Port Coquitlam council won't fund a perks program this year to allow civic employees to work out — for free — at the city's two recreation centres.
Council voted 6-1 against a staff wellness program that was proposed during last month's budget talks by John Leeburn, PoCo's chief administrative officer.
Leeburn told council that, like most Metro Vancouver municipalities, PoCo will soon face a staffing crunch because of the swell of retirements in local government and other industries.
And to attract and retain good workers, he advised council to set aside $21,800 in 2017 for employee wellness — a drop-in fitness and aquatics program similar to what Coquitlam and Port Moody have for their staff — to be funded from taxes.
Coun. Glenn Pollock said he voted for the initiative as city workers want to use the facilities and maintain a healthy work-life balance. During a Christmas luncheon, several workers told him they would be interested in signing up, he said.
"All it is is people getting a membership card with their picture and name on it," Pollock told The Tri-City News Tuesday. "I don't see how that's going to cost much money."
But Mayor Greg Moore said the program wasn't a high priority for council given the costs taxpayers will have a bear this year — especially as construction to replace the PoCo rec complex starts this spring. As well, he said, the Hyde Creek rec centre is already over-subscribed.
Coun. Brad West also said the optics look bad if council were to adopt a wellness program for city staff only.
"At a time when we're dealing with a difficult budget, the symbolism of saying that anyone who works for the city doesn't have to pay to use city facilities but taxpayers do have to pay — and have a significant tax increase — sends entirely the wrong message," West said.
He also countered there's not much uptake to employee wellness programs within organizations and he rejected the idea they can be used to bring in higher-qualified employees.
Still, Moore and West said they would like the proposal to return for the 2018 budget deliberations.
Port Moody offers free recreation passes to its 689 full- and part-time staff as well as job share, casual and auxiliary employees; however, not all workers take advantage of the wellness program. Last year, only half took it up, city spokesperson Rosemary Lodge said.
In other PoCo news:
Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore will use Facebook Live to talk to residents each week about city and Metro Vancouver issues.
Moore's first broadcast of the year is set for Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. and will run Wednesday nights at locations around the municipality such as city hall, parks, schools and recreation centres.
His "Mayor TV" video stream is mirrored after the hour-long Facebook Live special hosted before Christmas by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, which was co-hosted by Hootsuite.
Moore, who also chairs the Metro Vancouver board of directors, said he will take written questions via Facebook during the 30-minute program.
"It's going to be interactive and a real-time conversation about what's going on with Metro and the city," he said, adding, "I'm really hoping for feedback and to have meaningful discussion and debate."
To log in on Wednesday nights, visit facebook.com/gregmooredotca.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
