Making Golden more attractive to new residents and businesses.

I was attracted to Golden by the sheer magnificence of the mountains, the natural beauty of the valley, and the abundance of outdoor activities. I enjoy driving the windy road through the canyon, but am aware that most people do not. To made Golden more attractive, I would advocate strongly for the completion of HWY1 through the canyon.

Many fine facilities already make Golden attractive. Going forward, the challenge is to find the money to support these facilities without reducing the services that make Golden such a great place to live, and without astronomical increases in property taxes. 

At the end of my four year term as your Mayor, you can expect to see the following changes to attract new residents and businesses to Golden;

•  An Updated Official Community Plan reflecting and supporting both residential and commercial needs.
•  An Economic Development model that is effective and affordable.
• A new spirit of cooperation and a sense of partnership between Golden and Area A.
•  A strong financial position with adequate reserve funds based on long-term strategies and sound asset management principles.

I was always taught you should leave a place better than you found it. I will strive to do just that.

The opinions expressed in this blog are my personal opinions and my not represent the opinions of other Councillors nor the opinion of council.

Manage today's expenses and invest for the future.

Golden’s future starts today. We need to make sound financial decisions today that impact the future. We can manage today’s expenses and still invest for the future.

The Town of Golden needs leadership that can make difficult choices to resolve our financial deficit while supporting future plans. The 2013 deficit of $308,020 restricts our ability to undertake capital projects and/or build our capital reserve fund. Our first financial priority should be to eliminate the deficit and find innovative solutions to meet our capital infrastructure and community services needs. 

In the past 2-years, significant savings have already been made; restructuring the administration, eliminating GAI, funding Kicking Horse Culture and the swimming pool expenses from EOF Funding instead of taxpayers’ dollars, are steps in the right direction. 

Shared funding and service agreements provide solutions today—and pay dividends in the future: the New Building Canada Fund is a cost-share project that supports our infrastructure development, and the Shared Service Agreements with Area A on community services provide necessary steps to making responsible financial decisions today for tomorrow. 

Innovative solutions and sound decision-making are keys that I bring to Golden’s vision for financial sustainability.

Top Priorities if elected as your Mayor

Working on Town Council for 2 years, I have been a catalyst for constructive change to improve the direction of the community. I supported restructuring the administration and the promotion of Jon Wilsgard to CAO. I encouraged a 3-year commitment of EOF funds in support of Kicking Horse Culture, suggested EOF funds be used to cover  swimming pool expenses and supported EOF funding for Invest Kootenays. I have also found sources of revenue and savings that have reduced the deficit.

Each of these initiatives will continue to pay dividends for the future:

• Restructured  Town Hall administration has improved morale and resulted in significant savings;
• The balance sheet is stronger with lower long-term debt and property taxes are holding steady;
• Additional shared services are being negotiated between the Town and Area A;
• Invest Kootenays investment will support new entrepreneurs, business and investors interested in exploring economic opportunities in the region.

While these initiatives are creating a positive atmosphere in the community, this is only the beginning. As your Mayor, I will continue to work with other members of Council, Area A, and the Administration in order to build a foundation for today that supports the demands of tomorrow.

Over the next four years, my top priorities will be to negotiate a Shared Services Agreement with Area A, initiate the Official Community Plan review, develop Invest Kootenays for Golden, and achieve financial sustainability for Golden:  

• As Mayor, it will be my priority to build upon the progress made in 2014 and complete a comprehensive review of all the shared facilities and services;
• We need to ensure the OCP and Zoning Bylaws are reviewed regularly and updated to support residential and commercial needs and ongoing changes and challenges. This is the foundation to our continued growth and the Golden lifestyle;
• Under the umbrella of Invest Kootenays, a steering committee of volunteers would  bring together government, businesses, the Chamber, and individuals to guide our Economic Development
• We need to build our financial reserve funds based on long-term strategies and sound asset management principles. We need to grow our revenue by increasing the tax base, not the tax rates.

Through these measures, the Town of Golden will become more engaged with the community, more transparent, and more responsive to the community’s needs. This is the cornerstone of my approach to the role  of Mayor .

The opinions expressed in this blog are my personal opinions and may not be the opinions of other Councillors nor the opinion of council.

The next step in shared service. Golden Star Q2

The agreement to fund the operating expenses for the swimming pool from the EOF is a gesture of good faith by the Regional Director, recognizing that the swimming pool is a shared service that benefits everyone. The decision by the Regional Director is a tremendous step towards a partnership. It is clear; many facilities and services are shared and these arrangements between the Town and Area A need to be reviewed and updated.  

Shared service agreement is more than just money; it’s the spirit of partnership and creating constructive, productive, and beneficial relationships. As a member of the Town Council, I believe my involvement was helpful in building a cooperative bridge between the Town and Area A. Efforts such as these and continued open dialogue are crucial in supporting our Region’s development.

As Mayor, I will establish a Shared Services Task Force working in concert with the Regional Director to formulate a comprehensive Agreement. All facilities, services, and associated costs will be reviewed using sound asset management principles to meet our long-term plans. My commitment to the community is to build a mutually beneficial Shared Services Agreement between the Town of Golden and Area A by the end of 2015.

Economic Development

Economic Development is driven by a process that supports established businesses, entrepreneurs creating new businesses, and dedicated individuals and volunteer groups building our community. In support of economic development, The Town of Golden’s elected leaders are responsible for creating a level playing field by removing the barriers to entry, encouraging economic development, and allowing it to flourish.

As a Resort Municipality, recreational and tourism infrastructure in and around Golden are key to the continued growth and sustainability of this industry. This industry has been driven by individuals and volunteer groups with a passion for their sport and a vision of the possibilities. 

This passion and vision were the force behind the White Tooth Ski Hill development; the Golden and District Golf Club; the Mount 7 Hang Gliding Centre, the Kinsmen Curling Club; the Rod and Gun Club’s shooting range; the Rotary Hiking Trails; the Nordic Club’s x-country ski trails at Dawn Mountain; the Golden Cycling Club network of bike trails;  and the Snowmobile Club’s trails. 

These are just a sample of the efforts to build the foundation for continued growth and development of the Golden lifestyle; adventure, and authenticity. 

Bringing all of these efforts together is Tourism Golden through its continued support in marketing our world class attractions to the adventure tourist. The challenge today is to translate the efforts of our tourism assets into a working model that promotes and supports an effective and affordable economic development approach. 

As a first step toward this approach in 2014 Golden joined Invest Kootenays. Administered through the Chamber of Commerce, it is the first point of contact for entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors interested in exploring economic opportunities in our region. 

As Mayor, my goal will be to collaborate with Invest Kootenays to establish a steering committee of volunteers to direct economic development in Golden. The steering committee would bring together government, businesses, the Chamber, and individuals to guide our economic development future. 

In order to support the business community, attract new businesses, and create jobs for our residents, the Town of Golden needs to invest in a vision, a direction for the future, and build from within. An updated Official Community Plan is the key policy framework to support our residents, businesses, and tourism industry. With a revised and updated OCP, the Town of Golden will have the policy framework that gives direction to our actions.

The opinions expressed in this blog are my personal opinions and may not represent the opinions of other Councillors nor the opinion of council.