Municipal News- Port Coquitlam
November 16, 2021
Climate Action Plan Engagement
The City has begun developing a new Climate Action Plan. The Plan will set a vision for a low-carbon future and identify the steps required to get there. Grounded in climate science, the Plan will integrate community perspectives and priorities, so actions taken today to reduce GHG emissions and adapt to climate change will also create healthier lifestyles and bring new opportunities in the green economy.
Starting November 15th, check this page to complete the survey, which closes on December 5th. The survey results will be combined with input from Council and other key stakeholders, along with technical assessments, best practice research, climate science and trend analysis, as the City’s project team develops the draft plan over the coming months. The public will have additional opportunity in spring 2022 for feedback. The intent is to adopt a new Climate Action Plan by late spring or early summer 2022.
March 23, 2021
Master Transportation Plan
Port Coquitlam is updating its 2013 Master Transportation Plan (MTP) and is asking the public, businesses and stakeholders to provide feedback through a transportation survey. The City is seeking input “… on potential improvements to various modes of transportation, including:
- Walking;
- Wheeling;
- Cycling;
- Driving;
- Transit; and
- Electric Vehicles.”
The MTP review started in late 2020 and will be a two-year process. The City is developing Preliminary Strategies and Solutions from now until Q4 2021. A Draft Plan will be written between Q4 2021 and Q2 2022. The final phase of the project, the finalization of the MTP, will occur between Q2 2022 and late 2022.
April 21, 2020
Property tax increase cancelled and payments deadlines delayed
At the Council meeting on April 7, Port Coquitlam City Council agreed to eliminate this year’s proposed tax increase – originally 0.48 per cent for the average home assessed at $735,185 – while giving property owners until Sept. 2 to pay their 2020 taxes and utilities, and waiving fees for non-sufficient funds. Measures to ensure cash-flow for the city were also given the go-ahead.
To balance the budget, the city will reduce non-essential spending and place a hold on external hiring except for critical positions.
July 8, 2019
Floor Area Exemption amendment referred to staff
On the June 25 Council Meeting, the proposed amendment to change floor area exemptions regarding secondary suites was referred back to staff for further analysis. This decision was made by Council after hearing from speakers at the Public Hearing held the same evening.
In the staff report dated May 28, 2019, the following recommendations were made:
- that the current exclusion of any area within a basement from the floor area ratio calculation be amended to impose a maximum exemption of a 0.15. This amendment is intended to address concerns related to multiple suites within basements as well as the greater bulk of buildings resulting from home builders maximizing exempt square footage;
- that permitted areas within a dwelling located within the flood plain and below the habitable floor elevation be restricted to address two major concerns: a. areas below the habitable flood elevation being converted to habitable uses despite the area being identified as vulnerable to potential flooding, and b. the increased impact of large buildings due to the floor area ratio exemption applying to all space below the flood construction level; and,
- that new definitions be added to define and restrict kitchens, accessory kitchens, bathrooms and laundry facilities to help avoid easy conversion of dwellings to include unauthorized suites that are additional to the permitted principal dwelling unit and secondary suite.
We will provide a further update once staff have completed their analysis and this item returns to Council.