New Year, New Things

A review of 2024, and a look forward

Author

Samantha Agtarap
January 01, 2025

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! I wish you all the best in the coming year. 

I want to introduce something new I am trying - monthly newsletters with Council and city updates. I have taken a fairly long break from most forms of social media - Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - and have found that my life is much more peaceful. While social media can be a useful tool for elected officials to communicate to constituents and to learn what people are thinking, it has increasingly become a place where civility is lacking (Pickering, Ontario is an extreme example of how online discourse has affected city hall - both staff and council - and residents). 

So, I’m trying something new in the realm of communications - this newsletter. I intend for this to be a factual source of information for residents.  These updates will include what was discussed and decided upon at council meetings, and upcoming events - both city and community-initiated. I’ll also highlight what I am working on or thinking about in terms of how to make our lovely city better for all of us. Occasionally, I may address topics that seem to be on people’s minds. They might be previous Facebook posts, like these: tax increases compared to other cities with casino revenue (Dec 13, 2024), the costs of indoor pools (Mar 15, 2024), or the Shoreline Sewer project (Mar 13, 2024). In all of this, I aim to present truthful information, without editorializing (or I will provide fair warning). I hope you will read along and I invite you to share with your friends and neighbours.

As always, I am available at my council email (click here), if questions arise, or if you have ideas about what you would like to see in our city. 

In this first edition of the newsletter (TL;DR), you can read about:

2024 Reflections

2024 was my second full year as a Port Moody councillor. This was also the second time I attended the Lower Mainland Local Government Association (LMLGA) in May, and the Union of BC Municipalities annual conference (UBCM) in September. These are annual, local government conferences where councils can advocate through resolutions to senior levels of government. 

Port Moody advanced several resolutions at both conferences, including:

  • R27-Integration of Shelter for People Experiencing Homelessness into Mandated Housing (author: Councillor Lubik) - DEFEATED

  • R28-Incorporating Tree Canopy and Climate Goals into Housing Action (authors: Councillors Lubik and Knowles) - ENDORSED

  • R29-Updating the Provincial Minimum Standards of Maintenance (authors: Councillors Lubik and Agtarap) - ENDORSED

  • R43- Youth Climate Corps (authors: Councillors Agtarap and Lubik) - ENDORSED

  • EB55 Youth Climate Corps (forwarded from LMLGA) - ENDORSED

  • EB88 Local Government Ethics Commissioner (author: Councillor Lurbiecki) - ENDORSED

  • NEB5 Updating the Provincial Minimum Standards of Maintenance (forwarded from LMLGA) - ENDORSED

  • NR14 Gender Equity: Provisions for Menstrual Supplies (Port Moody supported Port Coquitlam’s resolution) - ENDORSED

  • NR23 Incorporating Tree Canopy and Climate Goals into Housing Action (forwarded from LMLGA) - ENDORSED

  • NR47 Noise Camera Pilot Project (authors: Councillors Agtarap and Dilworth) - ENDORSED

  • NR65 Equitable Distribution of Gaming Revenue (author: Councillor Agtarap) - DEFEATED

While we were successful in our efforts to get our resolutions endorsed, since this was an election year, action at the provincial level is slower. In the meantime, Port Moody is taking action on minimum standards of maintenance for rental units, enacting a bylaw that establishes a minimum threshold that a property needs to maintain for building systems, including plumbing, building exterior, floors, mould, heating and electrical system. The bylaw also prevents landlords from unreasonably prohibiting or preventing tenants from using portable cooling appliances. I hope that the Province establishes a similar regulation across all municipalities (currently, it is up to each municipality to enact a bylaw). 

The noise camera pilot resolution was also successful at UBCM, and received significant attention from media. The resolution asked the province to enable the creation of a pilot for municipalities to opt into. Under current regulations, municipalities cannot implement traffic cameras like red light cameras as its within provincial jurisdiction. Councillor Dilworth and I are pursuing piloting noise cameras in Port Moody, intending to test the technology and develop a better understanding of the soundscape in our city. We will present our motion to Council in January. 

The resolution on the equitable distribution of gaming revenue was defeated, but in the process, I found allies in other municipalities around the province. In 2025 I will be working with them to craft a resolution that can be supported by most BC municipalities. You can read my previous reports on this here (2023) and here (2024). Since the 2023 resolution to LMLGA (defeated), Council has met twice with the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Mike Farnworth. I will continue to advocate for equitable distribution of gaming revenues for communities that do not host casinos. 

