'City Talk' - The Terms We Use

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A
Term Meaning

Advisory Groups A group of people from the community who help local government make decisions.

Affordable Housing Housing that is priced to be affordable to specific segments of the population - usually those with low and moderately-low incomes, who cannot afford market-created housing.

Agendas A list of matters to be considered at a meeting, for example a City Council meeting

Annual Reports

Approving Officer The Approving Officer is appointed by the Council and has authority to approve subdivision plans. Although the Council establishes the standards for subdivisions, the Approving Officer is responsible to the Province and must base approval on legislation that is set out in the Land Titles Act, Municipal Act, Condominium/Strata Title Act and Limitations Act.

Arterial Roads

Assessment

Audit

Auditor Every Council or Board must appoint an Auditor. The Auditor is an accountant and cannot be an employee. He or she is an independent advisor, whose major duty is to audit the accounts and financial transactions and to report on the state of the accounting. The Auditor can also look into an expenditure to see if it complies with the law. The Auditor must be given complete and free access to all of the local government's financial records.

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B
Term Meaning

Ballot

Budget A detailed plan showing where the organization will get their money from (revenue) and what that money will be spent on (expenses).

Buffer Zone An area of land separating two distinct land uses that acts to soften or mitigate the effects of one land use on the other.

Building Code

Building Permit Permit to allow building in the City

Build-out Development of land to its full potential or theoretical capacity as permitted under current or proposed planning or zoning designations.

Business Licence A licence to operate a business in the City of Port Coquitlam

Bylaws A rule made by an organization to govern its members and control its actions; laws passed by City Council.

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C

Capital Improvements Infrastructure improvements necessary to accommodate existing and anticipated future developments.

Capital Project

Catch Basins Drains for catching rain water on streets

Chief Administration Officer The chief administrative officer or a municipality or regional district is usually called the Administrator or Manager. In smaller jurisdictions this role may be assumed by the person doing corporate and/or financial administration. Regardless of title, this person is the individual charged with the overall efficient delivery of policy and services throughout the municipality or region. The Administrator reports directly to the Council or Board. In addition, the Administrator often provides business advice to the Council or Board an acts as its representative in negotiations with other government bodies, businesses and property owners.

Citizen Advisor

City

Collector The designated municipal officer assigned responsibility as collector of taxes for the municipality.

Commercial Zoning

Committee

Community Charter

Composting

Constituents People who are represented by a government, such as the City of Port Coquitlam

Corporate Officer

Councillors

Crime Prevention Work by police and citizens for preventing crimes from happening

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D

Debt-Free

Department

Detachment A base or unit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Development Cost Charges

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E

Economic Development

Election People in the community vote on who they want on their council or regional board.

Emergency Operations Centre

Emergency Preparedness Plan A plan of actions for people to follow in case of an emergency

Engineering Using science and mathematics to solve problems for people

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F

Financial Plan A City Council approved document that identifies public facilities which serve the community and which are required in order to comply with the General Plan standards and the area community plan.

Fine

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G

G.I.S.

Graffiti

Grasscycling

Green Waste

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H

Hardware The physical parts of a computer

Hazardous Materials Materials that can be dangerous to people unless they are handled in a special way

Heritage Building A building of historical significance due to is association with such things as noted past events, historical persons, or distinguishing architectural characteristics or a significant representation of an era in the development of a city.

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I

Incorporation A community is given the status of city, town, district, or village; boundaries are established, and they are given the power to govern themselves.

Indemnity Money paid.

Industrial Zoning

Infrastructure Public services and facilities, such as sewage-disposal systems, water-supply system, other utility systems, and roads

Inspection

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J

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K

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L

Land-Use Bond

Local Improvements

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M

Medical Services Calls Calls to help sick or injured people

Minutes A record of what people discuss and decide in meetings, for example City Council or committee meetings

Mitigation Actions or project design features that reduce environmental impacts by avoiding adverse effects, minimizing adverse effects, or compensating for adverse effects

Municipality A city, district, town or village having the power to govern themselves.

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N

N.I.M.B.Y. "Not in my backyard" refers to the attitude of residents and homeowners who oppose new development simply because it would be located close to them.

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O

Official Community Plan A public document which contain specific proposals for future land uses and public improvement in a given community

Operations Services to maintain and repair public works in the City; for example, road and sidewalk repairs

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P

Passive Park

Penalty

Planner Responsible for planning the development of the community and for preparing and administering land use regulations and bylaws.

