Corporate Wins Spring 2003

Recommendation:
That the April 16, 2003, Corporate Services Department report be received for information.

Report Summary

This report presents the Spring 2003 Corporate Wins summary.

Previous Council/Committee Action

The quarterly reporting of corporate “success” stories was initiated in response to a need identified in a November 1999 report to Executive Committee entitled Initiatives to Provide Cost Effective Services.

Report

  • City Council receives quarterly the Corporate Wins report, a collection of initiatives selected by City staff that demonstrates ongoing commitment to providing value to Edmonton citizens.
  • The report includes examples of innovations, cost savings, service improvements, partnerships and external recognition. These examples are useful for speeches, letters, reports and other City Council communication activities.
  • A selection of Corporate Wins are included in the quarterly report to citizens, Edmonton This Quarter. Wins also appear in other corporate reports, such as the City of Edmonton’s Annual Financial Statements, are posted to the City’s Internet site and are frequently picked up by local media.

Background Information Attached

  1. Corporate Wins Spring 2003

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Attachment 1

Corporate Wins Spring 2003

SPRING 2003 WINS

Corporate Wins are initiatives selected by staff to demonstrate ongoing commitment to achieving corporate goals and providing value to Edmonton citizens. The Spring 2003 list includes examples of innovations, cost savings, service improvements, partnerships and external recognition.

The report is grouped into categories: the City of Edmonton Administration, the Edmonton Police Service and the Edmonton Public Library.

The report is also available on the City’s Web site:

http://www.gov.edmonton.ab.ca

Or call (780) 496-8196.

The City of Edmonton

Living the vision
  • Quality, best value services
/
  • Satisfied customers
/
  • Valued
employees

GOAL: Planned growth

Manage land use and development in mature neighbourhoods, business areas and new suburban areas, and maintain quality of the environment.

  1. $180 million invested in downtown area last year

The City’s Planning and Development Department reports that 2002 was a record year for permits and the first year building permit values have topped the one billion-dollar mark since 1981. A total of $180 million was invested in the downtown area. In fact, downtown led in the total non-residential construction in the city with $44.3 million. There was also $50.5 million worth of residential construction with the numerous downtown apartment buildings. Nearby in the downtown fringe, another $85.2 million worth of construction happened—$53.5 million worth of residential and $31.8 million non-residential.

Contact Larry Benowski, General Manager, 496-6050

GOAL: Services to people

Provide quality, best value services that contribute to the safety, security, well being and enjoyment of Edmonton’s citizens.

  1. New drawing approval process saves time for development industry

During the busy development season last year, the Planning and Development Department monitored a new engineering drawing approval process and found it reduced approval time by about two weeks. The new process developed cooperatively by the City administration and the Urban Development Institute was implemented on a one-year trial basis last year. The formal signing process for engineering drawings has been streamlined to one signature on the drawings.

Contact Orest Gowda, Planning and Development, 496-6037

  1. New research tool for staff

In January 2003, the Office of the City Clerk introduced a new search tool to City employees. Now available on citynet Search are City Council meeting agendas and minutes from October 1989. Reports to these meetings are linked starting in approximately March 2000. The easy search engine allows the user to search by key word or by meeting dates. This new tool will allow quick and easy access to the decisions of Council.

Contact Colin Winchester, 496-8114

  1. Warming centre opened to homeless as temporary measure

The City opened Churchill LRT Station as a warming centre for 13 nights between January and March 2003. This measure was taken to keep homeless individuals safe from the extremely cold weather when the demand for shelter critically exceeded the number of the available spaces in Edmonton. The warming centre provided beverages, blankets, security and supportive services to those staying the night. The most to stay at the centre in one night was 110 people.

The City stepped in to fill the gap until permanent solutions to homeless needs can be fully met. While there have been annual increases to emergency shelter capacity in the last three years, it has not been adequate to meet the growing need. This continuing pressure on Edmonton’s emergency shelters should be lessened next winter through the addition of 393 new housing units and spaces.

Kathy Barnhart, Community Services, 496-5838.

  1. Program helps women with relationships

Women and Relationships Group, a 12-week education program offered through the City for women who have experienced control, intimidation or physical or sexual abuse, saw 40 women graduate in 2002. A specially designed group for Francophone women was a part of the program.

Norm Dueck, Community Services, 496-5929.

  1. P.R.I.D.E. Through P.L.A.Y. program to continue

P.R.I.D.E. Through P.L.A.Y. provides free, accessible, ongoing recreational and social programs to residents of low-income, subsidized housing complexes. Program locations are characterized by high percentage of single parent families, and wide ethnic and cultural diversity. Last year, an external funding agreement with the City was terminated, leaving the program’s ability to continue in question. In partnership, Community Services has since successfully transitioned this valuable program to the Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs of Edmonton using Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) funding.

