PORT COQUITLAM LAUNCHES ONLINE PUBLIC HEARINGS JUNE 9

​Port Coquitlam, BC, June 8, 2020. . . New online public hearings starting tomorrow in Port Coquitlam will allow residents and other stakeholders to comment on civic matters from the safety of their home. 

The city resumes its public hearings on June 9 with a new virtual format that accepts feedback either in writing in advance or live during an online meeting using Zoom video conferencing software.

“While we continue to do what we can to protect public health during the pandemic, it’s also important that we carry on the important business of the city – and that includes public hearings,” Mayor Brad West said. “We encourage the community to take advantage of this opportunity to have your say. Council values hearing from the public to help guide our decisions.”

Required by law, public hearings enable the community to provide input on development projects that require amendments to the Zoning bylaw or Official Community Plan. The June 9 public hearing – the first the City has held since the pandemic – concerns the proposed rezoning of 2951 Coast Meridian Rd. to permit the construction of a duplex on the property, which is currently zoned for single-family homes.

Based on the new format, members of the public may:

  • Submit comments before the public hearing (by noon the day of the hearing), either to publichearings@portcoquitlam.ca or by mail to Corporate Office, 2580 Shaughnessy St., Port Coquitlam, V3C 2A8.
  • Provide comments in real time during the public hearing, which begins at 6 p.m.; 
  • Watch the live online broadcast without commenting, using the Council meeting link at www.portcoquitlam.ca/councilagendas (Zoom is not required).    

Information about the proposal, instructions and the Zoom meeting ID number for each online public hearing are posted at www.portcoquitlam.ca/publichearings. 

“The pandemic has forced us to rethink how we conduct city business and to go even further in using technology to deliver services,” noted Kristen Dixon, the City Chief Administrative Officer. “Our new online meetings and public hearings provide our residents a more convenient and safer way to give their input without having to come to City Hall. However, there is a learning curve to all of this, and we thank everyone for their patience as we introduce these new methods.”

The online public hearing format will continue until further notice while City Hall remains closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

For more information about Port Coquitlam’s online public hearings, visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/publichearings. Participants who are new to Zoom are strongly encouraged to review the information on the webpage, download the free software and test it prior to the meeting.

Stay Informed

Many city services continue to be available by phone, email and online. For information, visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/covid19 or follow the City of Port Coquitlam on social media.

For all health-related concerns, the public is advised to call 811, the Government of Canada novel coronavirus telephone information line a: 1-833-784-4397, or to contact their health-care provider or local public health office.

For recommendations on protecting yourself and your community from COVID-19, and to use the online self-assessment tool, visit BC Centre for Disease Control at www.bccdc.ca.

For more information and updates please contact the following resources:

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Pardeep Purewal
Manager of Communications & Admin Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5335 Cel 604.218.0533
Email purewalp@portcoquitlam.ca