Port Coquitlam’s public works crews are continuing their spring clean with yet another blitz.
This week, teams will focus on vegetation — specifically, removing unsightly weeds and plants in public places around the municipality.
And public works manager Dave Kidd said the city has a new tool in its kit to stop unwanted plants from popping up: a thermal heating device that cuts off photosynthesis.
The clean sweep comes after a city-wide litter blitz in March, in which workers hauled away 75 bags of trash plus illegally dumped items, as well as a pothole/asphalt filler project last month. Downtown sidewalks were also cleaned in that same month while graffiti tags were removed.
Kidd said his department has received numerous kudos from the community for its spruce up that’s part of PoCo’s Back to Basics campaign.
His comments were voiced last week before the city’s committee of council as part of a verbal departmental review.
He also touched on the recent Lions Park skate park improvements and the 80,000 spring bulbs planted around the city, of which there is a photo contest.
Tag @cityofpoco and use #PoCoInBloom for a chance to win tulip bulbs and a book.
As well, Kidd spoke about the:
- upcoming park updates for Eastern and Birchland parks
- new $160,000 energy-efficient, remotely controlled washroom at Blakeburn Park (to be open by Victoria Day)
- public works open house on Saturday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the pubic works yard (1737 Broadway St.) during National Public Works Week
Mayor Brad West said he gets compliments nearly every day about the public works’ push.
“It’s very evident that it’s making a difference,” he said of the spring clean initiatives.
Meanwhile, Joshua Frederick, PoCo’s director of engineering and public works, said rain barrels will be available for purchase at the May 25 open house; more will be requested for homeowners in next year’s capital budget.
Coun. Nancy McCurrach also asked for more pollinator gardens at public locations; however, Frederick said some past locations didn’t work well because passersby thought they were unkempt with the wildflowers and littered.
In addition, Coun. Darrell Penner asked for the city to return the made-in-Port Coquitlam azalea to showcase around the city.
