News Flash

COQUITLAM, B.C., March 3, 2020 – Technology is increasingly putting City services at the fingertips of Coquitlam residents, and more improvements are on the way.  

Council received a progress report Monday on the 2018-2022 Technology Roadmap, which helps the City choose and implement technology to improve its functions and services. As the plan rolls out, citizens are seeing improved access to City information and services, while staff are able to work, communicate and analyze data more efficiently.

2019 Initiatives

One of 2019’s success stories was CoquitlamConnect app, a free City services app launched Nov. 18. The app’s first phase provides access to City news, events, parks and facility information, jobs, input opportunities, Wi-Fi spots and more. It also links to MyCoquitlam online services, social media channels and other City apps.

In its first 11 weeks, CoquitlamConnect had been downloaded 1,000 times from the App Store and Google Play and had a 4.5-star user rating.

Other 2019 highlights included:

• Two digital parking signs installed along Pipeline Road in April, displaying real-time parking availability in Town Cente Park’s Lot B;
• A Community Info Hub touchscreen kiosk installed in June at the Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain station to promote City attractions and assist with wayfinding;
• The addition of public Wi-Fi at Dogwood Pavilion, Poirier Community Centre, Eagle Ridge Pool, Mackin Park, Como Lake, the Mundy Park field house and Spani Pool, and enhanced at Town Centre Park, Poirier Sports & Leisure Centre and City Hall;
• Staff productivity tools, such as booking displays outside high-use meeting rooms,  new project management software and increased use of Skype for Business;
• The introduction of Apple Pay and Android Pay at City Hall, the Animal Shelter and RCMP detachment, and a payment card machine at the Building Permit counter;
• A traffic video wall installed in December at the Austin Works Yard that consolidates traffic information for more efficient incident responses; and
• The pilot use of virtual reality to allow residents to virtually walk through the future entertainment district as part of the fall City Centre Area Plan public consultation.

  Coming this Year

  Along with a variety software and equipment upgrades, projects planned for 2020 include:

• An Open Data Catalogue, allowing the public to download geographic information system (GIS) engineering data such as streets, property boundaries, water and sewer mains, communications fibre (QNet), and aerial photography;
• Cybersecurity staff education and training, vulnerability testing and other system security to protect the City’s network and data;
• Continued expansion of the City-owned QNet fibre optic network, with a focus on multi-family developments and commercial properties;
• More CoquitlamConnect functions, including program registration, facility bookings, enhanced wayfinding and service request tools;
• New digital parking signs in other priority parking lots at Town Centre Park;
• New public Wi-Fi locations at Smiling Creek Park, Blue Mountain Park, Victoria Park, Coquitlam Crunch, Queenston Park and Cottonwood Park; and
• More online payments for engineering permits and a payment card machine at the Engineering service counter. 

For more information on Coquitlam’s technology-based initiatives, visit www.coquitlam.ca/smart.