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TO: Mrs. Frank Rayner June Lith, 1973

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SUN 11 1973

FROM: Alderman Phil Ranger

Re: Unrestrained growth vs. Regulated growth

i would like to take this opportunity-to comment on the three issues
taised by Mrs. Rayner.

i feei that the Recreation Referendum is not premature but on the contrary,
is long overdue. Persons, both paid staff and volunteers, that are close to the
recreation scene are aware of this. I am sure the average citizens is also aware
of the need for additicnal facilities NOW. The fact that grants totalling 50¢ on
the dollar are available to us at this point in time adds urgency to the passage
of the referendum. By all means, let us have more industrial and commercial
building, they help lift some of the financial ijoad off the shculders of residents. —-
However, residential growth adds to the financial load.

On the issue of the school freeze, Councils actions reflect our concern
for the education of our young citizens. To follow Mrs. Rayner's growth plan
would be to put all of the school children in the City on shift again. I would ask
Mrs. Rayner to meet with Mrs. Vera Harvey to gain some first hand knowledge on the
pros and cons of the school freeze.

The applications mentioned, 1600 housing units, represents 5600 persons
of which 1600 could be of school age. This is in the area North of the Lougheed
Highway only! It is beyond the means of Port Coquitlam to meet the ramifications
of that much development in a short span of time.

The issue of building housing on the floodplain is one that is being dealt
with by the Provincial and Federal levels of Government as well as Municipal
Councils. It is interesting to note that all levels of government are opposed
to Mrs. Rayner's philosophy. We are aware of the potential loss of life and
property if building were to take place on the flood plain.

Mrs. Rayner contends that we should allow unrestrained growth in Port
Coquitlam. I am opposed to unrestrained growth and made this quite clear during
my election campaigns in the last two municipal elections in which I ran. One
only has to compare the tax load on today's residents ot Port Coqiitlam with the
tax load of years prior to the "opening" of this City. I would also like to point
out that Provincial Grants are based on the Federal Census which is taken every
five years. Combine this with the face that the Provincial Government uses these
outdated figures to establish the per capita grant of $32.00 to municipalities and
it can be seen that fast growth has the effect of diluting the grant progressively

over a five year cycle. The symptoms of unrestrained growth may be viewed in our

1973 Budget.