City's Update Newsletter

March 2015

More City info inside!

The City of Port Coquitlam produces Update newsleƩers to inform the community about City news, services and opportuniƟes to get involved.

Visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/update for back issues, and find out how to stay connected with the City at www.portcoquitlam.ca/connected.

Celebrate with us!

Mar. 7: PoCoParty 2015 – celebrate the city’s 102nd birthday at Leigh Square, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free live entertainment, cake, community group displays and awards, silent auction and more. Info: www.pocoparty.ca.

Mar. 7: Emergency Preparedness course – prepare for a disaster at this free class, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at No. 1 Fire Hall.

Register: 604.927.5460. Info: www.portcoquitlam.ca/ep.

Mar. 9-20: Spring break fun – find family activity and day camp info at www.portcoquitlam.ca/springbreak.

Apr. 4: Terry Fox 35th Anniversary Training Run – run Terry’s 10-mile training route, starting at 7:30 a.m. at Westwood elementary (registration 6:30 a.m.). Community walk/event at 10 a.m. Info: www.terryfoxtrainingrun.com.

Apr. 4: Easter Arts Family Celebration – egg decorating, arts, storytelling, entertainment and more. This event sells out. Pre-register at www.experienceit.ca or 604.927.7529.

May 1-10: May Day Festival – including the May Day Rotary Grande Parade, community block party and BizAlley on May 9. Info: www.portcoquitlam.ca/mayday.

May 1-7: Youth Week – events and activities celebrating youth. Info: www.pocoyouth.com.

Lions Park open for spring break

Crews took advantage of the dry weather in late February to put the finishing touches on Lions Park.

Staying in town for spring break?

Make sure to head to Lions Park to check out the new playground, walkway, washroom and plaza opening Mar. 7.

During the stretch of dry weather in late February, crews worked on the finishing touches and landscaping for the project, which began in late 2013 to replace aging park infrastructure and meet increasing demand due to growth in the downtown.

The new play area will include the iconic tire dragon, play areas for younger and older children, seating, and features accessible for people of all abilities.

Some spray features will also be added this spring, with no closure of the play area during construction.

For more details about this project, visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/lionspark.

Help create a new Cultural Plan Watch for opportunities this spring to get in involved in the creation of a new Cultural Plan that will guide the city’s investment in arts and cultural w services for the next decade. se Replacing the existing plan adopted in 2001, the Cultural Plan will: • find out what’s important to residents in terms of arts and culture, • assess the current state of arts and culture (e.g. usership, leadership and resources), • identify barriers and opportunities,

www.portcoquitlam.ca

• define Port Coquitlam’s culture, and • engage the community in developing a new city slogan.

The success of the plan relies on public consultation. Along with a survey and online outreach, there may be hands-on activities such as a postcard contest, student essay or photo contest, and sidewalk chalk party.

Public consultation for the Cultural Plan will take place in April and May. For more information, visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/culturalplan.

March 2015

Message from Mayor and Council: Thanks for having your say

From leŌ: Cllr. Glenn Pollock, Cllr. Brad West, Cllr. Dean Washington, Mayor Greg Moore, Cllr. Mike Forrest, Cllr. Darrell Penner, and Cllr. Laura Dupont.

More than 850 Port Coquitlam residents provided their opinion in February on the draft 2015 budget, which includes planning for a new Community Recreation Complex, saving for future infrastructure, Chafer Beetle management on city lands, and other projects.

Thank you to those who took the time to have your say.

Public feedback helps us do our job better by letting us know what matters to taxpayers as we make important decisions

about city services and programs.

To learn about the results of the budget public input process, you can attend the Council meeting on Mar. 9 or watch it live online through the link at www.portcoquitlam.ca/council.

We will consider all the feedback received as we finalize the budget this spring. Follow the budget process at www.portcoquitlam.ca/budget and other City news sources.

Mayor Greg Moore

Nominate a volunteer by Mar. 10 Time is running out to show local volunteers that their efforts are recognized and appreciated.

Nominations for the annual Port Coquitlam Volunteer Recognition Awards close on Mar. 10. Like rocks thrown into a lake, the work of local volunteers creates a ripple effect throughout the community that benefits us all.

PORT Nominations are accepted in seven categories. All nominees receive COQUITL AM a commemorative pin and invitation to an awards and tribute event at the Giggle Dam Theatre in April. Award recipients also receive a personalized etched glass award and have their names added to the Volunteer Honour Roll at City Hall.

Go to www.portcoquitlam.ca/volunteer for information and to nominate. Questions: 604.927.5410.

o lu n teers

ROCK!

Watch your mailbox for ballot to vote on transportaƟon and transit Registered voters in Port Coquitlam and across Metro Vancouver will soon have a chance to vote on a proposed tax to fund transportation and transit services. Mail-in ballots for the Metro Vancouver Transportation and Transit Referendum will start arriving in mailboxes on Mar. 16 and residents will have until May 29 to participate.

The proposed 0.5 per cent tax would pay for regional road improvements, added West Coast Express capacity, more bus connections to the Evergreen Line, upgrades to bus stops and exchanges, cycling and pedestrian improvements, and a variety of other upgrades.

More information is available at www.mayorscouncil.ca. For information about voting criteria, go to www.elections.bc.ca/plebiscite.

Matching grant deadline Mar. 31

Applications for the city’s Self-Help Matching Grant Program will be accepted until Mar. 31. The annual program encourages projects expected to result in direct benefits to the community.

