If you want to watch a city committee or council meeting in person at Port Coquitlam City Hall, or have a meeting in the mayor’s office, you’ll have to ask the front receptionist to let you in.
Last month, the municipality installed security locks on the third-floor doors, as well as in the elevator to access the third level, to safeguard city employees in the building.
Dominic Long, Port Coquitlam’s director of community safety and corporate services, told the Tri-City News that the security measures are also now in place for offices in other civic buildings.
This includes:
- Port Coquitlam Community Centre
- Hyde Creek Recreation Centre
- Gathering Place at Leigh Square
- public works building
- two fire halls
And while there are no security locks to access the second level at city hall, "the elevator will not go to that floor and the offices are behind counters," Long explained.
There was no incident that prompted the new protection features, he noted.
"Added security locks are part of several security enhancements to increase safety for the public and staff in civic facilities," Long wrote in a statement to the Tri-City News.
"Using this approach provides a balance of openness and accessibility to city hall."
