The Editor,
Re. “PoMo road changes could cost >$300k” (The Tri-City News, Jan. 24).
Port Moody residents’ property taxes have increased over the past four years some 30%, four times the rate of inflation, with a further 5.55% to 7% projected this year. Despite this, our mayor and council are still seriously considering spending our hard-earned dollars on projects that are not budgeted for.
Mayor Rob Vagramov and councillors Hunter Madsen, Amy Lubik and Steve Milani are working to immediately remove the road right of way (ROW) from Bert Flinn Park at a significant cost to Port Moody taxpayers.
Let’s consider the facts:
• The ROW has been in place 20 years and has become an effective part of the park, providing access for citizens with limited mobility.
• There is no proposal to build a road through the park, despite what Save Bert Flinn Park has been promoting.
• Councillor Madsen stated at the last council meeting that $100,000 to augment 22 acres of land is a small price to pay, perhaps forgetting we already own and control that land.
• Real costs from the engineering department report estimates it will cost $318,000 and 240 hours of staff time to remove the ROW, make improvements to the park and study to remove Ioco Road from the Major Road Network (MRN). And this ignores the high probability of legal action, which would result in unidentified costs against our city.
• Council already has the authority to decline any road proposal that may be submitted now or in the future without spending any of our tax dollars.
Further, council wants a study to remove Ioco Road from the MRN. The city receives $247,000 annually from TransLink for the maintenance of Ioco. City staff estimate a study would cost $50,000 to remove Ioco from the MRN.
For what purpose? Are we to spend $50,000 with the only goal being to lose $247,000 in funding? Only one explanation: Mayor Vagramov had it in his campaign platform.
Port Moody cannot afford to spend more staff time, resources and tax money on non-essentials. We have far more urgent matters at hand, such as affordable housing, economic development, recreation facilities, library, revitalization of Moody Centre, Clarke Street, Murray Street, etc.
Port Moody residents, you need to make your voices heard before more tax dollars are wasted. This money comes from one place: your pocket.
Stirling Ward, Port Moody
(Editor’s note: Stirling Ward ran for council in the Port Moody municipal election in October.)
