By Sarah Payne The Tri-City News

Jul 27 2007

Midwest Property Management’s plans to install meters on its 200 townhouses in Woodland Park has raised the ire of Port Moody council.

Tuesday, council asked staff to research the possibility of a bylaw to control or prohibit private metering for the purpose of reselling water on private property.

About two weeks ago, Midwest informed Woodland Park residents it would install the meters and charge them about $60 monthly for their water, three times what Port Moody charges Midwest.

The city’s director of engineering and operations, Eugene Wat, said if Midwest meters the units, it may make it a “water purveyor” like the city, a position that is highly regulated by Fraser Health.

The company has put its plans on hold until it gets a written decision from the Residential Tenancy Branch.

Other PoMo news:

ice, ice baby

Users of the new arena in Port Moody can expect to see it in NHL format in the dry-floor season and Olympic during the ice-in season.

Staff had planned to install it in the Olympic-sized configuration (100 feet by 200 feet), as it was last year but the Port Moody Black Panthers Junior Hockey Club raised objections. The club said the bleacher layout means about 15 feet along the boards on the seated side of the arena can’t be seen when the ice is in its larger format.

All the other ice user groups prefer the Olympic-sized ice sheet and council noted the $3-million government grant was specifically to build the larger format. Staff will look into improving the bleacher layout as part of the upcoming budget process.

The ice goes back in July 30.

LITTERBUGS

Port Moody is taking a stand on litterbugs by joining forces with the Northeast Sector Anti-Litter Campaign.

Council supported the recommendations from the North East Sector Environmental Stewardship Committee and its campaign, which aims to consolidate efforts to save money and offer a greater impact.

Recommendations include combining materials to support existing events like Pitch-In Week and the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup/Rivers Day. PoMo agreed to combine their advertising efforts with Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam for anti-litter initiatives to take advantage of cost-sharing opportunities.

The city will also support anti-litter efforts already underway by non-municipal organizations, such as Impact Anti-Litter, by recognizing and incorporating them into the campaign.

LIBRARY REPORT

Port Moody Public Library continued its pattern of growth in 2006 but at a slower pace than the year before.

More than 7,800 people attended programs and events at the library, up from 7,400 in 2005. That 5.4% increase is lower than the 34% increase in visits from 2004 to 2005.

The library continued its popular programs, including hosting the third annual Artists’ Reception, Reading Buddies, the second Annual Tea for the visually impaired and the Summer Reading Club, which drew more than 900 children last year.

The library did well in attracting provincial grants and donations, including more than $28,000 from the sixth annual golf tournament. Year-end finances included total revenues of nearly $1.4 million and expenditures of $1.3 million; the surplus went back to the city ($13,346) and to capital expenditures ($93,112).

More than 40,000 people hold PoMo library cards, well above the 36,000 reported last year.

CARRIAGE HOUSE

When does a carriage house go from a small living unit above a garage to a second full-size dwelling on a single lot?

At a public hearing Tuesday, Wendy Swalwell, president of the Moody Centre Community Association, said many residents believed a proposal to build a 2,200-square foot carriage house at 2209 St. Johns St. would mean a unit above the garage or a small detached storage space.

Construction of the carriage house would come under a heritage revitalization agreement (HRA) for the property. In exchange for a permit to build the carriage house, the owners would agree to restore and accept a heritage designation of the existing house, which was built in 1914 by then-mayor Perry Roe.

Director of planning Tim Savoie said the term “carriage house” simply refers to a second unit and doesn’t dictate size, adding the proposal is “absolutely consistent” with the city’s official community plan. Coun. Karen Rockwell said while this type of in-fill is the preferred method of densification in Moody Centre, the city should clarify the term “carriage house” in its ongoing OCP review.

Council voted 5-1 in support (Coun. Mike Clay voted against and Mayor Joe Trasolini was absent) of third reading for the HRA bylaw.

SIDING trouble

PoMo council didn’t mince words when discussing a developer who used vinyl siding on a Clarke Road project instead of the agreed-upon Hardiboard.

Developer Marino Roshanaei was given approval in September 2005 to rezone the property at 2006 Clarke St. from single-family to comprehensive development to permit a four-unit townhouse project. Plans called for Hardiboard siding and stone cladding.

A staff inspection of the property showed the developer had in fact used vinyl siding instead of Hardiboard on the sides and rear of the building. The city sent him a letter and he responded with an offer of $10,000 to be used for a community amenity.

“To me, this is bribery,” said Coun. Meghan Lahti. “They entered a legal agreement with plans on what they would do. [This is] dirty money and I would never agree to it.”

Council rejected the offer and will require the developer to replace the vinyl with Hardiboard and to recycle the vinyl siding.

FIRE fuel

Port Moody will apply for a grant to help pay for removing built-up wildfire fuel as a result of the winter windstorms.

The Operational Fuel Management Program was established to help communities mitigate the potential impacts of forest fires. Since the windstorms the city has worked with staff, contractors and the fire department to reduce the fuel load.

Total costs to date are about $440,000. Timber salvage is expected to offset some of those costs but the city will likely be on the hook for about $250,000; the Operational Fuel Management Program covers 50% of eligible costs.

By Sarah Payne The Tri-City News

Jul 27 2007

Coming to a Port Moody mailbox near you are tips on how to comply with a new garbage ban that comes into effect early next year.

Starting Jan. 1, 2008 PoMo residents, along with those in the rest of the GVRD, will have to comply with the new GVRD waste disposal ban or risk having their garbage rejected curbside.

Garbage bins containing yard and garden waste, recyclables, gypsum wallboard or household hazardous waste won’t be picked up.

(Yard waste and recyclables will continue to be picked up if they’re separated into designated containers.)

The GVRD will also add a 50% surcharge on to the tipping fee for waste loads delivered to transfer stations that are found to contain such banned materials.

Council agreed to amend the solid waste bylaw to support the GVRD’s Zero Waste Challenge and the new ban. The existing bylaw already requires owners and tenants to separate recyclables and yard waste from solid waste but the new ban will reinforce that by rejecting any improperly sorted items.

Private haulers for multi-family complexes and businesses will also be affected, and would likely pass on any extra charges to tenants and customers, a city staff report stated.

Residents ignoring the ban could result in violations and 50% surcharges being imposed on the city; surcharge payments would further increases expenses to the solid waste budget and may increase the solid waste utility rate paid by residents, the report noted.

“It sounds onerous but it can be done if you’re willing to take the steps,” Coun. Shannon Watkins said of the stringent regulations.

“Yes, it’s being imposed, but it’s the right thing to do,” added Coun. Meghan Lahti. “We could say it’s up to the GVRD but we need to step up to the plate.”