Taxation and transportation troubles, identifying former grow-ops and regulation of secondary suites were among the topics put before the the 14 people vying for seats on 91原创 City Council during an all-candidates meeting at Kwantlen Polytechnic University last Wednesday evening (Nov.2).

The meeting, hosted by the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce and the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, followed an unusual format, in which each candidate was given one minute to introduce themselves before being were asked to vote on a series of 鈥測es or no鈥� questions.

Candidates held up green (yes), red (no) or yellow (abstain) cards to indicate their position. Four names were then drawn, giving those individuals one minute to defend their position.

With so many people running for office in the two 91原创s, the format was chosen by the Chamber to keep its all-candidate meetings from becoming unwieldy.

About 75 people gathered in the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Auditorium to listen to the candidates share their views on topics related to business and real estate before submitting written questions about the issues that concern them.

On the minds of the people in the audience 鈥� a lack of downtown parking, a costly proposal for signage, tree bylaws, attracting light industry to the City, medicinal marijuana, bicycle lanes and, of course, the 鈥楢鈥� word.

The subject of crime, meanwhile, was top of mind for candidate Paul Albrecht, who told the crowd that on Tuesday afternoon, his son was attacked in broad daylight outside the 7-Eleven.

鈥淭hat can鈥檛 happen,鈥� he said.

The chamber opened the question period by asking candidates whether they would agree to look into implementing a taxation system which would give a vote to City business owners.

All 14 indicated they would.

鈥淏usiness owners should have a say in what happens in their community,鈥� replied Catfish Potesta.

鈥淭hey are the largest financial contributor and they spend the majority of their day in the community, so they have concerns related to the City.鈥�

The candidates also agreed unanimously to support the creation of a regional mobile business licence, which would be valid throughout the Valley, so that business people who operate in different communities don鈥檛 have to apply for a licence in each community.

Thirteen of 14 candidates agreed to support the formation of a transportation stakeholders task force aimed at finding alternatives to the two-cent per litre gas tax. Only mayoral candidate Ron Abgrall abstained.

鈥淚 definitely see a region-specific task force,鈥� said Dave Humphries. People south of the Fraser are 鈥渂eing forced into our cars, often two cars,鈥� he said.

鈥淭ime wasted on the highway is productive time lost and millions of dollars lost as well.

Response was a little more divided on the question of narrowing the gap between the rates at which business and residential properties are taxed in the City, with three of the candidates flashing red cards.

鈥淚 voted no, because businesses get little more in return for their tax dollars.鈥� said former councillor Ted Schaffer, who is seeking to come back.

鈥�91原创 City is (among) the lowest in the GVRD 鈥� in the neighbourhood of 1:217. I believe that鈥檚 very fair and I wouldn鈥檛 change it.鈥�

Regarding the need to make better information available to homebuyers if a property has been used as a grow-op or drug lab, Dave Hall replied:

鈥淚t鈥檚 like buying a car that鈥檚 been in a crash. You want to know.鈥�

The difficulty, he said, comes when a property owner unknowingly rents to someone with a grow op.

鈥淣ow they鈥檙e on a list. There should be a point when they鈥檙e de-listed, so they can retrieve the cost of the property when they originally bought it,鈥� he said.

Randy Caine, who recently closed his 91原创 City medical marijuana dispensary after it was raided by police, said moral and emotional considerations need to be set aside when developing a program to deal with damaged property.

鈥淎 home with mould is just as problematic.鈥�

Caine also cast the sole 鈥榶es鈥� vote when the question of amalgamation was raised by an audience member.

鈥淲e have researched the topic and studies from across Canada show that it doesn鈥檛 work. It doesn鈥檛 save money,鈥� said Gayle Martin, the City鈥檚 longest-serving councillor.

While the Township owes $79 million, the City is debt-free,she noted. 鈥淪ervice in the City is excellent, above and beyond the Township.鈥�

For candidate Darrell Krell, any push for amalgamation would have to come from City residents.

鈥淭his seems to be driven by 91原创 Township,鈥� he said.

Although the City is debt-free, one audience member questioned the wisdom of spending $600,000 on proposed visitor signs.

鈥淚t鈥檚 expensive, but in the long term it will be worth it,鈥� said Teri James. 鈥淧roper signage makes a community look like it cares about itself.

鈥淗ow else are people going to find us?鈥�

Rosemary Wallace also acknowledged the cost of the signs is high, but said 91原创 City has many beautiful attractions like Brydon Lagoon, its Nicomekl trail system and Sendall Gardens, which both visitors and locals must be able to find.

Candidates were questioned about their support for the removal of 22 parking spaces from McBurney Lane to a 鈥渓ess desirable鈥� location in favour of walking paths and greenery.

鈥淚 thought it was a good idea, to refurbish McBurney Lane,鈥� said Rudy Storteboom. 鈥淭o my surprise, the merchants don鈥檛 like the idea.鈥�

Although he disagreed with the wording of the question, Jack Arnold told the group he doesn鈥檛 support the proposal to link Fraser Highway and Douglas Crescent.

鈥淚t鈥檚 too expensive and I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 the direction we want to go.鈥