Planning The process by which public agencies, mostly local governments, determine the intensity and geographical arrangements of various land uses in a community

Property Taxes Taxes paid to the City by property owners to help pay for city services and schools

Public Works Roads, pipes, buildings, etc. for public use or service

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Q

Quorum

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R

Referendum People vote on issues like whether or not they want a swimming pool or fire protection or a new arena.

Remuneration Money paid to a person.

Resolution A decision, opinion, policy, or instruction of a municipality or regional district, expressed in a formal written document and voted on.

Riparian

Risk Management

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S

Term Meaning

Sanitary Sewer Pipes that take liquid waste from homes and businesses to treatment plants

Secondary Suite

Sign Permits Permits to allow businesses to place signs on their properties

Single Family Dwelling

Software The programs that run on computers

Solid Waste

Standing Committee An advisory body to Council established by the Mayor pursuant to Section 141 of the Community Charter. Standing Committees are composed of Councillors only and are assisted by City staff and citizens who act as advisors to the committee.

Storm Drainage Removing runoff or rainwater from streets and properties

Stormwater Rainfall and other sources of water generated by urban runoff from areas such as streets, parking lots and roof drains on houses and other buildings. Stormwater may seem clean but it can contain substances like motor oil, gasoline, sediment, fertilizer and other contaminants picked up off our roadways and roofs.

Strategic Plan

Subdivision The division of a tract of land into defined lots, either improved or unimproved, which can be separately conveyed by sale or lease, and which can be altered or developed

Surplus

Survey

Sustainability Community use of natural resources in a way that does not jeopardize the ability of future generations to live and prosper

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T

Term Meaning

Task Force

Traffic Calming

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U

Term Meaning

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V

Term Meaning

Variance A departure from any provision of the zoning requirements for a specific parcel, except use, without changing the zoning ordinance or the underlying zoning of the parcel. A variance usually is granted only upon demonstration of hardship based on the peculiarity of the property in relation to other properties in the same zone district.

Vector

Volunteer

Voter

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W

Term Meaning

Water Mains Pipes under roads that bring water to properties

Water Reservoirs Large storage tanks that maintain a steady supply of water for the City

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X

Term Meaning

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Y

Term Meaning

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Z

Term Meaning

Zoning A legislative means of ensuring that land uses of a community are properly situated in relations to one another in accordance with adopted plans.

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A Great Way to Stay Connected

A
Term	Meaning
Advisory Groups	A group of people from the community who help local government make decisions.
Affordable Housing	Housing that is priced to be affordable to specific segments of the population - usually those with low and moderately-low incomes, who cannot afford market-created housing.
Agendas	A list of matters to be considered at a meeting, for example a City Council meeting
Annual Reports
Approving Officer	The Approving Officer is appointed by the Council and has authority to approve subdivision plans. Although the Council establishes the standards for subdivisions, the Approving Officer is responsible to the Province and must base approval on legislation that is set out in the Land Titles Act, Municipal Act, Condominium/Strata Title Act and Limitations Act.
Arterial Roads
Assessment
Audit
Auditor	Every Council or Board must appoint an Auditor. The Auditor is an accountant and cannot be an employee. He or she is an independent advisor, whose major duty is to audit the accounts and financial transactions and to report on the state of the accounting. The Auditor can also look into an expenditure to see if it complies with the law. The Auditor must be given complete and free access to all of the local government's financial records.

B
Term	Meaning
Ballot
Budget	A detailed plan showing where the organization will get their money from (revenue) and what that money will be spent on (expenses).
Buffer Zone	An area of land separating two distinct land uses that acts to soften or mitigate the effects of one land use on the other.
Building Code
Building Permit	Permit to allow building in the City
Build-out	Development of land to its full potential or theoretical capacity as permitted under current or proposed planning or zoning designations.
Business Licence	A licence to operate a business in the City of Port Coquitlam
Bylaws	A rule made by an organization to govern its members and control its actions; laws passed by City Council.

