Traffic, trees and advocacy were among the topics covered at a joint meeting of New Westminster city council and the board of education this week.
Members of New West’s two elected bodied met Monday to chat about some issues of mutual concern. During the hour-and-a-half public meeting, city council and school board received verbal updates and presentations on several issues.
“The full school board meets with city council a couple times per year as this is an important working relationship for us,” board chair Maya Russell later told the Record. “These meetings are an opportunity for all local representatives to understand the status of our schools, particularly with our current population growth and school capacity pressures. I believe the community expects that we work closely together to meet the needs of children, youth and families.”
According to Russell, the meetings have been closed (incamera) meetings in the past, but the agenda for the June 3 meeting did not warrant that. An update on the Memorial Park at New Westminster Secondary School, however, was moved from the open agenda to an incamera session that preceded Monday’s open meeting.
The New Westminster School District provided verbal updates about traffic safety and parking, and the board’s advocacy plan.
The City of New Westminster provided updates on tree planting initiatives, a youth resiliency initiative, and consultation that’s being done to refresh the parks and recreation plan.
City of New Westminster staff also gave an overview of the province’s new housing legislation – an issue that’s of interest to a school district facing capacity challenges.
The Record has reported on the school board’s advocacy action plan and is following up on some of the items discussed at Monday’s meeting. More to come.
