Surrey council ends its four-year term with a cordial final meeting

Surrey’s current council held the final meeting of its four-year term on Monday, Oct. 5. There was no debate or election campaigning; councillors went around the table to thank city staff. A new council will be elected on Oct. 17 and is scheduled to hold its inaugural meeting on Monday, Nov. 2. All nine current members are seeking re-election.

Mayor Brenda Locke opened with a tribute to city manager Rob Costanzo, who has worked at city hall for 35 years. Costanzo joined in 1991 as an engineering assistant in traffic operations and was appointed city manager in 2023. Locke said his career had unfolded alongside decades of growth and change in Surrey, and praised his passion for public service and creative, solution-oriented approach. She said he was always looking for a way to get to yes, and joked that he had been “just a little baby boy” when he joined.

Coun. Harry Bains thanked staff for their work and said it was an honour and privilege to sit on council. Coun. Pardeep Kooner called the term “an amazing four years” and credited city staff. Coun. Rob Stutt said the learning curve had been incredible and that council could not run the city without staff guidance and wisdom. Couns. Doug Elford, Mike Bose, Linda Annis, Mandeep Nagra and Gordon Hepner also praised staff.

Elford said the staff group “does a lot with a little” and called them top-shelf people. Bose described working with staff as “an honour and a pleasure.” Annis said they had been amazing in helping councillors, keeping them focused and keeping them informed, while Nagra thanked them for everything. Hepner said staff had built the city, including its roads and parks, and that they had something special to show and showcase whether or not the councillors returned to their seats next month.

Locke closed the meeting by thanking her council colleagues for the respect and decorum they had brought to the council chambers over the past four years. She said they had not always agreed but had remained focused on their work and serving Surrey residents. Some might return to their seats and some might not, she said, wishing each colleague well in the coming weeks.