Meadus launches campaign to return to Maple Ridge council

Former Maple Ridge councillor Chelsa Meadus has launched an independent campaign for the Oct. 17 council election, saying economic uncertainty, rising household costs and tariff pressure on businesses require fiscal restraint at city hall.

Meadus served on council from 2018 to 2022. She said affordability should guide every decision and that residents need representation willing to examine information, challenge assumptions and advocate for taxpayers. She said she has spent the past four years closely reviewing City of Maple Ridge and Metro Vancouver spending.

Meadus said the proposed $393-million recreation referendum demonstrates the need for independent scrutiny. Through a social-media series, she said she identified missing costs, funding assumptions, limited protections against overruns, location concerns, missing amenities and revenue space, and taxpayer-funded assets designated for demolition. She said those questions should have been answered before the proposal reached the ballot.

She said the referendum would add a three-per-cent annual increase for four years on top of council-approved annual increases of 4.5 per cent, resulting in a minimum 7.5-per-cent annual increase before other levies. Meadus said she would prioritize reducing the 4.5-per-cent increase through line-by-line spending reviews.

Her other priorities include protecting core services, improving community safety, attracting businesses that create local jobs and broaden the tax base, and involving residents before major decisions.