Mayor Derek Corrigan delivered his 2014 state of the city address to a packed room at the Delta Burnaby Hotel on Wednesday.
The election-year speech, hosted by the Burnaby Board of Trade, highlighted positive aspects of the city's work and steered clear of controversial subjects, like the Kinder Morgan pipeline, with the business-friendly audience.
The mayor's address portrayed Burnaby as a multicultural and diverse municipality, that values its green space and is building up the city's town centres, while welcoming new development projects and their associated density-bonus perks. Corrigan spoke of partnerships with other levels of government and advocacy efforts but added a cautionary clause.
"We remain vigilant, recognizing it's critical for the long-term viability of our city that the federal and provincial government don't view our willingness to participate in such initiatives as an opportunity to download the tax burden onto property owners," he said.
Corrigan also boasted of the city's green initiatives, in particular Burnaby's environmental sustainability strategy, which is now under development. He also spoke of the city's move to legalize secondary suites and the new tree bylaw, which was introduced this year.
Corrigan ended with a brief financial snapshot. In 2013, the city's investment portfolio pulled in a 4.64 per cent return, which translates to $38.3 million - the highest ever in a single year for Burnaby.
Highlights from the state of the city address:
- On average, the fire department responds to 13,000 incidents annually.
- In Burnaby, violent crime is down six per cent, while property crime is down eight per cent.
- The city has planted 2,500 native trees and shrubs along John Matthews Creek to help stop erosion in the ravine, which was becoming a hazard.
- City upgraded two kilometers of dikes along the Fraser River, to protect the Big Bend area from flooding.
- City opened a new eco-centre to replace the Still Creek Recycling Depot.
- Boiler replacement at local swimming pools will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100 tones.
- Solar panels installed at Bonsor's swimming pool save $14,000 in annual heating costs.
- To date, development has brought in $100 million in amenity bonuses, and $15 million of that is earmarked for the housing density bonus fund, which will go towards non-market housing projects.
- This year's blues fest will be on Aug. 9 at Deer Lake Park, and the free Vancouver Symphony Orchestra concert will be on July 13.
- In 2013, the Burnaby library branches had 3.2 million visits, in person and online.
