They gave heartfelt thanks to their family, friends and campaign teams.
They paid tribute to Michael Wright for his 33 years on council and hoped newcomer Laura Dupont would look at city business with "fresh eyes."
And they vowed, over the next four years, to steer the 101-year-old city with transparency while keeping a close eye on tax dollars.
On Monday, Port Coquitlam's inaugural council meeting drew more than 100 well-wishers to Wilson Centre, an aging civic facility Mayor Greg Moore promised will be replaced along with the PoCo rec complex.
In his first speech since being elected last month to his third term, Moore said the municipality will start in January a public engagement process on what the new community centre will look like. And he named a few other projects council plans to tackle, among them:
reviewing the official community plan;
creating a new arts strategy;
choosing an alignment for the Fremont connector;
increasing public transit connections in time for the opening of the Evergreen Line in Coquitlam;
supporting local business and boosting employment;
and marketing the bear-proof garbage strap that city staff designed.
As well, to continue to hold the line on property taxes, Moore said he has established three new sub-committees that will fall under the finance and intergovernmental committee he chairs: budget and infrastructure (overseen by Coun. Dean Washington); continuous improvement assessment (Coun. Brad West); and a new revenue task force (Coun. Glenn Pollock).
During the first meeting of the new council, Moore also named the standing committee chairs: Coun. Darrell Penner to community safety, Coun. Mike Forrest to healthy community, Pollock to smart growth and West to transportation.
Dupont, who was a citizen advisor on the 2013 transportation committee, told the crowd she had heard plenty on the doorstep during the fall campaign. "You informed me. You told me what matters," she said. "Thanks for giving me a chance."
Added top vote-getter West, "We will work together to ensure our best days are yet to come."
Meanwhile, Moore - who is running for re-election as Metro Vancouver's board chair on Dec. 12 - said the city will host a special event in the new year to thank Wright for his lengthy public service.
@jwarrenTC
Port Coquitlam council got down to business this week, hearing wish lists from city managers for the 2015 budget.
Presentations start today (Tuesday) from fire, corporate and parks department heads and are expected to continue Wednesday, starting at 4:30 p.m., with words from the leaders of the RCMP, human resources, finance, development services and engineering departments.
The business plans are posted online at portcoquitlam.ca/budget.
