2016 Annual Report City of Vernon, BC Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016 2016 Annual Report For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2016 | Vernon, British Columbia Prepared and submitted by: Financial Services | City of Vernon CITY HALL | 3400 30 STREET | VERNON BC, V1T 5E6 | TEL 250 545 1361 | FAX 250 545 7876 | www.vernon.ca 2 Table of Contents Vernon City Council 5 Our Mission Statement 6 FINANCIAL SECTION Canadian Award for Financial Reporting 7 Consolidated Financial Statements 94 Management’s Responsibility for the Consolidated 95 INTRODUCTORY SECTION Financial Statements Letter Message from the Mayor 8 Auditors Report 96 Message from the Chief Administrative Officer 9 Statement A – Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 98 Report from the Chief Financial Officer 10 Statement B – Consolidated Statement of Operations 99 Community Profile 11 Statement C – Consolidated Statement of Change in Organizational Structure 13 Net Financial Assets 100 Services Provided to our Residents 14 Statement D – Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 101 Revenue Policy Targets and Results 15 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 102 Capital Asset Deficit 15 2015-2018 Council Strategic Plan 16 STATISTICAL SECTION Progress Report on Council’s Strategic Plan 24 Summary of Financial Results 127 Awards and Recognition 43 Accumulated Surplus 128 Committees, Boards and Commissions 44 Property Tax Revenue 129 Permissive Tax Exemptions 45 Consolidated Revenue by Source 130 Council Remuneration and Expenses 49 Consolidated Expenses by Function 131 Employee Remuneration and Expenses 50 Consolidated Expenses by Object 132 Statement of Severance and Agreements 53 Number of Employees 133 Grants to Organizations 54 Cost of Salaries, Wages and Benefits 134 Payments to Vendors in Excess of $25,000 55 Capital Spending 135 Capital Funding by Source 136 DIVISIONAL SUMMARIES Long-Term Debt by Function and Sources of Funding 137 Administrative Services 61 Long-Term Debt by Capacity 138 Corporate Services 62 Taxable Property Assessments 139 Community Infrastructure and Development Services 68 Principal Corporate Tax Payers 140 Financial Services 75 Building Permits and Business Licences 141 Fire Rescue Services 79 Population Demographics 142 Human Resources Services 82 Operation Services 86 RCMP Services 90 Recreation Services 92 3 Introductory Section Vernon City Council (Back, L-R) Councillor Dalvir Nahal, Councillor Catherine Lord, Councillor Scott Anderson, Councillor Juliette Cunningham (Front, L-R) Councillor Bob Spiers, Mayor Akbal Mund, Councillor Brian Quiring VERNON CITY COUNCIL CONTACTS Akbal Mund Mayor [email protected] Juliette Cunningham Councillor [email protected] Catherine Lord Councillor [email protected] Dalvir Nahal Councillor [email protected] Scott Anderson Councillor [email protected] Brian Quiring Councillor [email protected] Bob Spiers Councillor [email protected] SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM CONTACTS Will Pearce Chief Administrative Office [email protected] Debra Law Acting Director of Financial Services [email protected] Patti Bridal Director of Corporate Services [email protected] Jim McNamara RCMP, Officer In Charge [email protected] Raeleen Manjak Director of Human Resources [email protected] Kim Flick Director of Community Infrastructure & Development Services [email protected] Keith Green Fire Chief, Fire Rescue Services [email protected] Shirley Koenig Director of Operation Services [email protected] Doug Ross Director of Recreation Services [email protected] 5 OUR MISSION STATEMENT “To deliver effective and efficient local government services that benefit our citizens, our businesses, our environment and our future.” The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded a Canadian Award for Financial Reporting to the City of Vernon for its annual financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. The Canadian Award for Financial Reporting program was established to encourage municipal governments throughout Canada to publish high quality financial reports and to provide peer recognition and technical guidance for officials preparing these reports. In order to be awarded a Canadian Award for Financial Reporting, a government unit must publish an easily readable and efficiently organized annual report, whose contents conform to program standards. Such reports should go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles and demonstrate an effort to clearly communicate the municipal government’s financial picture, enhance an understanding of financial reporting by municipal governments, and address user needs. A Canadian Award for Financial Reporting is valid for a period of one year only. We believe our