SURREY — Mayor Linda Hepner is standing behind the city's plan to spend between $200,000 and $300,000 on promoting the "Yes" vote in the upcoming TransLink plebiscite.
"The city is certainly committed to making sure this referendum has as much of a success at 'Yes' as possible because it is what is going to shape our community, both in rail and in transit service and other capital projects like walkways, bike paths and bridges," she said.
Hepner said the campaign is no different than municipal spending to advertise the importance of recycling food waste.
The advertising strategy comes from a Jan. 29 staff report to council recommending the allocation of those funds toward a communications and public relations blitz that includes social media, bus shelter and digital media advertising.
That report calls on the city to support the Mayors' Transportation and Transit Plan, which contains $7.5 billion worth of improvements to Metro Vancouver, of which a significant portion is earmarked for projects in Surrey and the South Fraser region.
The recommendations include supporting the plan to vote "Yes" for a 0.5 per cent regional sales tax and to direct municipal staff to develop and undertake a "City advocacy plan" with a budget of between $200,000 and $300,000.
The staff report, prepared by engineering manager Fraser Smith, urges the importance of giving "explicit attention" to the issue throughout the campaign period. Smith notes 20 per cent of the region's population resides in Surrey, there is significant need and demand for transit improvements here, and the city will benefit from $3.5 billion in multi-modal investments from the plan, including a 27-kilometre Light Rail Transit (LRT) network that will positively affect businesses and residents.
The plan also calls for improved night bus service and a 30 per cent funding increase to HandyDART.
The report also states Surrey will contribute a full, co-ordinated and collaborative leadership role in the upcoming plebiscite education and advocacy campaign plan for the Regional Mayors’ Council.
The Regional Mayors’ Transportation and Transit Plan is expected to increase the proportion of Surrey residents who live within walking distance of rapid transit to 35 per cent from the current five per cent, affecting 281,000 residents.
Hepner said the advertising campaign is about making sure Surrey residents have as much information as possible to make their decision.
"It's the advice we're getting from the experts," she added.
Ballots for the plebiscite will arrive by mail at Metro Vancouver homes between March 16 and May 29.