City Departments

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the City of White Rock, as described in the Community Charter, is appointed by Council to manage and direct all City employees and operations. They are responsible for enacting the following:

• Council policies and directives
• Provide input and advice to Council on policy-related issues
• Assist Council in setting corporate goals

The CAO is responsible for providing advice on local government governance as well as the authority and responsibilities municipalities have under the Community Charter, Local Government Act, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and Municipal Finance Authority Act.

The CAO is also responsible for the overall administration of the City’s departments and providing leadership and direction to the Senior Leadership Team.

The Department consists of the CAO and an Executive Assistant that is shared with the Mayor’s Office and Council.

White Rock Corporate Administration is responsible for legislative, communications, government relations and municipal government administration including:

• Providing legislative support and recommendations to Council and Committees, on policies, procedures and various Acts
• Recording Council and Committee proceedings and maintaining the official records of the City of White Rock (including bylaws, agendas, and minutes)
• Managing all requests received under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
• Processing official correspondence to and from Council
• Overseeing risk management claims, City property negotiations and land registration
• Overseeing the City’s Communication and Government Relations department
• Co-ordinating the municipal elections for the positions of Mayor, Council, and School Trustee scheduled every four years

Contact: clerksoffice@whiterockcity.ca

Communications and Government Relations

The Communications and Government Relations division provides communication and community engagement expertise and counsel. This includes oversight for internal and external communications, comprising government relations, media relations, social media, website, emergency communication, branding and graphic design, and communications strategic planning. Also included is outreach to community partners and other levels of government, including the Semiahmoo First Nation, Metro Vancouver as well as Provincial and Federal government partners to address intergovernmental, regional, and inter-municipal priorities and issues.

Contact: communications@whiterockcity.ca

Property, Risk and Freedom of Information

The Property, Risk, and Freedom of Information division oversees various City matters including land purchase and sale, land title registration, third-party liability claims, and responses to Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act access requests. They also handle the City’s long-term leases and licenses, and advise on risk aspects of policy development, procedural updates, and bylaw enforcement.

Contact: foi@whiterockcity.ca

The Engineering and Municipal Operations Department is responsible for the City’s infrastructure assets, ensuring that essential services are available when needed by the community. Municipal services and infrastructure provide a high quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors focusing on the environment, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility. The department also administers bylaws and policies related to activities on street right-of-way, ensuring that private redevelopment compliments or enhances existing infrastructure assets.

The Engineering Division plans, designs, and constructs the public infrastructure necessary for a safe sustainable quality of life for White Rock residents, businesses, and visitors. The Division regulates activities and construction on City rights of way for the following reasons and provisions to:

• Safeguard infrastructure
• Safeguard services by approving all designs for work on City right of ways
• Inspect works installed by private developers that become municipal property (e.g., roads, sidewalks, traffic control measures, drainage, sanitary sewers, water mains)
• Issue driveway access permits and permits to work within municipal road allowance

The Operations Division operates and maintains the following infrastructure on a 24/7 basis and pro-actively responds to emergencies:

• Transportation: Roads, sidewalks, streetlights, traffic signals
• Parks: Waterfront promenade, parks, road ends, hanging baskets, trees on City right of way, sports fields
• Facilities: Recreation, public safety, and municipal operations buildings, tennis courts
• Fleet: City vehicles

The Division also operates and maintains utility infrastructure on a 24/7 basis including:

• Drainage: Drainage pipes, catch basins, outfalls, service connections, pumping stations
• Sanitary Sewer: Sanitary sewer pipes, service connections, pumping stations
• Water: Wells, the water treatment plant, reservoirs, pump stations, pressure reducing valves, piping, services, hydrants
• Solid Waste: Residential garbage, green waste, and recycling collection

Contact: 

operations@whiterockcity.ca

The Finance Department is responsible for the overall management of municipality financial affairs.

