Port Coquitlam mayoral candidates answer questions on city priorities

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West and challengers Pasquale Zampieri and Connor Fesenmaier answered questions about taxes, transportation, housing and priorities for the city’s future. Candidates were asked to limit each response to approximately 100 words.

**Connor Fesenmaier**

**How long have you lived in Port Coquitlam?**

Fesenmaier said he would have lived in Port Coquitlam for three years this February, but his connection to the city began years before he moved there. His wife was born and raised in PoCo, and they spent a lot of time there before deciding to put down roots. Many of their friends and family live there, their daughter was born there, and they are excited she will grow up in the community they chose as home.

**Is Port Coquitlam adding the right mix of housing? Why or why not?**

“Not quite,” Fesenmaier said. He supports building more housing but said the mix matters. He called for purpose-built rental, affordable and non-market housing, family-sized units, gentle density, townhomes and continued detached-home options. Growth, he said, must be matched by transportation, utilities and community infrastructure. Adding density without increasing the capacity of supporting systems eventually causes problems elsewhere. He wants people at different life stages and income levels to have realistic options to stay in Port Coquitlam.

**What is the city’s biggest transportation problem, and what should be done?**

Fesenmaier said the main problem is the small number of routes that carry traffic across and around the rail corridor. The city’s transportation plan identifies the rail line and yard as the biggest barrier to mobility through Port Coquitlam. He wants major bottlenecks such as Shaughnessy and Pitt River/Lougheed seriously advanced towards grade separation, while projects such as Fremont are completed and transit, cycling and pedestrian connections are improved. Transportation should be treated as a network so that fixing one bottleneck does not simply move the lineup elsewhere.

**What is one thing council did this term that you would have handled differently?**

Fesenmaier said he would have tied residential growth more closely to major infrastructure delivery. Port Coquitlam is below a provincial target for 2,279 net new homes by July 2029, while major transportation projects and longstanding bottlenecks remain unresolved. He supports adding housing but would have pushed harder to advance transportation improvements towards engineering, funding and construction at the same time as growth. Infrastructure should be planned ahead of demand where possible, not after residents are already experiencing the consequences.

**Do you accept campaign contributions from developers?**

“No. I will not accept campaign contributions from developers,” Fesenmaier said.

**The city recently approved a 1.95 per cent tax increase. Is that too high, too low or reasonable given service levels and asset maintenance needs?**

Fesenmaier said the 1.95 per cent increase itself is reasonable. His concern is how the city can keep achieving low headline increases. About 73 per cent of the 2026 increase went towards mandated RCMP and labour costs, while the city also used deferrals and reserves or surplus to reduce the immediate tax impact. Similar tools have been used in recent budgets. Those tools have a place, he said, but cannot become the long-term plan. The city needs a structurally balanced budget that does not defer today’s costs into larger problems tomorrow.

**Is the city doing enough to protect trees and waterways?**

“Broadly, yes, but there is more work to do,” Fesenmaier said. Port Coquitlam already has tree-protection requirements and specific protections for waterways and environmentally sensitive areas. At the Wondrous Tree Festival, he spoke with residents who raised concerns about illegal dumping and tree loss, particularly downtown. He wants stronger monitoring and enforcement in known problem areas, along with clearer reporting on results. Protecting PoCo’s rivers, trails, trees and natural environment should be practical, measurable and treated as part of responsible growth.

**How should the city address homelessness?**

Fesenmaier called for compassion and accountability. Moving someone from one block or park to another does not solve homelessness, addiction or mental-health problems, he said. The city needs stronger coordination among municipal officials, health services, housing providers, police, bylaw officers and outreach organizations. At the same time, homelessness cannot excuse vandalism, threats or persistent public disorder; those behaviours still require enforcement. He said the city must distinguish between a person who needs help and behaviour that makes residents feel unsafe, then respond appropriately to both.

**Would you support the city allowing Flock/Axon-type surveillance cameras?**

“No. Liberty and privacy come first for me,” Fesenmaier said. He does not support policing the community from behind a screen or creating a camera network that routinely records people going about their lives. He would rather invest in officers, community policing and targeted investigations when there is an actual reason to investigate someone. Police should have the lawful tools needed to do their jobs, he said, but he does not support blanket automated surveillance of residents.

