This coming Monday at 5:30pm Port Coquitlam City Council will be having the first three readings on borrowing $25 million for the Coast Meridian Overpass.
But you say, “Dave, you are totally awesome, but there is not a scheduled City Council meeting for this Monday so how can this be?” Well, it is a special meeting. One which is (at this writing) not mentioned on the website but is posted on a piece of paper outside of City Hall. Also, the agenda is not on line, but if you know where to ask in City Hall you can get a copy.
A resident did just that and scanned a copy to me. Below is a copy of the Bylaw wording. ADDITION: this afternoon an agenda for this unscheduled meeting was posted on the City website and not only is this $25 million loan being voted upon but final readings on the water / sewer rates (and whether or not the seniors water rebate will be restored) are on deck. Enjoy.
is this really a loan or a grant? Anything else we should be aware of?
Bob
For a $2.60-3.00 per household if the senior discount on our utility fee is waived. It is unbelievable how you council members that had voted in favor to take what my family parents contribution into Port Coquitlam away from their senior benefits. They have lived here for over twenty five years and have seen too many arrogant councl members trying to do what’s best for their family and own personal interest, but not for the majority and campassion for the people.
A public hearing is scheduled for January and now that the city has announced that there will be a special meeting come Monday, December 14 to shut the seniors and the public out of their freedom of right to speak. Is this a democracy or a communist regime happening behind closed doors?
Didn’t you past council members learned from the past about the scrutiny that we were facing when the public and or the majority were often not given a chance to voice their opinions on Scott Young, the high rise, the connector, traffice and safety? Do the right thing and start listening to the people that elected you in.
Joanne Williams
Wow!!! I just found out that the public is not well awared of this and was not even posted nor no agenda has bee posted on the city website. How professional is that, at the door. 25 million dollars!!! Are we going to duplicate what Vancouver had done with the 100 million loan?
This is not the right thing to do and just to let you know Mayor Moore. I voted for you, but you have disappointed me and the mayority of the public or more. Time to act like a city mayor, not a provincial or federal government.
Here we are, only one council meeting in and a controversy has started for my city of Port Coquitlam.
From Mayor Greg Moore:
“A sense of community is enhanced by engaging community members in the decision-making process. I plan to maintain an open dialogue with residents, representing their views to Council and bringing Council decisions back to the community.”
“Rebuild the reputation of our community.”
Dave, you have met me during the campaign once. The reason I voted for you because of the senior discount issue. The reason I voted for most of the current new council team because I also had trusted them when meeting them during the campaign. I am a senior, my friends and neighbours are seniors.
I am outraged that the public will be locked out of the council meeting without any input for Monday. Are we becoming the federal government?
I have talk to every senior in Poco that I’ve known and not one are in favor and are very disappointed. For you councilors are in favor, you don’t own us, you have no right to take our democracy away and this is not over regardless if you try and finalise this issue by Monday.
Nick, Port Coquitlam
Hello Nick – thanks for your comments.
Just to be clear, the public will have a chance to view most of the proceedings on Monday (tomorrow) but there will not a public hearing section nor a question period. This is regrettable as the last public input opportunities for these items was roughly a year ago.
That said, you (and the dozen or so people who have emailed and called me) should express your opinions, views, concerns, etc. with the Mayor and City Councillors by writing to mayorcouncillors@portcoquitlam.ca. This one stop email will allow your email to be shared with all our civic elected officials and (I believe) some of the staff.
I will be attending tomorrow and bringing some snacks. Why the snacks? Well, the meeting starts at 5:30pm then Council will break for private deliberations and then return after that. The time frame is not clear right now but hopefully some guide will be provided at the start of the meeting.
Hope to see you there.