Teri Towner
Phone: 604-937-5000
Email: [email protected]
Website: teritowner.ca
Facebook: Re-Elect Teri Towner to Coquitlam City Council
Twitter: @TeriTownerCllr
Instagram: @TeriTowner
Age: 50
Occupation: Coquitlam city councillor
Coquitlam resident for: 21 years
Campaign funding: fundraiser events, personal donations, friends/family, myself
Previous community service: volunteer, coach, board member: food bank, literacy, breakfast programs, homelessness, newcomers, anti-bullying, Habitat for Humanity, DPAC, PACs, Operation RedNose, Adopt-a-Street and more — plus, city councillor
Name the two most important issues facing the city of Coquitlam?
Housing: affordability and availability of appropriate, needed housing. Transportation: traffic challenges, congestion, road safety, speed, not enough transportation options, safety issues around schools
If elected, what steps would you take to improve housing affordability in Coquitlam?
Continue advancing Coquitlam’s Housing Affordability Strategy, Housing Choices program; both have produced thousands of rental, below-market and family units in-stream, gentle infill, housing for families/seniors. Use our Affordable Housing Reserve Fund to partner for more below-market/non-market units, supporting home ownership. Build near transit/jobs. Priority to locals, taxing empty homes
What do you hope to accomplish as a city councillor?
Implementation of my endorsed UBCM resolution ending elected officials voting on own pay. Property taxes reduced. Comfortable 3% rental vacancy rate, new hotel in City Centre, improved traffic safety — fewer speeders. U-Cycling, new supportive housing to reduce homelessness, more families able to put down Coquitlam roots, improved proactive citizen engagement
How can Coquitlam attract employment opportunities so residents can work in the same community where they live?
Ensure suitable, available housing for employees. Support regulations/zoning that are business-friendly, less red tape. Continue to reduce commercial taxes/fees. Support robust strategies to attract more office space to our city — in particular to areas served by rapid transit. No more banking of office space by developers.