Also new in 2024: the city implemented guidelines for boulevard gardening in our city. Residents are now encouraged to plant and maintain boulevard gardens adjacent to their homes. Councillor Lubik and I submitted this motion in May 2023, and I know we were both pleased to see guidelines developed. This can enhance the look of the neighbourhood, support pollinators and enhance biodiversity. You can find details here and on my Facebook post. I am looking forward to planting a section of boulevard adjacent to my home and seeing the results across the city this summer. 

Some motions passed at Council, that I have championed, are still with staff - such as the Bert Flinn Off-Leash Pilot. This motion, and others, are often included in work that staff is already doing. You can see what we are working on in the Public Dashboard.

2025 Looking Forward

While many of our resolutions were successful at UBCM, in many cases, we can still take action here in Port Moody on a number of them such as the noise camera pilot. As mentioned above, I will work with other elected officials on the distribution of gaming revenue, and explore how Youth Climate Corps can help us with climate action projects. I am collaborating with Councillor Lubik on advocacy motions related to housing and poverty.

Committee appointments changed again this year, as usual. I’ve moved on from the Climate Action Committee and the Economic Development and Tourism Committee. I’ve enjoyed working with staff and committee members and am proud of the work of the committees. To all the committee volunteers, thank you for your efforts. I appreciate your dedication. 

This year, I move on to chair the Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee, and remain as chair for the Arts and Business Council Task Force. I will also be sitting on the City/CPKC Community Advisory Panel, and I am the council representative on Youth Focus, Library Board, Arts Centre Society and Port Moody Heritage Society. I was also appointed to Metro Vancouver’s Indigenous Relations Committee and will act as the Mayor’s Alternate at Metro Vancouver Board of Directors.

2024 Recap - City

The annual 2024 Highlights report was presented at the December 3rd council meeting. You can watch the presentation here.

Awards

  • Achieved Bear Smart Community status.

  • Won two Gold MarCom awards for the design of the 2023 Port Moody Fire Rescue Community Report and the 2024 Waste Collection Schedule.

  • Received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 2024 Five-Year Financial Plan. This is the highest form of recognition for governmental recognition in North America.

  • Presented Freedom of the City Award to resident Robert Simons. 

City Highlights

  • Conducted public engagement processes for 11 projects.

  • Conducted the 2024 Community Satisfaction Survey (Note this survey is conducted every two years. Previously it was conducted via phone, but only landlines were included. This year, a broader cross-section of our community was able to participate due to the change in methodology.)

  • Gave away 350 trees to residents at no cost to encourage tree planting on private property and enhance our tree canopy. 

  • Introduced toonie swim, increased summer hours at the recreation complex and provided inclusion and support services for children and youth in city summer camps.

  • Implemented “resident-first” registration for recreation programs.

  • Hosted senior’s “try it week” 

  • Hosted a session on Provincial Housing Initiatives Zoning Information for residents to learn more about the recent changes to housing legislation. 

  • Collected over 6,000 tonnes of green waste, recycling, glass and garbage from over 12,000 households

  • Implemented pay parking at popular Port Moody destinations

  • Disbursed $30,000 as grants to 19 community groups

  • Donated surplus fire equipment to Loon Lake and Lytton Fire departments

  • Plus many other successful programs and events held by the Port Moody Library, Police and Fire Departments

Events

  • Welcomed over 12,000 people to Car-Free Day. 

  • Planned and hosted Canada Day celebrations at Rocky Point Park as a part of Golden Spike Days, including headliner Trooper. 

  • Hosted the Mayor’s Youth Summit - a forum for local youth to discuss critical issues affecting their lives.

  • 2024 Spike Awards celebrating local businesses

Infrastructure projects completed:

  • Phase 1 of the boardwalk replacement project was completed, with Phase 2 ongoing (details here)

  • Shoreline Trail upgrades (part of the Shoreline Sanitary Sewer project).

  • Inlet Field reopened (and renamed Bob Flavelle Field to honour his contributions to the city) 

  • St Johns St multi-use path completed

  • Westhill Pool disinfection system upgrades to increase user and staff safety.

  • Westhill Childcare Centre (included roof membrane replacement and renovation of the building)

Thanks

Thanks for reading this far! I wish you a very successful and happy new year. If you have questions about topics that you would like me to write about, let me know!

Cheers,
Samantha