current report continues to conform to the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting program requirements, and we are submitting it to GFOA. 7 Message from the Mayor May 8, 2017 On behalf of Council, it is my pleasure to present to you the 2016 Annual Report. The end of 2016 marks the half-way point for this Council’s term. We have accomplished a lot in that short period of time, yet have many more achievements to accomplish for you, the citizens of Vernon. The beginning of the year started with the Financial Planning process. While keeping within our targeted increases, we were able to fund two more police officers for our community, and extend the number of hours of our Bylaw Compliance staff to keep us all as safe as possible. The City continues to move forward in its commitment to be financially responsible and sustainable. Congratulations as the City’s Financial Plan again received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. You will see in the following pages many exciting trends and accomplishments realized during the year. The City launched a brand new contemporary website that received the Gold Award from AVA Digital Awards. We developed a public engagement strategy that increases the ability of our citizen’s to engage in decision-making. Through the efforts of all City staff, we were able to continue our success in achieving the Certificate of Recognition through WorkSafe BC and the BC Municipal Safety Association. The monies realized from this program are utilized to encourage safety in the workplace and provide additional health and safety tools for the workplace. The City continues to increase investment in its existing capital infrastructure, plus create some new. Some projects that were completed this year include: Pleasant Valley Road rehabilitation including several hundred meters of new sidewalks, 30th Street road reconstruction, 27th Street road rehabilitation, new sidewalks along 25th Street, and new bike route signage along many streets. We also completed the replacement of playground equipment at Heritage Park. In our community, construction activity exceeded foreca sts with the development of several multi-unit residential properties including the Hamlets, Parkwood Retirement Resort and BX Crossing developments. The Municipal Regional District Tax (MRDT) has provided marketing funds to expose our City to more international visitors and businesses. Our recreation facilities are heavily utilized and are expanding. The Recreation Centre completed a major renovation that expanded the entrance and added a concession area. There was a successful referendum by the region’s citizens that will see the expansion of Kal Tire Place. This facility hosted, on behalf of the Village of Lumby, the Kraft Hockeyville game featuring the LA Kings and Edmonton Oilers. For the upcoming year, Council will move forward with its 2015-2018 Strategic Plan, while still remaining responsive to its citizens, businesses and community leaders. I congratulate administration on another great year of hard work, dedication and commitment to our community. 8 Message from the Chief Administrative Officer May 8, 2017 Shortly after the last municipal elections, late in 2014, our Mayor and Council held an open public meeting to discuss where Council wished to guide the community through their four year term. A new Mayor, Mayor Mund, two new councilors and four returning councilors brought many ideas to the “futures” workshop reflecting their numerous discussions with residents, businesses and community organizations. Council generated more than 170 specific “deliverables”, all focused on improving our community. The deliverables were organized into seven (7) themes: Deliver efficient, effective and proactive municipal services; Provide effective protective services; Foster community development through solid planning; be a leader in economic development; Create a vibrant parks and recreation system; Create a safe, efficient and sustainable transportation network; Facilitate regional collaboration. This formed Council’s Strategic Plan 2015 – 2018. It can be reviewed in its entirety at www.vernon.ca. Twice a year, approximately every 6 months, a report card is generated. The report cards are submitted to Council in an open public meeting. The next report card will be released June 9, 2017 and will be posted on the City’s website. Council is now 30 months into its mandate. Council remains focused on ensuring cost effective delivery of high valued public service – road maintenance, snow clearing, parks operations, planning and development services, fire services, policing, financial administration, management of stormwater, potable water distribution, sanitary systems, bylaw compliance, information technology, and recreation