Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole MacDonald is seeking re-election on her public safety record

Pitt Meadows incumbent Mayor Nicole MacDonald is seeking re-election. After serving as a city councillor, she ran for mayor in 2022 on a promise to make the city “Safer, Better and Together.” She said a collaborative and respectful council had made significant progress on those principles over the past four years. MacDonald called public safety the backbone of a healthy, strong community, encompassing fire services, policing, emergency planning and climate resilience.

She said Pitt Meadows’ paid-on-call fire service had left the city as the only community in the Lower Mainland without dedicated overnight coverage, and response times were slow. Round-the-clock career coverage began in June 2023, when the city hired nine new firefighters. MacDonald said the service cost an estimated $95 a year for the average single-family home. Average nighttime response times fell from seven to nine minutes to two minutes and 29 seconds. She said the investment has meant faster life-saving help for residents who need it.

MacDonald said Pitt Meadows policing resources had also been serving Maple Ridge, leaving the city’s largest tax item undedicated to the needs and safety of its residents, visitors and businesses. After police services were de-integrated from the Ridge Meadows Detachment, Pitt Meadows “repatriated” those RCMP officers and gained full autonomy under a community policing model. She said the new detachment operates within the existing policing budget, with no property tax increase attributable to it.

Responsible growth and meeting the community’s diverse needs were also priorities during her term, she said. The Heron's Nest project, now under construction, will provide 115 non-market rental homes and 150 childcare spaces. MacDonald also cited the replacement of the accessible Lions Fun Park, the creation of Grabenhorst Gardens and the expansion of Pitt Meadows Athletic Park as amenities where residents of all ages can enjoy themselves and connect. She said facilities that contribute to community well-being, health and liveability matter.

She said she was proud of the relationships formed as the city navigated complex current issues, particularly its stronger, healthy and respectful relationship with Katzie First Nation. The city has worked with Katzie First Nation's chief, council and staff on projects such as the North Lougheed Area Plan, and joined the nation in calling for the Harris Road Grade Separation to move forward, she said.

MacDonald said balanced financial stewardship had been a council mandate. The city maintained contributions to infrastructure replacement and reserve savings, and has one of the region’s lowest debt levels. Pitt Meadows also remains among the region’s lowest for combined property taxes and utility fees. She acknowledged that both have risen and said she understood the pressure on households. Responsible investment, she said, means being clear about what residents pay for and what they receive in return.

She said work remains, citing the Harris Road grade separation project, new rail alert signs for drivers and other projects. MacDonald also noted that a national newspaper had recognized the city as Canada’s No. 1 small city. Her focus, she said, is to preserve the small-town feel and continue opportunities for community connection, health, wellness, recreation and culture.