The Budgeting and Accounting Division provides accounting and audit services for over $89 million in annual expenses and revenues. These services also extend to include:

• Cash management and of over $125 million in investments to maximize the returns and provide additional income to both operating and reserve funds
• Accounts payable, processing over 7,000 invoices annually
• Coordination of the production of 3 different payroll groups, paid bi-weekly
• Manage benefits records maintenance for over 200 staff
• Support departments with their financial analysis, coordinating the annual budgeting process, and financial policy development
• Prepare financial statements, which are audited by an independent accounting firm, as well as various other statutory reports

The Purchasing Section will provide a complete range of purchasing services to all departments including preparing quotations, tenders, and requests for proposals. This position is new and has yet to be filled.

The Revenue Collection Division processes all revenues including property taxes, utility bills, parking tickets, and parking decals and permits. The division is also responsible for:

• Re-caption
• Mail processing for the City
• Administration of Council grants in aid program
• Permissive tax exemptions
• Miscellaneous accounts receivable
• Provides support to the budget and accounting division through account reconciliations

With over 18,000 utility bills and 9,000 tax notices produced annually, this section processes around 7,000 ticket payments and generates approximately 8,600 ticket warnings and reminders. This section also manages a pre-approved installment tax payment and utility auto-debit system, and a web based online payment system.

Contact:

finance@whiterockcity.ca

White Rock Fire Rescue was established in 1933 to serve and protect our community from the impacts of:

• Fires
• Illness
• Accidents
• Natural or human-caused hazards

This is accomplished through public education, preparedness, prevention, and emergency response with an emphasis on safety, quality of service, efficiency, and effectiveness.

The Department consists of a Fire Chief who is also the Emergency Program Coordinator, a Deputy Chief for Training and Operations, a Deputy Chief for Fire Prevention and Emergency Preparedness, an Administrative Assistant, Professional Career Firefighters and Auxiliary Paid-Per-Call Firefighters. The department is staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week with four rotating 4 to 5 person fire suppression crews
supplemented by auxiliary firefighters as needed.

The department responds to a wide variety of emergency incidents and provides service in seven key areas:

1. FIRE SUPPRESSION response to incidents involving or potentially involving fire.
2. RESCUE AND SAFETY response to a wide range of incidents such as; confined space rescue, structural collapse, low to steep rope rescue, hazardous materials incidents, environmental emergencies, electrical problems, weather events, natural gas leaks, public assists and general complaints.
3. A proactive FIRE PREVENTION program minimizes the occurrence and potential consequences of fires. Regular inspections are carried out enforcing BC Building Code and BC Fire Code in all assembly, commercial, institutional, and multi-residential buildings. All new building or renovation plans, and development proposals are reviewed. Business license and pre-occupancy inspections are made when required and fire investigations of all fires resulting in over $500 damage or loss are conducted.
4. Firefighters are trained as First Responders for MEDICAL CALL medical emergencies. This “First Responder” service is a part of the pre-hospital medical care system in the Province of British Columbia. Over 50 per cent of White Rock Fire rescue calls for service are medically related.
5. The department conducts fire safety and emergency preparedness training and
   offers a variety or other PUBLIC EDUCATION programs.
6. MOTOR VEHICLE INCIDENTS (MVI) response. The department is equipped with rescue equipment that can be used for auto extrication and also may provide fire suppression, medical assistance, fuel leak control, environmental protection and secure the scene for the safety of other emergency responders.
7. The department is responsible for administering and maintaining the City’s EMERGENCY RESPONSE and RECOVERY PLAN including activating the Emergency Operations Center when necessary. The plan guides the operations, organization, responsibilities, and coordination necessary to provide for effective response and recovery from major emergencies or disasters in the City.

White Rock Human Resources supports and enhances the City’s vision through the establishment of programs and policies helping guide employees in reaching and accomplishing their goals and objectives. Human Resources supports employees from their initial candidate experience through to the end of their employment lifecycle; providing strategic advice and expertise on a full range of services and programs with a focus on attracting, retaining, and motivating a qualified, diverse, and inclusive workforce.

