7 of 8 resolutions submitted by Tri-Cities’ municipalities endorsed at 2024 UBCM Convention

It was a successful year for the Tri-Cities at the Union of BC Municipalities 2024 Convention.

A total of eight resolutions were submitted by Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody councils at the annual convention, held from Sept. 16 to 20 in Vancouver; all save one were endorsed.

Municipalities from across B.C. sent in 264 resolutions for consideration at this year’s event; combined with three special resolutions advanced by the UBCM executive, the number of proposals marked a 25 percent increase from last year’s event.

By far, Port Moody submitted the most. Seven resolutions, including a joint-resolution with Port Coquitlam council, found their way to discussion at the conference.

Local Government Ethics Commissioner

Port Moody council’s appeal for the establishment of a provincial ethics commission was endorsed.

It called on the B.C. government to provide a third party watchdog to oversee local governments on issues such as legality, conflict, code of conduct violations, and bullying.

Three previous resolutions endorsed by UBCM in 2021, 2022, and 2023 have called for the establishment of such an office.

Coun. Haven Lurbiecki introduced the current resolution to Port Moody council on Oct. 24, 2023, following allegations that a majority of council illegally met with a developer.

Mayor Meghan Lahti, the developer, and the involved councillors denied anything improper took place, stating it was simply a site tour of another project.

However, council agreed for the historical need a provincial ethics office, with several citing incidents after former mayor Rob Vagromov was charged with sexual assault in 2018.

Provincial Minimum Standards of Maintenance

Another Port Moody resolution endorsed at the conference pertained to maintenance standards for rental units.

It states that although the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) requires landlords to comply with health, safety, and housing standards around heating, no such standards are made for cooling, which is an inadequate gap amid the climate crisis.

The resolution appeals to the province to change their BC Building Code guidelines around maximum and minimum temperatures to prevent mould, precipitation, extreme heat and cold conditions in rental units.

These new standards should also be regulated through provincial enforcement and investigations, according to the resolution. 

The resolution was introduced to council by Couns. Samantha Agtarap and Amy Lubik on Feb. 13, 2024, who said the few local municipalities that have rental bylaws struggle with consistency and enforcement.

Lubik said there have been recurring issues for Port Moody renters, and although renters often take their complaints to the RTA, it lacks the expertise and resources to address the issues.

She added the problem will become even more pronounced as communities experience more extreme weather events.

The resolution was endorsed at the Lower Mainland Local Government Association (LMLGM).

However, UBCM’s resolutions committee – which provides input before consideration at the convention – did not recommend endorsement. The committee noted that UBCM members did not support the same resolution in 2022. 

“Local choice is a foundational tenet of general policy adopted by UBCM members,” the committee said. “As currently worded, the resolution proposes legislative amendments that would constrain local choice with regards to standards of maintenance.”

Incorporating Tree Canopy and Climate Goals into Housing Action

UBCM members also endorsed Port Moody’s resolution to revise recent provincial housing legislation to address tree protection, tree canopy expansion, and climate resilience.

The resolution calls on the province to alter Bill 44 and Bill 47 to ensure local governments retain the ability to protect mature trees and canopy in residential neighbourhoods, and successfully implement their climate action plans.

While the province has committed to the housing crisis, it may not foresee negative consequences to tree protection in the legislation, according to the motion, such as the loss of green spaces and the intensification of the urban heat island effect during heat waves.

It was endorsed by LMLGM, but the UBCM committee provided no recommendation.

The resolution was introduced by Couns. Amy Lubik and Kyla Knowles on Feb. 13, 2024, who raised concern that the city could lose authority to protect trees and address its climate goals.

Port Moody is currently developing its urban forest strategy and updating its tree bylaw as part of its climate action plan.

Urban forests are a valuable ecological resource that will help mitigate risks and maintain the physical and mental wellbeing of residents, the councillors said.

They referenced the BC Coroner’s Death Panel Review following the 2021 heat dome, which found that residents around green spaces were better protected.

