Editor:
Embarking on the visioning work required for a community to update its Official Community Plan (if adopted needs review within a 5 year time frame to conform with the housing needs portion) is both a daunting and exciting task. In Port Moody we are starting that work. The City has launched a platform for civic engagement engage.portmoody.ca and engagement for the OCP amendment conversation /portmoody-2050.
I really welcomed this step, with 34,000+ residents anything that can be done to help get the word out and improve the opportunity for feedback should be embraced. The OCP becomes a guiding tool in the growth and development of all aspects of life in a city/community. It is best served if disparate views, wants and needs are heard and addressed. To that end encouragement – clear and completely unbiased encouragement – should be seen from all members of council and staff.
The city has an active campaign to encourage engagement including on their city Facebook page. Some people have expressed concern primarily over towers and tower heights. This is an exact copy of Coun Steve .Milani’s response to those comments, and I will add only to the comments that appear to be against towers and development in general:
“Please consider filling out the survey. The majority of the residents I have spoken with are not in favour of adding towers all over Port Moody, 13 in Moody Centre alone for example, but people need to complete the survey to make that clear to Council and city staff. I would greatly appreciate your assistance in completing the survey because I can’t convey this message alone. Thank you in advance. Steve Milani – Councillor, City of Port Moody.”
This is not the job of a councillor and this councillor is clearly (and not for the first time) circumventing all norms of good governance. His job is to listen to all and make the best decisions he can for all of the city. This councillor has advised me when I object to this tactic on Social Media that he has no “personal agenda”, this is his job and actually posted his council responsibilities like I didn’t already know them and wished me a wonderful weekend. I will let readers decide themselves if the comment I quoted here represents fair and unbiased work with no personal agenda.
I encourage all Port Moody residents, regardless of how they feel or what they see as their vision for our city, to engage and complete the survey.
Let’s do this right for everyone.
Laura Dick, Port Moody
