Unofficial summary · Not affiliated with the City of Port Moody · 8-minute read · View in browser

Meeting: Regular Council, Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Length: about 1 hour 15 minutes
Watch: Full video on eScribe · Agenda and reports: City of Port Moody council meetings

Key decisions

CARRIED · 2027–2031 utility budgets (provisional)
Council gave provisional approval to the water, sewer, drainage and solid waste budgets, pending Metro Vancouver finalizing its own budget. The rates go into the fees bylaw coming in November.
Vote: carried; no opposition was stated. Moved by Councillor Dilworth.

THREE READINGS · Small-scale multi-unit housing process and fees (item 7.1)
The bylaw changes make small-scale multi-unit housing (multiplex) applications staff-issued development permits that don't go to the Land Use Committee or council, tie them to the multiplex design guidelines in the Official Community Plan (DPA 6), and set the application fee. A housekeeping change also adds a mixed-use category to rezoning fees: $113 per 100 square metres of non-residential floor area, according to the staff report (it was read aloud at the meeting as per square metre).
Vote: carried; no opposition was stated. Moved by Councillor Dilworth.

CARRIED · Public engagement on multiplex design guidelines
Staff will report back as soon as possible on a public engagement process for the small-scale multi-unit housing form and character guidelines. The Mayor, who brought the motion, said it should include residents, builders and developers.
Vote: carried; no opposition was stated.

DEFERRED · Council pay information report (item 7.2)
Deferred to the next council. Moved by Councillor Knowles.

CARRIED · Item 7.7
Carried after a discussion of defibrillators (AEDs) and first aid kits in City buildings.

CARRIED · October 20 committee meeting cancelled
Council amended its 2026 schedule to cancel the October 20 standing committee meeting, which had no items.

CARRIED · Minutes and consent agenda
Minutes of September 22 and 29 adopted; the rest of the consent agenda was approved as a block.

Recorded votes

Votes where members of council did not all agree. Unanimous votes are not listed.

No opposition was stated on any vote at this meeting.

What was discussed

Small-scale multi-unit housing (multiplexes)

• Staff said the City chose a development permit model with design guidelines, which the province didn't require, to address design, tree retention and parking. Fees are set to recover staff time and are similar to Coquitlam's; there was no consultation on them. Watch at 0:05:20
• Mayor Lahti said multiplexes are the top issue raised with the Mayor's office, with frustration from both families trying to build and neighbours who feel the buildings don't fit. Councillor Knowles compared the form and character to "monster homes." Both initially said they couldn't support the bylaw. Watch at 0:09:16
• Councillor Morrison also said at first that they wouldn't support it yet, and asked for a council workshop on the changes, with input from the community beforehand. Councillor Lurbiecki also said they wouldn't support it. In the end the bylaw carried with no opposition stated. Watch at 0:24:25
• Asked by Councillor Lurbiecki what would change, staff said the bylaw mostly formalizes current practice and links applications to the more detailed DPA 6 guidelines instead of the general infill guidelines (DPA 1). Councillor Morrison asked about how building height is measured; staff said that calculation hasn't changed. Watch at 0:17:47 · Watch at 0:22:16
• Staff said there have been 16 applications, about 13 still active. Councillor Dilworth asked what the worst case would be of approving the bylaw now and amending the guidelines later; staff recommended that approach and Councillor Dilworth moved the bylaw. Councillor Agtarap agreed. Watch at 0:26:02
• On parking, staff said the province doesn't allow minimum parking for six-unit multiplexes near frequent bus stops, though the City's guide encourages one space per unit; four-unit multiplexes require 0.5 spaces per unit, up to four. Councillor Lurbiecki asked that parking be part of the review. Watch at 0:37:47