Core business areas include:

Workplace Health and Safety

The department supports the creation and maintenance of a safe, respectful, and healthy work environment for all employees. This is accomplished through use of an effective safety management system. The City is committed to preventing accidents, injuries, and illnesses by adhering to a positive safety culture and the execution of various prevention activities such as:

• Risk assessment
• Training
• Inspections
• Investigations
• Safe work practices & procedures
• Hazard-specific programs

Recruitment and Workforce Planning

The department leads the recruitment process to identify, attract, interview and select new City employees. It provides newcomers with corporate orientations and work plans to help guide and set expectations supporting a successful transition into the City’s corporate team and culture.

The City’s greatest strength comes from employees who have the right skills in the right place at the right time, and accomplished through:

• Ongoing workforce analysis
• Identifying skills, gaps
• Identifying supportive interventions to help the City accomplish mandates and strategic objectives

Organizational Review and Job Evaluation

The department collaborates with other City departments to better understand their needs and operational requirements, providing recommendations on organizational structure and positions within the City. These ongoing reviews are vital to ensure the City is proactive in creating staff resources to achieve strategic priorities and service delivery.

RCMP Support Services

RCMP Support Services staff provides the citizens of White Rock access to policing administrative services such as, Police Information Checks, Civil Fingerprinting services, Victim Services, and various Community Policing programs. RCMP Support staffs are trained in cultural diversity, maintaining confidentiality, answering basic criminal code offence questions, and providing citizens with referrals to various resources available to the community of White Rock.

Contact:

hr@whiterockcity.ca

White Rock Information Technology Department ensures the networks, computers, and systems that support the City are secure and effective. They are responsible for the management, oversight, coordination, and planning of core:

• Technology
• Data
• Websites
• Geographic information systems

A wide variety of Corporate Network and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) water utility network assets are also managed and maintained, with complementary technology (including routers, firewalls, switches and data storage devices), ensuring high quality computing, and support communications services are delivered.

Additionally, a Geographic Information System with nearly 300 data sets is maintained with application development and end user support provided.

Services are provided in 5 areas:

1. Business Development - Business process and operations efficiencies are used to enable rapid response and technology changes in a fiscally responsible manner.
2. Infrastructure - Modern infrastructure architectures and network services are deployed across the City to ensure high performance resiliency and reliability.
3. Digital Engagement Services - Adaptive technology is provided to meet the online engagement needs of the community and organization.
4. Cybersecurity - Key City infrastructure architecture is continuously monitored to detect, assess, and protect against internal and external threats.
5. Enterprise Applications - Configuration and integration support for enterprise applications such as Tempest, Perfect Mind, iCity, SCADA, and ArcGIS.

The White Rock Planning and Development Services Department is responsible for managing the growth and development of the City, whilst maintaining the quality of life enjoyed by White Rock residents.

Department staff provide customer services to residents, businesses, realtors, developers, agencies, and other levels of government. This includes responding to general inquiries regarding; land use and zoning controls, building and development processes, as well as other requests for information. The Planning and Development Services team also responds to complaints, occasionally resulting in enforcement.

Planning

The Planning Division is responsible for the implementation of the OCP, for the careful and sustainable redevelopment of the City, and for responding to the housing emergency in 2022 and beyond. It provides advice to Council on growth management, development review, and a variety of other projects including the Housing Action Plan (Housing Strategy). Additionally, the planning team services the public, processes development applications, and advances regional planning initiatives on behalf of the City. The division also processes applications for tree permits, in accordance with the City’s Tree Management Bylaw, supporting the enforcement of tree-related violations with the Bylaw Division. Staff within the planning team support the City’s Advisory Design Panel in its review of development permit applications and the Board of Variance in its review of applications for zoning relief. The Planning Division also administers sign permits, municipal addressing, and other complementary services.

Contact: planning@whiterockcity.ca

Building

The Building Division performs permit reviews and approvals, including a review of “alternative solutions” that meet BC Building Code requirements. The City’s Building Officials conduct regular inspections of new construction and renovation work ensuring all projects conform to applicable zoning regulations, development permit conditions, registered covenants, and the BC Building Code.

Contact: building@whiterockcity.ca

Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control

The Bylaw Division provides education and oversees enforcement of a wide variety of the City’s bylaws to help uphold community standards and expectations. The work of the City’s Bylaw Officers involves inspections of secondary suites, ticketing for offenses against the City’s Tree Management Bylaw, assisting in finding lost dogs, and carrying out patrols along the White Rock Pier and Promenade. Additionally, this service includes monitoring construction activity to ensure that such work does not impact residents and businesses.