**What should council’s top priority be next term?**

Fesenmaier said transportation comes first. He wants major bottlenecks moved from discussion towards engineering, funding and delivery, alongside improvements to transit and other mobility options. Separately, he wants stronger accountability at City Hall through published service standards, clear ownership of each permit or application, and direct status visibility for applicants. He also wants a service guarantee: if the city exceeds its performance standard plus a reasonable extension without valid cause, the resident or business should receive a fee credit or compensation. Government should face consequences for unnecessary delays too, he said.

**Why should residents vote for you?**

Fesenmaier said he brings a business and management mindset in which time has value, decisions have consequences and results should be measured. He wants to invest in infrastructure and city services that give people time back, whether by reducing time in traffic, waiting on City Hall or trying to get an answer. Time is the one finite resource people cannot buy more of, he said. He pledged to remain accessible, tackle difficult problems, protect what works in PoCo, and bring greater transparency, accountability and measurable results to City Hall.

**Pasquale Zampieri**

**How long have you lived in Port Coquitlam?**

Zampieri said he has lived in Port Coquitlam for close to seven years. He lives there, raises his family and operates his business there. He cares about the community’s future and wants residents and local businesses to have a stronger voice at City Hall.

**Is Port Coquitlam adding the right mix of housing? Why or why not?**

Zampieri said a better balance is needed. Increasing housing numbers matters, but the city also needs affordable rentals, family-sized apartments, townhomes, accessible housing and options for seniors to downsize. He would support sensible growth near transit and services, clearer approval timelines and partnerships for below-market housing. Growth must be coordinated with infrastructure, parks and transportation.

**What is the city’s biggest transportation problem, and what should be done?**

In Zampieri’s view, traffic congestion and limited convenient alternatives are the biggest problems. As a Class 1 driver and towing-business owner, he said he understands how delays affect families, workers and businesses. He would prioritize intersection improvements, better signal coordination and more reliable bus connections. He would also pursue a costed plan for the Fremont Connector and advocate for a SkyTrain extension, while being candid about funding and timelines.

**What is one thing council did this term that you would have handled differently?**

Zampieri said he would have handled the city’s response to business permitting and bylaw concerns differently. He said he leased a property after receiving assurances from city staff that his business could operate there, only to face tickets afterwards. When he raised the issue with the mayor, he did not receive a satisfactory resolution. As mayor, he would push for clear written guidance before businesses commit to a lease, timely reviews when conflicting advice arises, and accountability when the city makes a mistake. Residents and business owners deserve consistent answers and practical solutions, he said.

**Do you accept campaign contributions from developers?**

“No. I will not accept campaign contributions from developers, including personal donations from individuals who are developers,” Zampieri said. He wants to avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest and maintain public confidence in his independence. Housing and development decisions must be based on community needs, sound planning and the public interest.

**The city recently approved a 1.95 per cent tax increase. Is that too high, too low or reasonable given service levels and asset maintenance needs?**

Zampieri said a 1.95 per cent increase is reasonable if it maintains essential services and funds responsible maintenance. A low increase is not a success if necessary repairs are deferred and become more expensive later. He would examine the full household bill, including utilities and levies, and insist on a transparent maintenance plan. His priority is keeping costs manageable while protecting the infrastructure residents depend on.

**Is the city doing enough to protect trees and waterways?**

Zampieri said more can be done, particularly as development increases. He would support retaining healthy mature trees wherever practical, enforcing construction protections and tracking whether replacement trees survive. Waterway protection should include effective stormwater management, pollution prevention and habitat restoration. He would work with local stewardship groups and First Nations to set measurable priorities.

**How should the city address homelessness?**

Zampieri called for a compassionate, practical response that also protects public safety. He would work with BC Housing, Fraser Health and community organizations to connect people with housing, outreach, mental-health care and addiction treatment. His provincial public-service experience, he said, taught him the importance of responding to individual circumstances. The city should maintain safe, accessible public spaces while helping people reach stable accommodation.

**Would you support the city allowing Flock/Axon-type surveillance cameras?**

Zampieri said he would not support blanket approval. He would consider a narrowly defined proposal only after evidence of its public-safety value, public consultation and a thorough privacy assessment. Council would need clear rules for access, data retention, sharing, oversight and cost. Any proposal involving facial recognition would require separate scrutiny. Residents deserve safety without unnecessary tracking of their everyday movements.

