A Vision for Pitt Meadows
Introduction
Meet Don Bell, a Pitt Meadows resident for over 45 years. Don isn’t just running for City Council, he’s running for the community he calls home. Don is currently in his 7th year as an Instructor at BCIT and has a professional background in the Piping Trades. He understands that a unique city requires more than just big ideas; it requires the experience to temper them. Don is committed to fiscal responsibility, a transparent governing body, and ensuring that every voice in our city is heard at City Hall.
Top Priorities
Don Bell is focused on addressing the key issues that matter most to the residents of Pitt Meadows. Affordability and sustainability are vital for small cities as they serves as the foundation for economic stability and long-term vitality. When housing and living costs are manageable, residents have greater disposable income to spend on things that are important to them. Lower taxes allow residents to have more after-tax income to spend on goods and services, savings, investments or recreation. Affordability is especially helpful for low and modest-income individuals, and those on fixed incomes, such as seniors. By easing the financial burden on families, lower taxes can reduce chronic stress on residents, improve physical and mental health outcomes, therefor providing the stability necessary for residents. Prioritizing affordability allows small cities to preserve their unique social fabric, while building a successful sustainable community for the future.
Taxes
Don is supportive of lower taxes. Pitt Meadows needs to be focused on finding efficiencies and keeping tax increases at or below inflation.
Modest tax increases to maintain infrastructure and services.
Open City Hall
Fostering public trust through transparency, accessibility and active engagement.
Public issues should be held in public view. Less closed door meetings
Clear financial disclosure including council compensation (salaries, benefits and external compensation) should be easily accessible to the public.
Ensure that there is information accessibility at open Council meetings where residents can ask questions and receive information.
Community Services, Parks and Recreational
Community services should be focused on equity, accessibility and quality of life for services, such as mental health and support for seniors.
Pitt Meadows should advocate for fair funding and pledge to lobby higher levels of government for permanent predictable funding for our social infrastructure.
Don is a firm supporter of parks and recreation.
Parks and recreation are a good investment of our tax dollars, as they are vital to our quality of life here in Pitt Meadows.
Agricultural Land
Pitt Meadows should maintain firm urban containment boundaries to protect the loss of prime agricultural land.
Don is supportive of farm business viability.
Zoning bylaws should look for “green tape" rather than red tape, making it easier and less costly for farmers who want to add value like on site processing, farm markets or agricultural-tourism.
It should be acknowledged that seasonal and full time labourers are critical to viable farming.
Pitt Meadows needs to commit to flexible zoning that allows for safe quality farm worker housing on agricultural land.
Municipalities need to be aware of and carefully consider the scope of bylaws that could negatively impact normal farm practices.
Commercial Land
Pitt Meadows cannot rely on residential property taxes to remain sustainable.
The City needs to attract commercial and industrial development in the right places to offset the tax burden on homeowners. Cutting red tape and streamlining the planning and approval processes may help, as this type of development also provides employment.
Pitt Meadows should target education, high tech, and agricultural food developers.
CP Rail Underpass / Overpass
The underpass in 2018 was predicted to cost $63.3 million. In 2025 it was projected to cost over $195 million.
If Pitt Meadows had agreed to help fund the project, we would have been expected to contribute $50 million over the next 30 years. This would be about a $9K increase in taxes for the average single family home. A 12% tax hike at that time.
The underpass is a cost versus benefit debate.
An underpass is not just a road. It is a major change to the community's character.
Heritage buildings would need to be re- located.
We would need to ensure that the community does not lose history and infrastructure.
Commitment to sound and site mitigation fencing.
There should be several non negotiable conditions including no cost to Pitt Meadows tax payers.
About Don Bell
Don was born, raised, and lives in Pitt Meadows.
He is married to Sophie and they have two teenage girls who attend school in Pitt Meadows.
Growing up Don attended elementary and secondary school in Pitt Meadows .
He was enrolled in the French Emersion program at Pitt Meadows Elementary School.
Don played soccer, baseball and hockey in Ridge /Meadows.
During his teenage years, Don was a camp counsellor at YMCA’s Camp Elphinstone.
For the past 7 years, Don has been employed at BCIT where he is an instructor in the piping trades division.
Don has a Red Seal in Steam-fitting and Plumbing, as well as a B Gas Ticket.
Don also holds an Instructor's Diploma from Vancouver Community College.
His hobbies include camping, fishing, as well as wood and metal working.
Working Together for a better Pitt Meadows
DON’S CORE LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
Integrity
Honest about the limitations of local government.
Active Listener
A willingness to shelf personal ideas and views if the community identifies a greater or more pressing need.
Respect
A willingness to work with colleagues and residents who bring a different point of view to the issues of Pitt Meadows.