2023 Courtenay Annual Report

The updated policy reflects best-practices developed over the past decade based on analysis of other local governments and government organizations, the BC Social Procurement Initiative, and feedback from various City departments and divisions to ensure the new policy would meet the City’s diverse needs.

City Procurement Policy Updated The City has updated and modernized its policy on purchasing goods and services. The new guidelines support sustainable procurement goals including the environment, social value, living wage and opportunities for Indigenous businesses. The last update to the City’s procurement policy was in 2011. The policy includes one of the first Indigenous procurement sections at the local government level in BC. Additional efforts continue to be focused on change management to include Indigenous procurement into City capital construction project opportunities. The policy includes updated thresholds for various procurement methods for goods and general services, professional and consulting services, and construction services. Spending through the City’s purchasing division is typically $20 to $25 million annually, ranging from low-dollar value goods to complex multi-million-dollar service agreements. Age-friendly Grant for Accessibility Audit Grant funding was awarded in 2022 by BC Healthy Communities, Age-friendly Communities program. The funds are supporting accessibility audits on key public open spaces and multi-modal transportation networks within Courtenay’s new growth centres. City staff are leading the accessibility audits and are working with the Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC) on preparing a report. The draft of the report is completed and will be finalized in 2024. The areas targeted for assessment are where future development is expected. Capital infrastructure investment by the City will be focused in accordance with policies contained within the new Official Community Plan (OCP). Ensuring these areas are liveable, accessible, and with access to amenities is a direction of the OCP. As Courtenay’s population is expected to rapidly increase in the 75-years-and-older age category, accessibility will be an important infrastructure improvement wherever deficiencies exist. Also, accessibility improvements generally have a ‘universal’ appeal and accommodate the needs of all users, not just those with accessibility barriers.

Social Infrastructure

Public Procurements Issued

47

City of Courtenay | 2023 Annual Report