Gender Equity: Provisions for Menstrual Supplies

A joint resolution between Port Coquitlam and Port Moody regarding the accessibility of menstrual supplies in public washrooms was also endorsed.

While the 2024 BC Building Code contains rules around the inclusion of full-sized changing tables in public washrooms, no updates were made requiring free menstrual supplies or sanitary disposal bins.

It states that an equity-base policy should include these features, noting the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (OHSR) were revised in 2023 to require free menstrual products in all federally regulated workplace restrooms.

The resolution called for the province to update its provincial health and safety regulations, as well as the BC Building Code to require these courtesy items, along the same lines as toilet paper.

The UBCM resolution committee provided no recommendation.

The Tri-Cities began implementing free menstrual products in city locations during a four-month pilot project in 2020. Due to the pilot project’s success, there are now multiple locations across the Tri-Cities that offer free menstrual supplies.

The City of Port Coquitlam recently partnered with Period Pin, an Ottawa-based organization that runs an online map showing people where free menstrual products are available.

Youth Climate Corps 

UBCM endorsed a Port Moody resolution advocating for the expansion of its Youth Climate Corps, which provides paid work and training to young people working on climate-related initiatives that affect their communities.

The resolution states there is a need for municipalities to engage youth as low carbon sector workers in order to support work on climate adaptation and mitigation projects, such as stemming wildfires, retrofitting buildings, and ecosystem restoration.

It calls on the province to work with local governments, Indigenous communities and nations, youth groups, industry, union associations and environmental organizations to increase the programming and resources across B.C.

The resolution was endorsed by both the LMLGA and the UBCM resolution committee.

Noise Camera Pilot Project

Port Moody’s resolution requesting the province initiate a pilot project to help enforce vehicular noise regulations was also endorsed.

Noise pollution has well-documented negative effects on public health and cohesion, according to the resolution, which added sources such as aftermarket exhaust systems disproportionately affect populations living near major routes, which are usually more affordable.

Law enforcement typically has deployed noise cameras to monitor and enforce noise rules, and the resolution appeals to the province to explore these methods through a pilot project that local governments can opt into.

The UBCM resolution committee provided no recommendation.

Equitable Distribution of Gaming Revenue

The only Tri-Cities resolution that was not endorsed was Port Moody’s appeal to share gaming revenues from casinos.

It states that sharing this source of revenue would reduce financial inequities between municipalities.

The resolution requests the province amend its gaming revenues policies, and for a working group with Port Moody and other municipalities with no casinos to discuss the potential changes.

The UBCM resolution committee provided no recommendation, but noted previous resolutions calling for sharing lottery revenue were endorsed in 2008, 2011 and 2020. Likewise, the committee said UBCM membership has endorsed resolutions calling for BCLC Gaming revenues to be shared in 2018, 2019 and 2023.

Coun. Samantha Agtarap introduced the resolution to Port Moody council on Feb. 13, 2024, stating residents of the region share many amenities, and the revenue should be shared.

She said the status quo unfairly benefits just seven host communities, and their casinos have brought in $1.5 billion since 1999, and are currently entitled to 10 percent of the province’s net gaming revenue.

Enhanced Provincial Government Engagement Practices

Coquitlam’s only resolution at UBCM, which appealed to the province to review its consultation processes for policies affecting local governments, was also endorsed.

Recent provincial housing legislative changes have had a “profound effect” on municipalities across B.C., the resolution stated.

The province has signaled its intent to review its statutes in the near future, and the resolution requests its consultation and engagement practices be improved, especially those that involve local regulatory and legislative changes.

It states this would increase transparency, and allow for better information exchanges to benefit all parties.

LMLGA and the UBCM resolutions committee both endorsed the resolution.

The committee stated the municipalities have consistently supported motions requesting greater consultation and engagement on policies that can impact local government.

In 2019, UBCM endorsed a special resolution calling on the province to adhere to the Community Charters’ principals of mutual respect, consultation and cooperation; in 2022, it endorsed a similar resolution asking for consultation with municipalities impacted by provincial policy.

Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart, along with his council, have been outspoken in regards to unintended consequences stemming from the provincial housing policy.