Norm Dueck, Community Services, 496-5929.

  1. Group sessions support men’s needs

More men are looking for educational sessions specific to men’s needs on topics such as self-awareness and self-esteem, stress and anger issues, family relationships, intimacy with partners and learning to network with other men. To address the growing need, Community Services now offers the following groups: Men’s Talk and Do Group, Men In Relationships Program, Men Without Hats, Men’s Chaos to Peace Group and the Men’s Public Education Event.

Norm Dueck, Community Services, 496-5929.

  1. More people participating in community gardens

In 2002, more than 500 people, including the residents of 23 Capital Region Housing complexes, were involved in the community gardening project, “Generations Growing and Gardening Together.” Through a partnership of On “R” Own Home Society, the City’s Community Services and the Capital Regional Housing Corporation, this project promotes neighbours working together and supporting each other, and reaps the benefits of homegrown produce and beautiful floral surroundings.

Norm Dueck, Community Services, 496-5929.

  1. OODLES of interest

In the first month of its release, the new booklet produced by Community Services, “ I'm bored. Let's Play - OODLES of ideas/activities for families” has generated oodles of interest. More than 1,500 copies have been requested by agencies that offer parenting programs, including one group using OODLES to combine with English as a Second Language training and the value of play in learning. The OODLES booklet was inspired by a group of single parents who wanted more time for themselves while engaging their children in fun, creative and memorable activities. Check it out on the City Web site - type OODLES into the search engine.

Cindy Davies, Community Services, 944-5450.

  1. Extended hours to meet growing customer demand

In an effort to meet all customer needs, the City of Edmonton Archives will begin extended hours of service to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings, beginning May 7. An archivist will be on-site to assist with research queries, as will a function host to provide information and tours related to special event booking of the Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre.

Research requests at the Archives have increased by about 35 per cent since 2001, with e-mail requests from patrons worldwide skyrocketing by 143 per cent. Patrons span the generations, from school children to senior citizens, and they come from all walks of life, from artists, media, engineers, environmentalists, students, professors and genealogists to people just fascinated with the Prince of Wales Armouries building.

Leslie Latta-Guthrie, Community Services, 496-8718.

  1. Researching your house history workshop filled to capacity

In partnership with the Historic Resource Management Program and as part of the This Old Edmonton House: Public Information Series, the City of Edmonton Archives recently hosted more than 25 inquisitive Edmontonians wanting to learn how to do basic historical research on their homes. Participants learned where to start, what clues to look for, how to cross reference resources and what is required to have their home listed on the Register of Historic Resources in Edmonton. On-line information about researching your house history is also available at

Leslie Latta-Guthrie, Community Services, 496-8718.

GOAL: Infrastructure and physical environment

Develop and maintain infrastructure, maintain the quality of the environment, develop and use communications and information technology.

  1. Private developer benefits from City’s drainage expertise

A private local developer recently drew on the engineering expertise of Drainage Services Design and Construction area to construct a sewer outfall on 127 Street south of the Twin Brooks community. Construction involved drilling a 27m deep storm structure plus 124m of tunnel, which was hand excavated and lined with concrete. Completed ahead of schedule and under budget, the project resulted in more than $100,000 in savings for the developer and $35,500 in revenue for the city.

Contact K.C. Er, Director Design and Construction, Drainage Services, 496-7918

GOAL: Leadership, regional co-operation and planning

Focus on leadership and regional co-operation, intermunicipal planning, development and service delivery.

  1. Partners create international centre of excellence in waste management

Edmonton is poised to become North America’s hub for practical research in solid waste and wastewater treatment with the recent incorporation of the Edmonton Waste Management Centre of Excellence.

Along with the City of Edmonton, the new non-profit corporation includes a consortium of academic, research and private sector partners. Several research projects currently underway focus on composting and advanced technology to improve wastewater effluent. The collaboration positions Edmonton as a leader in sustainable urban waste management and further enhances our reputation as a “smart city.”

Contact Connie Boyce, Director of Strategic Planning and Community Relations

Waste Management Branch, 496-5407

  1. City report provides a snapshot of Edmonton’s environment

The Office of the Environment recently tabled a report outlining the state of the environment in Edmonton. Presented to City Council’s Transportation and Public Works Committee, the report is another step in executing the City’s environmental strategic plan, and is intended to increase public awareness and understanding of our local environmental issues. The report focuses on nineteen environmental areas ranging from climate change to waste and energy management to water and air quality. The report is available at

Contact Mark Brostrom, Environmental Engineer, Office of Environment

Waste Management Branch, 496-5992

GOAL: Organizational effectiveness

Achieve excellence in management of the City’s resources: financial, people and assets.

