Coquitlam and Burnaby will each have to shell out at least $500,000 to pay for new landscaping, lights and fencing down North Road as part of the Evergreen Line.
The streetscape amenities - i.e., median rain gardens, enhanced median planting, guideway lighting and decorative trellises - are aimed at treating storm water runoff, improving pedestrian safety and "softening the appearance" of the rapid transit line, according to a staff report that went before Coquitlam's council-in-committee on Monday.
Maurice Gravelle, Coquitlam's general manager of special initiatives, said the decorative and safety measures are outside the scope of the provincial government, which is overseeing the project.
Meanwhile, both Coquitlam and Burnaby will also have to find another $75,000 a year to maintain the plants and lighting down North Road once the rapid transit line opens from Lougheed Town Centre, in Burnaby, to Coquitlam City Centre in the summer of 2016.
Other Coquitlam news:
A Coquitlam city councillor who was unsuccessful in having voters' lists published as a way to encourage more turnout at election time is now trying to get residents connected via eTownhalls.
At Monday's council meeting, Coun. Terry O'Neill submitted a notice of motion to call on city staff to look at allowing social media comments during the live meetings.
In his view, phoned-in, emailed and Twittered comments and questions would be accepted and broadcasted as part of the biannual gatherings, which are webcasted.
O'Neill said he put forward the suggestion after the last townhall, held Oct. 3 at the Centennial Pavilion, had a poor turnout - "so low as to be matched by the number of city staff and councillors in attendance," said O'Neill, whose motion is being championed with Coun. Selina Robinson.
City council is expected to discuss the recommendation at Monday's council meeting.
Santa and his elves have RSVP'd to Light the Hall in Coquitlam next month.
The city will host its second annual family holiday event on Sunday, Nov. 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. with a live tree at Buchanan Square (south of city hall) being lit at the end of the festivities.
At Monday's council-in-committee meeting, Kathy Reinheimer, Coquitlam's manager of parks and facilities, said $10,000 is budgeted for the party that, besides Santa's appearance, will also include local choirs singing Christmas carols and crafts for the kids.
Christmas lights will also be strung at Spirit Square and a wreath will be hung outside the Glen Pine Pavilion. As well, the area around Lafarge Lake by the Evergreen Cultural Centre will be turned into a "forest fantasy," she said.
The seasonal celebration follows in the footsteps of the now-defunct Light the Lake, a fundraiser for the Douglas College Foundation.