**What should council’s top priority be next term?**

Zampieri said the priority should be delivering affordable, dependable city services through responsible financial management. He would make a funded infrastructure-maintenance plan an early priority, with clear schedules and public progress reports. Residents should know which roads, drainage systems and facilities need attention, what the work will cost and when it will happen.

**Why should residents vote for you?**

As a non-incumbent, Zampieri said he offers a fresh perspective backed by experience in banking, provincial public service, volunteer victim services, trucking and business ownership. He understands the pressures facing working families and small businesses and is prepared to ask difficult questions about spending and service delivery.

He said he offers practical leadership, accessible communication and a commitment to explaining decisions clearly. He wants residents to feel heard and see results from City Hall.

**Mayor Brad West**

**How long have you lived in Port Coquitlam?**

“My entire life, 41 years,” West said.

**Is Port Coquitlam adding the right mix of housing? Why or why not?**

West said the city has focused on housing options for people at every stage of life, especially ground-oriented housing suitable for families, housing suitable for seniors, and affordability through the tools available to the city. He said the provincial government has made an unprecedented attempt to dictate that the city’s housing consist largely of small, one-bedroom condos and high-rises. The city has resisted and will continue making decisions in Port Coquitlam’s best interests, regardless of provincial demands.

**What is the city’s biggest transportation problem, and what should be done?**

West said Port Coquitlam is experiencing increasing congestion from development outside the city, particularly Coquitlam’s development of Burke Mountain. This is putting significant strain on local roads, including Coast Meridian, Shaughnessy, Prairie, Cedar and Oxford. He called construction of the Fremont Connector an urgent priority, saying it would provide a direct link from Burke Mountain to regional roads and relieve congestion in Port Coquitlam. The city is ready to proceed and fund its fair share, he said. If re-elected, West said his first order of business would be to negotiate a reasonable, balanced cost-sharing agreement with Coquitlam council and move the project to construction.

**What achievement are you most proud of from the previous term?**

West said Port Coquitlam has the lowest combined average property taxes and utility fees among the region’s 21 municipalities. Residents pay $1,589 less per year than the regional average, he said. He attributed the record of fiscal responsibility to hard work and discipline, and said it was achieved without cutting core services residents depend on. The city has introduced new services, including free swimming at outdoor pools, curbside glass pick-up and large-item pick-up. He said maintaining affordability for taxpayers is more essential than ever.

**Do you accept campaign contributions from developers?**

West said donations from businesses or unions are not permitted. He has received individual donations from people in a wide range of professions and economic sectors, including construction.

**The city recently approved a 1.95 per cent tax increase. Is that too high, too low or reasonable given service levels and asset maintenance needs?**

West said the city worked hard to reach what he called a modest increase, balancing taxpayer affordability with the need to fund services residents rely on. He said the figure was reasonable and resulted from reviewing the budget line by line, examining costs, seeking efficiencies, challenging assumptions, considering alternatives and focusing investment on what matters most to residents.

**Is the city doing enough to protect trees and waterways?**

West said the city has a robust tree-protection bylaw and planted a record number of trees in the past three years. It has completed significant watershed-management plans and is proceeding with construction of new fish-friendly pump stations. He said the stations will both protect the community from flood risk and support sensitive ecosystems, habitats and fish.

**How should the city address homelessness?**

West said bylaw officers are on the front line of connecting people with appropriate provincial services and resources. He said they show considerable compassion and have a strong track record. He argued that provincial funding for addiction and mental-health services, which often underlie homelessness, is significantly lacking and too many people are not receiving needed help. He said he has strongly advocated for reopening a modern mental-health and support-services centre at Riverview. In his view, the province’s closure of the facility was a failure.

**Would you support the city allowing Flock/Axon-type surveillance cameras?**

West said no, and that the city is not contemplating such an initiative.

**What should council’s top priority be next term?**

West said priorities should be maintaining fiscal responsibility and affordable property taxes, investing in key infrastructure to ease congestion and meet residents’ needs, and continuing to deliver high-quality core city services.

**Why should residents vote for you?**

West described the mayor’s role as complex and demanding. He said he brings a demonstrated record of experience, leadership, judgement, commitment and hard work to deliver the best for Port Coquitlam residents. A lifelong resident with a young family, he said he is fully invested in the community’s future and passionate about the place he calls home.