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Coquitlam mayor’s house vandalized Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart’s house has been vandalized three times since last week’s vote to rezone land for a homeless shelter in east Coquitlam. Although he wouldn’t divulge the nature of any of the incidents, Stewart told The NOW Tuesday morning that he planned to report them to the RCMP later that day. He characterized each incident, the most recent of which occurred during Monday’s council meeting, as “relatively minor” and “immature.” “That’s house, that’s home. In politics, you do try to keep the job out of home. But then someone will drive down the road and bring it home,” he said in an interview. The recent spate of vandalism comes about a month after someone uttered public threats at Stewart and councillors as they debated whether to rezone land on Gordon Avenue for a homeless shelter and transition facility. At the Nov. 1 meeting, a man was heard saying, “Remember, I’ve got your address — I’ll find you” and “I’ll leave a bucket of needles right by your door.” Despite his home being targeted, Stewart said he has not requested any extra police presence in his neighbourhood and insisted that the area is safe. “I can’t remember us having faced this sort of thing and I think it will end,” he said. “This seems like an immature response to something that angered somebody.” Coun. Doug Macdonell brought the issue to light at Monday’s council meeting, and the retired RCMP officer publicly condemned the incidents. CONT. ON PAGE 8, see SEKORA.
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Visit www.thenownews.com for a gallery of Envision Financial Light the Lake photos
CHRISTMAS MAGIC: Four-year-old Patrick gives Santa his wish list during the sixth-annual Envision Financial Light the Lake, held Sunday in Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park. The family-friendly event included an outdoor Christmas market and choirs and chorale ensembles performing on a festival stage. The event is a fundraiser for the Douglas College Foundation. The Christmas lights that have been strung through the trees and along the pathways around the lake will remain lit throughout December. To see a complete gallery of photos, visit www.thenownews.com and scroll down the home page to THE NOW EXTRAS.
Coquitlam taxes to rise 3.18 per cent Increase works out to an extra $117 for the owner of an average home Stories by John Kurucz jkurucz@thenownews.com Coquitlam council has paved the way for the city’s lowest tax increase in five years, as property taxes are set to rise by just over three per cent next year. The city’s five-year financial plan, which passed its first three readings Monday, is highlighted by a 3.18-per-cent property tax increase ($53 for an average home worth $490,000); a seven-per-cent jump in water rates ($25); a four-per-cent hike in sewer and drainage costs ($15); and an eight-per-cent rise in solid waste rates ($24). Those numbers translate to a $117 increase over
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2010 levels, and the average residential home in Coquitlam will be charged $2,679 in taxes and levies next year. City staff are expecting future property tax increases to come in at about 3.5 per cent yearly from 2012 to 2015, while last year’s tax increase was just shy of five per cent, or $182 for the average home. “Literally hundreds of hours bring us to this meeting. Decisions came following intense debate, discussions or however you would like to categorize it, but at the end of day, we have protected our core services with a clear plan for tomorrow,” said Mayor Richard Stewart. More than half of the total increase, or $64, is attributed to rising utility costs driven by increased
water rates and solid waste tipping fees set out by Metro Vancouver. Outside of those external costs, next year’s tax rates will also be driven by inflation related to contracts with city staff and the RCMP. About 66 per cent of new spending — or $770,000 — is attributed to public safety costs: four new RCMP members and an assistant fire chief, a firefighter and safety equipment. “I’m so pleased that the commitment of this council over the last couple of years has been to ensure that the safety of our residents is well looked after,” said Coun. Doug Macdonell, a former RCMP officer. Other new spending initiatives include: annual CONTINUED ON PAGE 4, see TWO VOTE AGAINST.
or www.dbmlaw.ca 604.939.8321 Good advice. Good law. Good people.