Coquitlam City Council candidate Teri Towner talks to TCCTV’s Patrick McCarthy. Teri says COVID taught the City to expect the unexpected and to learn how to pivot and reprioritize. Coquitlam was quick to reopen facilities when it was safe to do so, supported the vulnerable population, and received a UBCM-award for community response. Teri has lived her adult life in Coquitlam and has always wanted to be part of the solution. Teri spent 17 years in a Human Resources career before becoming a City Councillor. She is proud of the accomplishments of staff, management and Council, as well as her own accomplishments. For example, she recently put a motion forward at the UBCM to increase the fine for driving over a fire-hose. Increasing density is good because housing needs are drastically increasing, but it is challenging to preserve and respect what is here now (e.g., character, tree canopy, amenities). Teri brought forward an Anti-idling Bylaw to reducing unhealthy, wasteful idling in the City. Teri ran every street in Coquitlam as a personal challenge. During her runs she noticed illegal dumping, lighting, visibility, parking, and signage issues which she was able to get fixed. Housing affordability issues are due to insufficient supply. Teri hopes densification around sky-train, increased rentals, and seniors housing will help. She says we have to be creative with land use from large family lots to more dense housing around transit. More childcare, affordable recreation programs, transit and e-mobility would support affordability. Protection of landlords’ rights will help keep rental housing available. The City is advocating for Federal, Provincial and non-profit partners, and needs to build market, rental, and below- and non-market rental in every development. Teri says Coquitlam is desirable, so it’s not possible to temper demand. There are 10,000 units under development in Coquitlam. Teri is chair of the Sustainability and Environment Committee, and a plan has been approved which includes having all new development EV-ready, more cycling infrastructure, protecting the tree canopy, water conservation, and more. Coquitlam is a safe City but Teri is disappointed in the rising racism which started during COVID and gang activity. Teri is on the Advisory Committee on Community Safety and wants citizens to feel safe.