Individuals and organizations may request matching funding for

Tel: 604.927.5411 • Fax: 604.927.5360 • Email: info@portcoquitlam.ca

Chafer Beetle larvae will infest damaged lawns, enƟcing wildife to dig them up.

EUROPEAN CHAFER BEETLE

Healthy lawn is the best defence Did you know that Chafer Beetles don’t like healthy lawns? Keeping your lawn healthy is your best defence against the damage caused by birds and animals who dig up lawns infested with beetle larvae.

Port Coquitlam bans the use of pesticides, but there are many ways to keep a natural and healthy lawn, such as routinely aerating, dethatching, liming, top-dressing, over-seeding, fertilizing, watering twice weekly (about 2.5 cm per week), and mowing to a grass height of 5-6 cm. For more tips, visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/yardcare.

You can check your lawn for infestations now by turning over sections of sod one square foot in size and digging through the soil below. If there are more than 5-10 grubs per section, you may have an infestation.

If you do have an infestation, start by roto-tilling infested soil (rather than removing it, to avoid spreading grubs.)

In July (weather depending), you can apply nematodes to infested areas.

They can be ordered at lawn and garden stores in the spring or early summer.

To be effective, nematodes must be stored properly (i.e. refrigerated) by retailers. Retailers can provide advice on how and when to apply.

For more tips, visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/chaferbeetle. projects that involve new construction, renovations or improvement of facilities or spaces. Past grants have funded playgrounds, building upgrades, specialized equipment and more. For information or an application form, go to www.portcoquitlam.ca/grants.

www.portcoquitlam.ca

CITY OF P RT COQUITLAM

Sign up by Apr 15

Free alarms for high-risk groups Port Coquitlam seniors and people with disabilities may request free smoke alarms and get help testing their existing alarms from the Fire & Emergency Services department.

The program, which targets those who are at the highest risk of dying in a fire, is part of a province-wide campaign to ensure every home has a working smoke alarm.

Port Coquitlam residents who are age 60 or older, or who have disabilities and live independently, may fill out the online request form on the High Risk Smoke Alarm Campaign page at www.portcoquitlam.ca/fire or call 604.927.5288 to request a free alarm installation or test of existing alarms. Someone may also make the request on their behalf.

Check your alarm on Mar. 8 Only a working smoke alarm saves lives.

Make sure to test, inspect, clean and vacuum your smoke alarm on Mar. 8 and every time the clock changes.

More fire safety and smoke alarm tips and info: www.portcoquitlam.ca/firesafety.

The City-wide Garage Sale on Apr. 25 will once again give residents a chance to de-clutter, make some cash and recycle their reusable items. To participate, simply plan a garage sale on Apr. 25 from at least 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Participants who register by Apr. 15 will get free advertising for their sale in the newspaper and online. For info and to sign up for free, visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/garagesale.

Programs support local businesses Local businesses can get help with hiring and promotions through two programs, introduced by the city in 2014 as part of its ongoing economic development efforts.

• The PoCoWorks! job board posts jobs available both with the City and local businesses. Visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/jobs to find or post a job for free.

• BizAlley will showcase local businesses to the thousands of people who will attend the May Day Festival and Rotary Grande Parade on May 9, 2015. Port Coquitlam businesses can sign up for free at www.portcoquitlam.ca/bizalley.

Bear safety: cart locks coming this spring The warmer weather signals the start of bear season in Port Coquitlam – and the need to secure garbage and green waste from bears looking for an easy meal.

Watch your mailbox this April for details about new city waste cart locks to be provided later this spring at no cost to homes receiving city waste services in areas with high bear activity. Until the locks are provided, Port Coquitlam residents and businesses are urged to secure their garbage and green carts with their existing Critter Guard lock or in a bear-resistant garage or shed, and to only set out their carts from 5:30-7:30 a.m. on collection day.

For details about the locks or bear safety, go to www.portcoquitlam.ca/bears.

www.portcoquitlam.ca: City services, news and more: • PoCoMAP interactive mapping tool.

• Community Calendar – events, meetings, etc.

• Council meeting agendas, minutes, and live and archived meeting videos.

• Home Owner Grants – claim online.

• MyPortCoquitlam – manage your my P rtCoquitlam City bills and licences online.

• Online Payments – renew dog and business licences.

www.portcoquitlam.ca

How to stay connected www.experienceit.ca: register online for recreation programs. www.pocomotion.ca: Info for an active and healthy lifestyle.

YOUR MONEY:

Sign up for prepayments Having a hard time saving up for your annual utility and tax bills?

Plan ahead now for 2016 and sign up for the city’s convenient prepayment plan.

The plan allows property owners to pre-pay for their taxes and utilities in manageable monthly installments.

There is no administrative fee, and your account earns monthly interest at a rate equal to TD Bank’s prime rate less four per cent. The interest earned and applied to taxes is not considered personal income, so is not subject to income tax.

For more information and to sign up, visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/taxes.

Get waste collection reminders, tips and more with the PoCo Waste-Line App. Download it free at www.portcoquitlam.ca/wasteline.

e-Update

Sign up to get City news by email at www.portcoquitlam.ca/e-update.

Follow us! Links at www.portcoquitlam.ca/connect.

Activities and events for youth.

2580 Shaughnessy Street, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 2A8