Sep 14 2007

Port Moody may consider ending its West Coast Express parking lot agreement with TransLink after the transportation authority hiked its rates by as much as 167%.

The city signed an agreement with BC Transit in 1995, which stated parking rates would be $1 per day and $15 per month; TransLink has increased them to $2 per day and $40 for a monthly pass. The changes apply to TransLink’s five WCE lots and to the Scott Road Station but not to six other park-and-ride lots.

The increase will cost PoMo residents an extra $300 or more for parking — enough for two month-long ride passes.

“What message are we giving when we ask people to take public transit and then doubling the fee?” asked Mayor Joe Trasolini at Tuesday’s council meeting. In a written submission Coun. Diana Dilworth suggested several options for the city to pursue, including cancelling the agreement and bringing the parking lot, part of which the city owns, back under its control.

HERITAGE HOMES REGISTERED

Nineteen homes have been added to Port Moody’s heritage register even though more than half the homeowners asked not to be included.

Only four property owners agreed to add theirs to the register; 10 requested their properties not be listed and five haven’t responded to the city’s letters. The Local Government Act doesn’t require cities to get permission from owners before listing properties.

Most of the 19 properties are located in Moody Centre, where the city hopes to establish a Heritage Conservation Area.

PEACE PARK ADDITION

A 13th tree will be added to Port Moody’s collection of maple trees in the city’s Town Centre Park to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Peace Parks Across Canada.

Port Moody, along with 400 other cities across the country, participated in the 1992 event by planting 12 maple trees symbolizing the 10 provinces and two territories. The re-dedication ceremony adds another tree in honour of Canada’s third territory, Nunavut.

Five of PoMo’s trees were removed for recreation centre construction but they’ll be replaced once work is finished.

CONTRACTS AWARDED

The city awarded a contract worth $158,915 to Mutual Construction for replacing the Shoreline bridge in Shoreline Park. The budget shortfall of $63,141 will be funded from the tidal park reserve.

Repairs to the Barnet Highway westbound concrete bridge deck and to the highway’s surface were also approved at Port Moody’s council meeting Tuesday; the $70,000 bill will be paid for with the city’s Major Road Network reserves.