  1. Netviewer added to Emergency Response Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)

mailto:A new program called I/Netviewer (supplied by Intergraph Public Safety Inc.) was added to the Emergency Response Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system in 2002. EMS supervisors can view the location and movement of ambulances on an electronic map from any City computer. Fire chief officers are also able to access CAD information quickly and easily to help deliver better public safety service.

Contact Terry Owen, 496-3817

Edmonton Public Library

Living the vision

Edmonton Public Library connects the people of Edmonton to the knowledge and cultures of the world.

  1. Library celebrates 90th anniversary in 2003

The Edmonton Public Library is 90 years old! To kick off the year-long celebrations, the Strathcona branch hosted a 90th birthday open house on March 13, from 4 – 6 p.m. Strathcona Library, Edmonton’s first library, was opened to the public on March 13, 1913. Two weeks later, on March 27, the City of Edmonton, opened its first library. It was housed in temporary quarters at the corner of Jasper Ave. and 104 St., over a meat shop and a liquor store in the Chisholm Block. When the two municipalities merged, Strathcona Library became a branch of the Edmonton Public Library, which today offers library service through 16 locations throughout the city.

Edmontonians can read the Library’s magazine, The Source, in print and on-line and learn about some library milestones reached in the past 90 years; compare what books children used to read and music that was popular in the past and today; and view major world and Canadian events in the past 90 years. Programs, events and products are planned to celebrate the Library’s anniversary during the year. Check the library’s web site at to get updates on anniversary programs during the year.

Contact Iolani Domingo, Manager Communications, 496-7056

Howard Saunders, Manager, Penny McKee and Highlands Branches

  1. Major computer upgrade: moving to a new level of customer service

After several years of planning, the Edmonton Public Library’s new computer system for circulation, customer registration, cataloguing, and other library functions, arrives on April 22 at 1 p.m. This new system, designed to offer an enhanced level of customer service, is the City library’s first major computer upgrade in 10 years. Sirsi’s Unicorn will help the library maintain its position as one of Canada’s most progressive public libraries. The new system helps customers save time and provides more information. It is easier to use and has lots of added features and options compared to the old system. The catalogue has one place to enter author, subject or title words. Customers can limit their search by age groups such as children, teens or adult. They can look up only the materials in their local branch. Each time customers borrow materials, they will get a receipt-style printout of the items they have just taken out that tells them when the materials are due back.

Customers who need assistance to use the Catalogue and My Account features in the new system can get help from staff. Check details on the Library’s Web site at

Contact Lachlan Bickley, Manager, IT Services, 496-7844

  1. First of its kind web based winter reading program for children a success

Children made 3,645 visits to the Edmonton Public Library’s web site to participate in its first Web based winter reading program. The program was the first of its kind in western Canada. Children registered online and browsed the recommended books and videos about winter. Collectively they read 107,000 minutes during the four-week program that concluded in February. In addition to reading, they entered contests, played games, colored pictures, and completed a scavenger hunt. Selected artwork submitted by participants were posted on the Library’s Web. Children sent 203 questions to and received answers from their favourite authors. This type of programming affirms the Library’s strategy of helping children prepare for the future by familiarizing them with electronic tools. The program was efficient, being available 24 hours per day and required little staff time to administer once it was developed.

Contact Pialr Martinez, Manager of Strathcona and Woodcraft Branches

Coordinator of Program, 496-6894

  1. Library Launched Lois Hole Library Legacy Program in Edmonton

Seeds were planted to grow libraries as the Library launched its Lois Hole Library Legacy on March 4. The program, available year-round, encourages Edmontonians to make financial donations to honor special occasions such as birthdays, graduations, anniversaries or retirements. Memorial donations are also welcomed. One hundred per cent of donations are used to purchase books, including children’s, fiction, non-fiction, large print and talking books, multilingual books, music and videos for library collections in 16 locations in the city. Sponsors for the spring campaign included The Edmonton Journal and Albert’s Family Restaurants. The EPL breakfast special of eggs and pancakes was available in March and April in Albert’s restaurants, with a portion of the sales donated to the Edmonton program. The spring campaign ends April 30.

Contact Keith Turnbull, Associate Director, 496-7060

Community Relations and Corporate Development

WINNING WAYS
  1. City engineer receives special award from development industry

Orest Gowda, senior development engineer with Planning and Development, received a Special Industry Award from the Urban Development Institute at their annual Spirit of UDI Awards held in November 2002. Orest was recognized for his contributions and dedication to the development process in the City of Edmonton and his “exemplary service in partnership with the development industry.”