Financial documents are now out showing how much the mayor and city council cost taxpayers in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam last year.
The 2023 Statement of Financial Information (SOFI) report is on the agenda today, June 25, for Port Coquitlam council’s consideration, laying out the base pay, benefits, compensation and expenses for Mayor Brad West and councillors.
According to the papers, West received $141,291 in municipal remuneration last year, took in $19,814 in benefits and billed $7,627 — for a total of $168,732.
By comparison, councillors pulled a base wage of $49,147 each plus $4,833 in benefits.
Expenses vary, which include travel, memberships, registration fees and activities, depending on the elected official (in alphabetical order):
- Steve Darling = $1,328
- Nancy McCurrach = $5,067
- Darrell Penner = $2,226
- Paige Petriw = $2,888
- Glenn Pollock = $4,185
- Dean Washington = $1,558
In Coquitlam, which has nearly three times the population, city council unanimously passed its SOFI last week — without comment — after the report was moved and seconded by Couns. Brent Asmundson and Trish Mandewo.
Mandewo, who is also the president of the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), charged Coquitlam taxpayers the highest amount at $12,036 while Mayor Richard Stewart expensed $11,377.
Asked about her hefty bills, Mandewo told the Tri-City News via email, "In my role as UBCM president, I had to attend all conventions and these added to my expenses. If I can note that UBCM pays a lot of the expenses, but there are a few that the city pays as I am at the table in my hat as city councillor."
The rest of the councillors are as follows (in alphabetical order):
- Brent Asmundson = $8,347
- Matt Djonlic = $9,049
- Craig Hodge = $7,358
- Steve Kim = $3,634
- Dennis Marsden = $9,344
- Robert Mazzarolo = $3,291
- Teri Towner = $8,765
As for remuneration, Stewart yielded $196,442 while the councillors each claimed $78,311 last year. Under taxable benefits, Stewart took $11,801 and councillors earned $5,944.
Port Moody released its SOFI earlier this month, showing Mayor Meghan Lahti reaped $142,010 last year while city manager Tim Savoie earned $228,951.
Staff pay
Meanwhile, the 2023 SOFI also lists employees making more than $75,000 annually (including firefighters and police communications operators); their titles; salaries; other remuneration; and expenses.
Here’s whose wage started with a "2" — or higher — last year (in numerical order):
Coquitlam
- Raul Allueva, city manager
- $345,453
- Michelle Hunt, deputy city manager
- $321,496
- Nikki Caulfield, corporate GM
- $291,073
- Jaime Boan, engineering GM
- $271,303
- Lanny Englund, parks GM
- $260,044
- Stephanie James, legal GM
- $257,438
- Jim Ogloff, community safety GM
- $251,341
- Renzo Del Negro, human resources director
- $238,233
- Andrew Merrill, planning GM
- $230,095
- Bradley Lofgren, public works director
- $215,767
- Shawn Davidson, deputy fire chief
- $208,838
- Curtis Scott, city lands and real estate director
- $208,764
- Jay Gilbert, intergovernmental relations and legislative services director
- $207,470
- Lynn le Nobel, city solicitor
- $207,011
- Genevieve Bucher, community planning director
- $204,979
- Jonathan Helmus, utilities director
- $203,465
Port Coquitlam
- Rob Bremner, CAO
- $293,537
- Karen Grommada, deputy CAO
- $210,139
- Joshua Frederick, engineering director
- $210,139
- Robert Kipps, fire chief
- $210,139
- Bruce Irvine, development services director
- $205,869
