Port Coquitlam city council meetings will have a different look for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.
Starting Tuesday, April 7, Mayor Brad West, chief administrative officer Kristen Dixon and corporate officer Gabryel Joseph will be the only people in council chambers during meetings while councillors will be connected from their homes via the online conferencing software Zoom.
As in Coquitlam and Port Moody, the webcasts will go live, Joseph told The Tri-City News Wednesday. (Coquitlam uses Zoom while Port Moody plans to stream all open meetings with ISI Live and eScribe.)
As for public hearings at Port Coquitlam city hall, comments on rezoning applications can be submitted by email (publichearings@portcoquitlam.ca) or mail (addressed to: Corporate Office, 2580 Shaughnessy St., Port Coquitlam, B.C. V3C 2A8).
The move to virtual meetings comes a week after the provincial government issued a ministerial order to allow elected officials to work remotely to avoid physical distancing.
The order also clarifies what city services are deemed essential — among them, construction work, allowing the city to proceed on infrastructure projects such as the ongoing work of at the Port Coquitlam community centre.
Still, many civic staff are working from home and can be reached by phone, email and online. Go to portcoquitlam.ca/online for electronic services and payments.
Meanwhile, Port Coquitlam facilities remain closed until further notice and summer program registration is indefinitely on hold. Full refunds are available for activities and rentals affected by city closures.
