For the second time this year, Port Coquitlam is tinkering with how it conducts its business in — and with — the public.
In January, as a result of a resident who was deemed to have "inappropriate behaviour" at council meetings, PoCo politicians changed the city's policy to place open question period before it adjourned open meetings.
That means all comments made during public input are now considered on the record.
Next week, city council is expected to formally update its 11-year-old bylaw for council and committee procedures. And the revamped bylaw has some interesting additions, including:
• allowing electronic participation for special meetings if an urgent decision is required during an emergency or summer break;
• standardizing how and when meetings can be tape- and/or video-recorded by members of the public and media;
• providing clarity around public petitions and how they are accepted;
• referencing Roberts Rules of Order;
• and releasing results of closed-meeting resolutions.
Port Moody city council has unveiled in-camera decisions, when appropriate, for a number of years; however, the practice still isn't on Coquitlam city council agendas.
Other PoCo briefs:
A number of changes are being made to Port Coquitlam's commercial and industrial zoning bylaw that may have an effect on how businesses operate.
Last week, after a public hearing, city council gave third reading to the bylaw amendments in anticipation of this fall's review of the official community plan (OCP).
The proposed changes include:
• adding commercial indoor storage in the M3 (light industrial) zone;
• requiring advanced technology industries, auctions, production studios and trade contractors to have an industrial component;
• and removing the green roof regulation for large-format buildings.
The latter stipulation is being deleted as a result to changes to the BC Building Code, which has new measures to increase building insulation and energy efficiency. As well, the new Building Act is expected to eliminate municipal authority to require green roofs.
Still, developers wanting to put in a green roof can have their development permit process quickened and development permit fees waived, under the city's existing policy.
The zone changes are a result of last year's Mayor's Task Force on Business Development Opportunities. The aim of the review was to broaden the range of allowable uses and increase the number of jobs in the city.
PoCo has nearly 1,000 acres of industrial lands and almost 700,000 square metres of industrial floor space — just as much as in Coquitlam. Much of PoCo's industrial land is owned by CP Rail. Its M3 (light industrial) zone has 40 acres while the M1 zone (general industrial) has 271 acres.
About 400 acres of PoCo land is designated for commercial use.
Meanwhile, city council at its July 13 meeting also gave third reading to OCP and zoning bylaw "housekeeping" changes that would see building heights for row homes and town homes increased to 10.5 m, and to 15 m for RA1 zone apartments.
As well, with the number of multi-housing units going up, the city wants to see interior ceiling heights in apartments rise to nine feet, said Laura Lee Richard, the city's manager of director of development services.