C

Capital Improvements	Infrastructure improvements necessary to accommodate existing and anticipated future developments.
Capital Project
Catch Basins	Drains for catching rain water on streets
Chief Administration Officer	The chief administrative officer or a municipality or regional district is usually called the Administrator or Manager. In smaller jurisdictions this role may be assumed by the person doing corporate and/or financial administration. Regardless of title, this person is the individual charged with the overall efficient delivery of policy and services throughout the municipality or region. The Administrator reports directly to the Council or Board. In addition, the Administrator often provides business advice to the Council or Board an acts as its representative in negotiations with other government bodies, businesses and property owners.
Citizen Advisor
City
Collector	The designated municipal officer assigned responsibility as collector of taxes for the municipality.
Commercial Zoning
Committee
Community Charter
Composting
Constituents	People who are represented by a government, such as the City of Port Coquitlam
Corporate Officer
Councillors
Crime Prevention	Work by police and citizens for preventing crimes from happening

D

Debt-Free
Department
Detachment	A base or unit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Development Cost Charges

E

Economic Development
Election	People in the community vote on who they want on their council or regional board.
Emergency Operations Centre
Emergency Preparedness Plan	A plan of actions for people to follow in case of an emergency
Engineering	Using science and mathematics to solve problems for people

F

Financial Plan	A City Council approved document that identifies public facilities which serve the community and which are required in order to comply with the General Plan standards and the area community plan.
Fine

H

Hardware	The physical parts of a computer
Hazardous Materials	Materials that can be dangerous to people unless they are handled in a special way
Heritage Building	A building of historical significance due to is association with such things as noted past events, historical persons, or distinguishing architectural characteristics or a significant representation of an era in the development of a city.

I

Incorporation	A community is given the status of city, town, district, or village; boundaries are established, and they are given the power to govern themselves.
Indemnity	Money paid.
Industrial Zoning
Infrastructure	Public services and facilities, such as sewage-disposal systems, water-supply system, other utility systems, and roads
Inspection

M

Medical Services Calls	Calls to help sick or injured people
Minutes	A record of what people discuss and decide in meetings, for example City Council or committee meetings
Mitigation	Actions or project design features that reduce environmental impacts by avoiding adverse effects, minimizing adverse effects, or compensating for adverse effects
Municipality	A city, district, town or village having the power to govern themselves.

N

N.I.M.B.Y.	"Not in my backyard" refers to the attitude of residents and homeowners who oppose new development simply because it would be located close to them.

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	Email: webmaster@portcoquitlam.ca or one of our departments for more help

O

Official Community Plan	A public document which contain specific proposals for future land uses and public improvement in a given community
Operations	Services to maintain and repair public works in the City; for example, road and sidewalk repairs

P

Passive Park
Penalty
Planner	Responsible for planning the development of the community and for preparing and administering land use regulations and bylaws.
Planning	The process by which public agencies, mostly local governments, determine the intensity and geographical arrangements of various land uses in a community
Property Taxes	Taxes paid to the City by property owners to help pay for city services and schools
Public Works	Roads, pipes, buildings, etc. for public use or service

R

Referendum	People vote on issues like whether or not they want a swimming pool or fire protection or a new arena.
Remuneration	Money paid to a person.
Resolution	A decision, opinion, policy, or instruction of a municipality or regional district, expressed in a formal written document and voted on.
Riparian
Risk Management

S
Term	Meaning
Sanitary Sewer	Pipes that take liquid waste from homes and businesses to treatment plants
Secondary Suite
Sign Permits	Permits to allow businesses to place signs on their properties
Single Family Dwelling
Software	The programs that run on computers
Solid Waste
Standing Committee	An advisory body to Council established by the Mayor pursuant to Section 141 of the Community Charter. Standing Committees are composed of Councillors only and are assisted by City staff and citizens who act as advisors to the committee.
Storm Drainage	Removing runoff or rainwater from streets and properties
Stormwater	Rainfall and other sources of water generated by urban runoff from areas such as streets, parking lots and roof drains on houses and other buildings. Stormwater may seem clean but it can contain substances like motor oil, gasoline, sediment, fertilizer and other contaminants picked up off our roadways and roofs.
Strategic Plan
Subdivision	The division of a tract of land into defined lots, either improved or unimproved, which can be separately conveyed by sale or lease, and which can be altered or developed
Surplus
Survey
Sustainability	Community use of natural resources in a way that does not jeopardize the ability of future generations to live and prosper

V
Term	Meaning
Variance	A departure from any provision of the zoning requirements for a specific parcel, except use, without changing the zoning ordinance or the underlying zoning of the parcel. A variance usually is granted only upon demonstration of hardship based on the peculiarity of the property in relation to other properties in the same zone district.
Vector
Volunteer
Voter

W
Term	Meaning
Water Mains	Pipes under roads that bring water to properties
Water Reservoirs	Large storage tanks that maintain a steady supply of water for the City

Z
Term	Meaning
Zoning	A legislative means of ensuring that land uses of a community are properly situated in relations to one another in accordance with adopted plans.