2027 utility budget

• Water, sewer and garbage charges rise $92 (4.86%) to $1,984 for a single-family home, $82 to $1,734 for a townhouse and $55 to $1,171 for a condo. With the drainage charge, which is part of property taxes, the total increase is about 5.3% to 5.5%. Watch at 0:55:11
• The budget rises $1.7 million, about $355,000 of it from Metro Vancouver charges; the largest City driver is bigger transfers to reserves for future pipe and equipment replacement. Staff noted the solid waste rate table in the agenda report was wrong (it repeated the sewer table); the correct figures are in Attachment 1. Watch at 0:57:29
• Staff described a water meter pilot at 100 single-family and 16 multi-family homes that found small leaks at some properties, new pressure reducing valves to cut water main breaks, and bear-damaged carts rising from 374 in 2023 to 476 in 2026. Recycling contamination is down to about 6.3%, against a 5% target. Watch at 0:48:40 · Watch at 0:52:30
• Councillor Knowles praised quick replacement of bear-damaged carts, asked for better notice to residents near planned valve work in Glenayre, and asked to see how salary and benefit costs change year over year. Councillor Lurbiecki asked about contracted services; staff said most of it is tipping fees. Watch at 1:11:21

Defibrillators in City buildings

• Mayor Lahti said it was "shocking" to learn after an incident the previous week that at least two City buildings had no AED. Staff said they are inventorying AEDs in all facilities and will fill the gaps immediately within the existing budget. Watch at 0:44:00
• At Councillor Morrison's request, staff will also check first aid kits, and naloxone kits kept with the AEDs. Watch at 0:45:07

Council pay report and fireworks

• Mayor Lahti said the next council should receive the council pay report and decide whether to change the model or give itself a raise; council deferred it without debate. Watch at 0:42:17
• Councillor Dilworth reminded residents that fireworks are prohibited in Port Moody without a special permit from Port Moody Fire Rescue; fireworks can be seized and fines are up to $500. Watch at 1:17:17

Public input

None at this meeting. The meeting opened with a painting from the Port Moody Art Collection.

Following up

From earlier issues: This is our first issue for Port Moody, so there are no earlier items to follow up.

New items we'll watch for:

• Report on a public engagement process for the multiplex design guidelines: "as soon as possible," likely in the first quarter of 2027.
• Adoption of the multiplex process and fees bylaw changes: no date given.
• Council pay information report: deferred to the next council.
• AED and first aid kit inventory and installation: staff will update council.
• Utility rates in the fees bylaw: November 10 and 24.
• Results of the residential water meter pilot: report to come, no date given.

What's next

• October 30: Staff said Metro Vancouver's board is scheduled to approve its budget; major changes there could mean revisiting the City's utility figures.
• November 7–8: Port Moody Art Association's annual sale, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Port Moody Recreation Centre.
• November 10 and 24: The fees bylaw with the 2027 utility rates.
• January 2027: Utility capital budgets at finance committee; utility bills mailed, due February 26, 2027.

Get involved

• Council meetings are open to the public, and video of each meeting is posted on the City's eScribe meeting portal.
• Council asked staff for a public engagement process on the multiplex design guidelines; the Mayor said it should include residents, builders and developers.
• Agendas, reports and ways to contact council are on the City's council meetings page.

Terms used

AED: automated external defibrillator · DPA: development permit area, a part of the Official Community Plan with design guidelines (DPA 1 is general infill; DPA 6 is small-scale multi-unit housing) · Multiplex / small-scale multi-unit housing: three to six homes on a lot once zoned for one house, which provincial law requires cities to allow · OCP: Official Community Plan · Tipping fees: charges for dropping off garbage, recycling or green waste at a disposal site · Three readings: a bylaw needs three readings and then a final adoption vote to take effect.

Context notes

We check factual figures cited at the meeting against public sources where we can. These notes add context; they are not verdicts on any speaker.

• Parking for six-unit multiplexes (staff, in answer to a question): section 525.2 of the provincial Local Government Act says that on or after June 30, 2024, a council must not require parking spaces for the housing units it must allow under section 481.3(5), the higher entitlement for lots near a prescribed bus stop. The Local Government Zoning Bylaw Regulation sets that distance at 400 metres from a stop with frequent service.
• Metro Vancouver budget (staff): Metro Vancouver's February 23, 2026 release projected the average household's 2027 contribution to rise 3% to about $923. Its October 2026 budget report now proposes $914, a 1.9% increase, for the boards to vote on October 30, 2026.

Council Watch Port Moody is an independent, unofficial summary of publicly accessible meetings of the Port Moody Council. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Port Moody. This summary was generated by AI from an automatic transcript and may contain errors. Watch the linked video for the official record.

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