Key Issues
Port Moody is a special place: a small city with distinct neighbourhoods, a strong connection to nature and parks, and a community that cares deeply about their city.
I’ve spent the last four years listening, learning and doing the work, focusing on evidence-based, data-driven, collaborative decisions. I want to continue this work, building on what’s going well, what’s not and making sure Port Moody is a place where everyone feels welcome.
My overarching focus areas remain the same as the last election, though some of the details have changed to reflect the successes we’ve had so far.
An accessible city
Walking and rolling, combined with good transit, are the foundation of an accessible city. Safe routes encourage active transportation. Plus it’s good for our health.
This means ensuring our sidewalks and active transportation routes can be navigated safely by everyone. It makes short trips for daily needs, even groceries, easy without a vehicle. Accessibility also means access to recreation, parks, and free community spaces is within an easy walk or roll. It also means one less car on the road. When it is safe to walk or roll, more people will choose to move that way.
Connection to nature and public outdoor spaces
Our Parkland Strategy envisions outdoor spaces within easy walking distance of every person’s home. Acquiring land, when available, is a key aspect of realizing this vision. Parks, trails and natural areas not only provide recreation opportunities for residents, but also spaces for our wild neighbours to move throughout our community.
For liveability and community health, we should strive to meet the 3-30-300 rule. This means 3 significant trees are visible from home, school or work, 30% tree canopy cover in all neighbourhoods; and within 300 m to a park or trail. Equally important, continued focus and sustained funding for both the current Urban Forestry Management Strategy and the Parkland Strategy.
Valuing our natural assets
Our forests, streams and lakes matter. They provide core city services and support our community’s health and resilience. In 2024, Council endorsed a Natural Asset Management Strategy and Policy. This will help the city monitor, protect, enhance, and maintain these natural assets in the future.
A thriving local economy
Our locally owned and operated businesses, along with artists and arts-related businesses, contribute in many ways, some unseen, to the character and well-being of the city. A robust arts sector supports job creation and growth, as well as attracting tourists and spending. Businesses that grow here, hire here.
I will continue to support the implementation of the Economic Master Plan. We need to also be able to respond to changing economic conditions quickly. The (re)use of Burrard Thermal Lands is important for our economy, along with working to identify and attract anchor tenants such as government agencies, public institutions and the growing BC cleantech industry.
Heavy industrial land use remain a major part of Port Moody’s tax base. Engagement with this sector was initiated with the Heavy Industrial Strategy, and on-going relationship building is the key to mutually beneficial uses – both current and future. The Burrard Thermal lands are a big part of that future and I will advocate for a use that provides a community benefit.
Supporting local business
Our local businesses contribute so much to our community – they support fundraisers, they employ our residents – including first jobs for our youth, contribute to neighbourhood character and they spend their money here too. They are the economic backbone and without them, our community would look and feel very different. LOCO BC estimates that local businesses recirculate $63 out of every $100 earned back into the local economy, compared to multinational companies.
Our city has a high proportion of locally owned and operated businesses which lend to its charm. However, we also have a very low vacancy rate for industrial and commercial spaces. Some of our home-grown businesses are growing and looking for more space but may not be able to stay because of the lack of options in Port Moody.
In any future developments, we need to encourage the preservation of existing industrial spaces (both light and heavy) and expand our commercial floor space. Future developments must support a variety of mixed uses beyond retail only at ground level. We need a variety of businesses/employers to ensure diverse job opportunities for our community, ensuring live, work, create and play opportunities for our residents.
The city’s role is to ensure a diversity of new commercial and industrial spaces through policy, allowing for the creation of a range of commercial and industrial spaces that will create an inviting city for businesses. New businesses will also help to develop a broader tax base and consequently, provide more revenue to the city. More revenue through tax base diversification means more money for existing and new amenities. The recently completed Industrial Land Strategy will help guide decision making.
Ultimately, I believe we should be able to get all our day-to-day needs met within our home neighbourhood or city. To me, that means all our daily errands can be completed without depending on a car, including going to work. This is why we need to build complete, sustainable communities.
Loss of industrial space
Industrial lands comprise about 4% of Metro Vancouver’s land base and contribute 27% of the jobs. The development of new industrial space has not kept pace with demand, and the vacancy rate (1.4%) in the region is amongst the lowest in North America. Combined with high land prices, this contributes to significant pressure on existing users of industrial land, such that industrial businesses are competing for and being displaced from the region. This threatens the economic diversity of our regional economy. Businesses on industrial lands generate 30% of the region’s GDP and on average have 10% higher wages than the regional average. Reference: Regional Industrial Lands Strategy, Metro Vancouver 2020.
Did you know? Major industry pays 15 times more (per $1000 in assessed value) in property tax than residential properties. Light industry and other businesses pay 4 and 2 times, respectively. These businesses are an important financial contributors to our community and the loss of income from the closure of Burrard Thermal and Flavelle Mill affected the City’s bottom line. We need to encourage creative, “outside the box” thinking and get those lands working for our community again through tax revenue and job creation. Reference: Port Moody mill rates.
Supporting spaces for arts, connecting all ages to art
Our tagline is City of the Arts, and it’s time that we start living up to it. This past term two task forces on Arts and Business tackled this thorny question, resulting in nine recommendations. Work has commenced, and I am excited to see where this can go, complementing and bridging the gap between the two ecosystems. To me, a City of the Arts is one that has visibly integrated arts, in all its forms, into the City’s economy.
Community Impact Real Estate Society (CIRES)
A model worth exploring: Community Impact Real Estate Society (CIRES) is a Vancouver-based social enterprise focusing on commercial real estate to build inclusive, equitable and vibrant local communities. Its portfolio includes 53 commercial units in 29 buildings, representing over 112,000 ft2. CIRES prioritizes small businesses, non-profits and social enterprises. It uses income generated by market leases to subsidize units at below market rates for organizations that create positive community impact. Could it work for our community? It’s worth exploring!
A place for families and seniors to call home
Communities thrive when we create space for people of all ages. Monitoring the effect of the existing policies over time will ensure appropriate housing across the spectrum of our lives with a continued focus on family-friendly, climate-resilient homes. This includes continued advocacy for long-term care and housing that allows our residents to age in place. It also means increasing affordable housing in all forms. In recent years, we have increased market rentals near skytrain, including increased numbers of family-friendly unit sizes, which can also save families thousands in transportation costs.
A city prepared for the future
We need continue planning for a climate future that is very different than the one I grew up in. This mean supporting the implementation phases and projects of the climate action plan. We also need to figure out a sustainable funding mechanism, so we aren’t wholly reliant on property taxation.
Acknowledging truth and reconciliation
Acknowledging truth and reconciliation is not something we can check off a list, and continuing to build on the relationships we’ve built this term with Tseil-Waututh and Kwikwetlem Nations is a key to this journey. I recognize that there is significant anxiety around the Cowichan decision and the Musqueam agreement. I believe that the only way forward is together and will continue to build those relationships to mutual benefit and understanding.
Let's stay in touch
Questions for me? Or interested in hosting a small get-together and chatting about the future of Port Moody? Send me a note.