Coquitlam cashed in again this week when the provincial government poured $1.8 million into the city's coffers from the Boulevard Casino.
The quarterly payment of net proceeds from the United Boulevard venue now takes the city's total received since the casino opened a decade ago to more than $77 million.
The cash comes the same month city council disbursed more than $300,000 in gaming revenue to local community groups through its Spirit and Active grant programs.
The money also comes a week before residents get the chance to comment on Great Canadian Casino's bid to build an 11-storey hotel, convention centre, banquet hall, spa, lounge and new restaurant on the north side of its Boulevard Casino property. The public hearing will start on Monday at 7 p.m. in council chambers (3000 Guildford Way).
Last month, city council offered no comment before unanimously passing first reading of a zoning text amendment bylaw to designate the site for a 181-room hotel that, if approved, would generate about 300 full- and part-time jobs.
The application has been met with resistance from employees at the North Road Best Western Inn, many of whom say hotel rooms in the area are under-utilized; they are also concerned about job cuts if the Boulevard Casino's hotel is built.
