2020 Annual Report

City of Chilliwack 22 STRATEGIC GOAL #5: VIBRANT ECONOMY Contract with CEPCO for economic development. Encourage development in the downtown and foster an environment that is positive to business creation. HOW WE WILL GET THERE WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2020 OPEN FOR BUSINESS Attract and maintain business growth  ✓ Worked with CEPCO to set mutual priorities for economic development. ✓ Continued to provide low business taxes and fees compared to other Lower Mainland communities to attract and retain business within the City. ✓ Offer Industrial Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw to promote business expansion and reinvestment within the community. DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION Encourage redevelopment in the downtown area ✓ Revitalization tax exemptions available to promote business reinvestment. ✓ Multi-phase downtown redevelopment at Five Corners is underway with new businesses opened in 2020. ✓ Completed the Five Corners Intersection Project to improve connectivity and support revitalization and growth. PLANNING Ensure plans are in place to facilitate regional growth predictions ✓ Chilliwack’s Official Community Plan and comprehensive Municipal Plan continue to accommodate regional growth. ✓ Public engagement on a draft of the Sardis Neighbourhood Plan was initiated. The final plan was presented to Council in November 2020. ✓ Aging Adults Housing Study, a Childcare Space Creation Action Plan and Chilliwack Housing Needs report were completed. TOURISM Maintain, enhance and promote Chilliwack’s natural beauty and walkability ✓ Tourism Chilliwack continued to execute their 2017-2021 Strategic Plan. ✓ Art features installed at the Vedder Road and Prest Road roundabouts. ✓ Consistently applied the Hillside Development Standards Policy to integrate hillside development within its unique natural context. ✓ New sidewalks installed on Webster Avenue, Walden Street and Chilliwack Central Road to improve pedestrian connectivity.