Contact: bylaw@whiterockcity.ca

Business Licence

The Business Licence Service oversees applications for commercial businesses, and manages those for B&B’s, short-term rentals, and Trades Licences for construction related companies (including landscaping and tree services). Dog Licences are also managed, as is the provision of clerical support for the City’s Bylaw Enforcement Team.

Contact: business@whiterockcity.ca

Tree Permits 

This service includes not only the processing of permits, but also the response to enquiries regarding private and public (City) trees. The City’s Arboricultural Technician regularly provides customer service to residents with concerns relating to tree retention, and requests for tree removal, while acting as a liaison when considering activities that could potentially impact a City tree.

Parking

The Parking Division manages most aspects of parking on behalf of the City, ensuring that residents and visitors have access to parking. Parking is provided with a focus on customer service, helpful technology, and cost-effective revenue generation.

Contact: parking@whiterockcity.ca

Police services in White Rock are provided by the White Rock detachment of the RCMP. The detachment is a fully equipped police station with front counter staff present during business hours. The Surrey RCMP Operational Communications Centre provides emergency 911 calls, as well as dispatching services off site.

The detachment is led by a Detachment Commander, Operations NCO, and Support Services Manager.

Frontline Policing

Frontline policing is divided into four watches, each with a Corporal in charge and responding to the majority of the approximately 7,000 annual calls for service, traffic enforcement and proactive policing initiatives. A two-member GENERAL INVESTIGATION UNIT handles most complex or sensitive investigations.

Community Response Team (CRT)

A two-member CRT provides a broad mandate of services and support to the community. Duties such as, project-based investigations, school liaison, traffic enforcement, community engagement and a variety of youth-based initiatives, such as anti-bullying and social media awareness are part of their work.

They investigate matters that are the subject of repeated calls for service, ongoing offences or issues requiring a focused approach to identify contributing factors that can be addressed through education and crime prevention techniques. They are also responsible for implementing drug trafficking and property crime reduction initiatives.

Community Policing

Community Policing services provides a number of crime prevention programs such as, Speed Watch, Block Watch, Fraud Awareness, and Lock Out Auto Crime. This service has an active group of 30 Community Policing volunteers who help to deliver and promote these programs, and is led by a Municipal Crime Prevention Coordinator.

RCMP Support Services

The RCMP support services staff provides access to services such as, Crime Prevention, Victim Services, Criminal Record Checks, Civil Fingerprinting, and various crime reporting. They specialize in areas of Administration, Community Policing/Crime Prevention, and Victim Services.

The Recreation and Culture Department helps foster a healthy and vibrant community through programs, activities, and events aimed at:

• Improving the fitness and wellness of residents, and
• Creating a sense of community identity, belonging, pride, and spirit

Working with a variety of community partners, a wide range of high-quality sport, recreational, arts and culture services are provided. Services are delivered by skilled instructors in clean and safe facilities, and include:

• Quality Community Recreation programs for children, adults, and seniors living in the White Rock / South Surrey communities
• The Centennial Park Leisure Centre and Arena, Kent Street Activity Centre, White Rock Community Centre, the Horst & Emmy Werner Centre for Active Living, and The Landmark Pop-Up Town Gallery
• Outdoor sports venues and parks
•  Meeting rooms and special events facilities available for rent
• Production of seasonal recreation guides, as well as marketing and communication tools to promote recreation and culture programs, activities, and events
• Representation of the City on various multi-disciplinary community committees for sport, health, arts and culture, heritage, tourism, filming, children, youth, adults and seniors
• The coordination of commercial filming in White Rock
• Organization of community special events held on City property
• Management and support of volunteers at facilities and special events
• Communicating with Fraser Valley Regional Library for services provided at the White Rock Library
• Coordinating with White Rock Museum and Archives in support of heritage programs, events, and services
• Liaising with Tourism White Rock for visitor services and destination marketing services to enhance tourism in White Rock