Abbotsford News Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Councillors raise transparency concerns over development corp.
Inside
Walmart
City about to launch arms-length corporation focused on business
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Alex BUTLER
in Chilliwack, assisting in employee recruitment for businesses, and helping to obtain funding for employee training. Rudolph said Abbotsford’s corporation would work with the The city plans to create an arms-length economic development business community to encourage business retention and expancorporation that will focus on promoting and developing business sion, as well as assist in attracting and facilitating new investment. in the community. However, Braun said he’s still concerned that such an entity The proposal was approved by council last Monday, but some councillors remain concerned that such an organization would would provide adequate transparency. “A corporation would be shielded from public scrutiny and lack transparency, and the initiative has proceeded without public accountability in a way that is not the same as if it was handled consultation. The idea for the corporation was put forth by the mayor’s task within local government,” he said, adding there has been a lack of consultation with the public. force on economic prosperity, which worked since 2011 to Rudolph said the city would set out the provisions for find ways to improve the city’s prospects. transparency, in which council would receive reports and Coun. Henry Braun, who sat on the task force, said he consultation. They would also appoint a board of directors, has had “serious reservations” about the plan from the which would include representation from council. beginning. “In my experience, there hasn’t been that perception of Currently, Abbotsford’s economic development function a lack of transparency.” operates internally and was previously included under the Rudolph maintained a corporation would dedicate itself planning department. to the economic development of the municipality, not In a report to council, deputy city manager Jake Rudolph RUDOLPH undertaking development projects. explained that “numerous, if not most, cities have estabBraun said he is all for making a profit to reduce taxes, lished development functions,” with positive impacts. but “we have not had a stellar history of making great decisions Rudolph oversaw the implementation of an economic development corporation in Pitt Meadows while he served there as chief in some areas.” He said the city needs to rebuild the trust of its taxpayers and administrative officer. Other communities in the region have economic development residents, and “I do not see this as doing that.” Mayor Bruce Banman said Braun’s concerns about transparency corporations, including Chilliwack and Surrey. can be addressed as the corporation is created. Chilliwack’s organization, the Chilliwack Economic Partners “I believe we need to get on this. We have been asleep at the Corporation (CEPCO), has been incorporated as a private company since 1998. It has a 16- to 20-person board of directors, with private wheel and allowing other cities to go by us as we sit here and try and public sector members, including the mayor, one councillor, to figure out what model we’re going to do.” The report states that the city has an economic development the city’s chief administrative officer, as well as representation from the chamber of commerce, the University of the Fraser Valley budget of $323,850, but staff have been advised that a budget of $550,000 to $750,000 would be industry norms for a city the size and the community. CEPCO provides services including working to obtain new lands of Abbotsford. The budget will be reviewed as a part of the 2015 for industry and commercial growth, co-ordinating investments budget process.
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Abbotsford News
HOME+GARDEN
SHOWSALEEVENT Firefighters still at one blaze when another starts
Service (AFRS) and the Abbotsford Police Department (APD) were still at that location, another witness reported a fire in the carport of a home in the 2400 block of Adelaide Street at 2:15 a.m. A family of four and their neighbours had to be evacuated while that blaze was contained. Damage was mainly to the garage. This was similar to the scene on Wednesday morning, when a fire was set at the outside rear of the Red Apple Food Store on Marshall Road while seven people were inside the residential units of the building. All escaped without injury. In addition to that fire
and the one on Hillcrest Avenue on Wednesday, a small fire was set in a covered area of a bank in the 2500 block of Clearbrook Road.
UP TO
MacDonald said the investigation into these incidents is currently the top priority for both the AFRS and APD. “We are extreme-
ly concerned. The Marshall Road and Adelaide locations contained families, and clearly lives were at risk,” MacDonald said.
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A blaze at a home on Adelaide Street was one of three that occurred in Abbotsford early Friday morning.
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