More in-person City services – including limited access to indoor recreation – are in store this summer as Coquitlam moves to the next phase of its reopening plan.
COQUITLAM, B.C., July 20, 2020 – More in-person City services – including limited access to indoor recreation – are in store this summer as Coquitlam moves to the next phase of its reopening plan.
Based on B.C.’s Restart Plan and direction from the Provincial Health Officer, the City is proceeding with Stage 3 of its reopening plan that will allow drop-in access to City Hall and some other facilities as of July 20, and provide for registered access to recreation at arenas, indoor pools, community centres and other facilities starting Aug. 10.
Continuing the Steps Toward a Safe Reopening
Coquitlam’s gradual reopening has been guided by its four-stage Phased Reopening Framework, developed with health and safety as the priority and careful consideration of staffing, financial and other impacts.
Stages 1 and 2 of the plan restored access to outdoor amenities including playgrounds, sports fields, spray parks and pools, and provided access by appointment to City Hall, Austin Works Yard, the Archives, the Animal Shelter and Town Centre Fire Hall.
The popular outdoor and online recreation programs introduced during these stages will continue in Stage 3, which will enable participants to access indoor activities and services. The plans were designed to provide the maximum community benefit, including providing services to vulnerable populations such as youth and seniors. The planned rollout is as follows:
- July 20: Drop-in access to City Hall, Austin Works Yard, the Archives, the Animal Shelter and Town Centre Fire Hall, with controls in place and reduced capacity.
- Aug 10: Registered access to two arenas at Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex (PSLC) arenas, the pool at City Centre Aquatic Centre, and the fitness studios and weight rooms at both locations, along with modified participation in parks volunteer programs.
- Sept. 8: Registered access to the pool at PSLC, programs at Pinetree and Poirier Community Centres, and seniors’ programs at Dogwood and Glen Pine Pavilions in consultation with advisory boards.
Additional recreation services may reopen further along in Stage 3.
Stage 4 calls for the full resumption of services and will rely on direction from the Provincial Health Officer and B.C.’s Restart Plan. More details can be found at www.coquitlam.ca/covid19.
Safety Measures in Place
Staff will closely monitor the transition to Stage 3 to ensure activities can be expanded or contracted as necessary based on demand and public safety.
Each site open to the public has a safety plan that outlines a variety of controls, including:
- Enhanced cleaning of touchpoints;
- Training of staff;
- Physical alterations to ensure distancing, such as Plexiglas barriers, signs and floor markings;
- Use of appointments and registration to ensure physical distancing;
- Changes to practices and programs to reduce touchpoints and ensure distancing; and
- Limiting group sizes and adjusting locations as necessary.
Expect Lineups for Drop-in Services
Although public drop-in access is returning July 20 to City Hall, Austin Works Yard, the Archives, the Animal Shelter and Town Centre Firehall, queues are to be expected due to the controls in place to limit the numbers of visitors and how they access the facilities.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to consider options such as calling, emailing or video-conferencing (see www.coquitlam.ca/contact) or the many online services listed at www.coquitlam.ca/eservices, including:
- Business licence renewals;
- Bylaw enforcement ticket payments;
- Council meeting minutes, agendas and videos;
- An interactive QtheMap with zoning, facilities, parks, aerial photos and property details;
- The Property Inquiry System for property assessments, legal descriptions, utility and tax levies;
- myCoquitlam for secure online access to utility, tax and dog licence accounts; and
- Inspection scheduling through the WebPermits tool.
In particular, limited in person service will be available for property tax payments and residents are strongly encouraged to pay using one of the other payment options, including:
Watch for Information
Updates will be posted in the coming weeks on the City’s social media channels and at www.coquitlam.ca/covid19.
In the meantime, the community is encouraged to make use of online services such as:
Supporting Our Community During the Pandemic
The City of Coquitlam is here to help, with these resources:
- Visit www.coquitlam.ca/csrp to learn about the City’s Community Support and Recovery Plan, which is providing immediate and long-term support for the non-profit sector, businesses and residents;
- Visit www.coquitlam.ca/spirit for a free library of activities for all ages, including fitness, arts and culture, outdoor activities and ways to connect with your community; and
- Visit www.coquitlam.ca/covid19 for updates on City services and initiatives and COVID-19 health resources.
Coquitlam residents and businesses are also encouraged to follow the City of Coquitlam on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and download the CoquitlamConnect mobile app for up-to-date City information.