The City of New Westminster hopes to create synergies by combining a variety of city functions in a new community services department.
As part of the 2024 budget process, staff is recommending the creation of a new community services department, which would include seven divisions that are currently under the office of the chief administrative officer and one division from the parks and recreation departments.
“The community services department directly supports the city's efforts in creating a local resilient economy, while fostering relationships and businesses with regional economic organizations, including the arts, culture and tourism sectors,” said Richard Fong, the city’s director of human resources and information technology.
“The community services department strongly reflects our commitment to council's strategic priorities, and also embodies our dedication to fostering an inclusive, vibrant, resilient and prosperous New Westminster where everyone feels a sense of belonging and has ample opportunities to connect and to contribute to our community.”
According to a staff memo, amalgamating these functions under a new department would better align “community-facing” functions, improve services to the community and create internal efficiencies.
Fong said the creation of a new community services department (as well as the new energy and climate action department), represents a “transformative step” in the city's organizational culture, and reflects the city’s commitment to community growth and activity and economic vitality.
“The new community services department brings together several existing community-facing divisions, including economic development, conference services, community arts and theatre, museums and heritage, arts and technology, filming, special events, public engagement and communications, along with the new community partnership's function,” he said in a recent budget workshop.
“The community services department is designed to align with the goals, objectives and outcomes of two crucial council strategic priorities – the people-centred economy and community belonging and connecting.”
The new community services department will be the “driving force” behind the implementation of these two strategic priorities, Fong said.
Fong said the new community partnerships function will be a key component of the economic development's division, by serving as both a corporate and community resource for community belonging and connecting. It will also be looking to leverage community partnerships and promote opportunities for unique events and activations throughout the community, including in the city's commercial areas.
Fong said the new community services department has a multifaceted mandate aimed at enhancing service to the community and ensuring internal efficiencies. He said this will be achieved in a number ways, including: fostering greater cross-divisional collaboration; connecting community-facing divisions through integrated functions to meet community needs; and promoting community partnerships and engagement.
“The new community services department will be established by reallocating existing divisions, functions and positions within the organization,” he said. “In order to advance the people-centred and community belonging connecting strategic priorities, we have identified the need for additional positions to support the achievement of these strategic objectives and outcomes.”
The staff memo stated the director’s position would be funded by the reallocation of funding from a previous vacant director position (in legislative services). It outlined four budget requests – two from the parks and recreation department and two from the economic development office – related to this new department.
- An assistant program coordinator (special events), which would cost $67,500, plus benefits. The memo states this role has been funded on a temporary basis in 2022 and 20223, and has been “essential” in supporting and sustaining community events and activations.
- Events and activations are budgeted at $14,000. This relates to auxiliary staffing and supplies for weekly Westminster Pier Park activations as part of the downtown livability response.
- Business growth coordinator, which would cost $66,000, plus benefits (to be phased in over 2024 and 2025).
- Business licensing clerk, a 20-hour-a-week position $28,000, plus benefits), which has been funded on an auxiliary basis in 2022 and 2023.
“These positions are essential and needed to sustain enhanced community events, activations and provide business support,” Fong said.
