Samantha Agtarap (Port Moody City Council candidate) talks to Brad Nickason (We’ve Got Issues) about why she is running for Council. Sarah has experience on the Board of Directors for Shop Local Port Moody, BC Functional Fitness, and strata councils, as well as working with Cities as an engineer and sustainability, energy and climate action planning consultant. Sarah worked on the Climate Action Plan for Port Moody.

Samantha says her diverse background and being a Port Moody resident and business-owner (strength and conditioning gym) makes her a good choice. She is used to working collaboratively and with a lot of complex information. Samantha hopes next Council can work collaboratively.

Development, livability, and economic development are going to be impacted by climate change. Development is needed in the TODs (Transit Oriented Development) around Moody Skytrain Station and Coronation Park to create complete communities and reduce transportation emissions.

There is a lot of pressure on housing; families are leaving because there is nowhere to move to within the City. Samantha doesn’t think development should be slowed down. Densification should happen around transit hubs. Densifying on brown-field sites such as Flavelle, may be a better choice than on the Ioco Lands. There is concern about retaining local businesses in the Moody TOD as development proceeds. Local businesses contribute to the community.

The Climate Action Plan contains recommendations for housing and active transportation to continue to be implemented to reduce Port Moody’s climate impact and also to adapt to climate change. Moody Centre could use more tree canopy coverage. Developers could be asked to improved stormwater retention and cycling paths. The City could work with other groups (like HUB) while implementing the Transportation Master Plan, to deliver cycling education.

Samantha questions whether people need big houses or if they could be content in smaller spaces with access to nearby greenspaces without use of cars. Human interactions, businesses and type of community need to be considered during development.

If elected to Council, Samantha is interested in listening and respectfully continuing the conversation. There is the need to be able to agree to disagree and also the opportunity to learn from each other’s perspective.