovernmental Relations drives economic diversification and investment attraction by developing strategies, partnerships and programming in key sectors to enable sustainable economic growth. Investment & Intergovernmental Relations also ensures the City’s interests are effectively communicated to all levels of government and seeks to identify and maximize partnership opportunities with other orders of government, educational institutions along with the public and private sectors.

2 0 1 5 A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S • Expanded community outreach and public awareness in the area of drug and alcohol addiction in 2015 through the work of the multi-agency Substance Use Awareness Team (SUAT).

• Conducted ten Open Privacy Training Sessions to provide staff with education and guidance to stimulate thinking and increase awareness about privacy and security concepts. • Developed and implemented the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), investing in the development and growth of leaders within the City of Surrey. • Mayor and Council committed to support the development of the next phase of the Crime Reduction Strategy through the development of a new, broader portfolio.

• Transitioned from a contractor managed Surrey Animal Resource Centre to City Staff, in collaboration with CUPE Local 402. • Implemented the Community Safety Patrol Pilot Project in the Newton Town Centre, addressing public safety in the community. • Co-hosted an open house to showcase the work done in both the Councillors Office and the Office of the City Clerk. • Drafted a Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation which the City approved on April 27, 2015 to minimize unsolicited commercial electronic messages (CEM) as well as to reduce electronic threats like phishing, malware and spyware.

• Supported the Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre in establishing the Advanced Resource Clean Technology Innovation Centre, a $2.6 million federally funded initiative to stimulate clean tech innovation for Canada’s resource industry. • Changed the law as it relates to railway crossings in both the federal and provincial schemes through three 2015 Canadian Transportation Agency decisions.

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