Monthly Update - January 2025

Hello readers! January has been a busy time - mostly in my non-council work life, so while I have a lot to talk about, I am keeping this one relatively brief. I am also considering moving to a bi-weekly format (tbd). Read on for the highlights.

January Council Highlights

Noise Camera Pilot

Regular council meeting - Jan 14, 2025 (Cllrs Agtarap & Dilworth)

This item received significant attention from the media, which I found somewhat surprising. This motion asked staff to report back with a project plan to develop a noise camera pilot. Currently, traffic cameras, like red light cameras are in provincial jurisdiction. While the city could potentially install noise cameras, we would not be able to enforce any infractions. Last year at UBCM, Port Moody’s resolution was successful so now it remains to hear from the Province. Here is the Global TV news interview:

Strengthening the BC Poverty Reduction Strategy

Regular council meeting - Jan 14, 2025 (Cllrs Lubik & Agtarap)

This was an advocacy motion asking the province to “reinvigorate the provincial poverty reduction strategies and accompanying mental health strategy” and we included a call to trial universal basic income. While strictly outside local governments’ mandates, cities are on the front lines of impacts. Read the Tri-Cities Dispatch article here.

Other council highlights

In addition to the two motions above, I also had a motion arising at the January 28 meeting. The motion (supported unanimously) was:

That Mario Canseco, of Research Co, be invited as an expert in questionnaire development and analysis, to address Council at a future committee meeting on the importance of surveys, their design, and analysis for the purpose of decision-making on the basis of statistically relevant data.

Why this is important: We use surveys and questionnaires to elicit community feedback and gain an understanding of the thoughts of our community. Based on this, I think it is important that those of us who sit around the council table understand how to interpret data and its limitations. Our most recent Community Satisfaction Survey is an example of a survey/questionnaire that used a methodology to ensure a representative sample of our community was included.

While some have tried to characterize this as an attempt to ignore past OCP surveys (the last OCP survey was in 2021, prior to the changes to housing legislation from the Province), this is not the purpose of inviting an expert in survey design. Elected officials are expected to make important and critical decisions based on staff expertise and I believe that we should always be open to learning - my motion aims to inform and equip us for better decision-making.

Links to January Agendas

• Regular Council - January 14, 2025

• Council Standing Committees - January 21, 2025

• Regular Council - January 28, 2025

Community Chatter

Volunteer firefighters program. There was a lot of discussion on the end of this program over the holidays. Here are the official details:

• City website

• Dec 19, 2024 letter from Port Moody Firefighters

• Jan 8, 2025 letter from Port Moody Firefighters

Important Upcoming Dates

• Public Hearing on Beedie proposal for Moody TOD, Feb 4, 2025, at 7 pm, Council Chambers/Inlet Theatre OR attend online - details here.

• Port Moody Youth Scholarship applications open Feb 3, and close Mar 31.

• Youth Sports Award, nominations are open (closing Apr 30).

• Real Acts of Caring Week - Feb 9-15. Learn more about how this youth-led organization is making positive change.

• The Rocky Point Polar Plunge for Special Olympics - Feb 15, noon - 2 pm. Raise funds for the Special Olympics - register here.

What I’m Reading