White Rock council delays accessibility mat for pier, opts to wait for grants – BC [Video]

Increased accessibility for the White Rock Pier will have to wait.

White Rock city council voted on Monday not to fund an accessibility mat for the city’s well-known pier.

In a majority vote, councillors decided to have city staff look into possible grants to fund the mat, rather than approve a one-time $100,000 investment of city funds.

The argument was made that it would be better for White Rock taxpayers if grants could be used to create the accessibility mat (walkway) for the pier.

“We owe a responsibility to all residents … if there’s money out there we can get … I think we owe that to the taxpayer,” White Rock Mayor Megan Knight said at the council meeting.

“Everyone on this council agrees, we will get this done. Our due diligence must be done for the taxpayer.”

The mat would make the pier walkway safer and more accessible as the walkway planks can be quite uneven, …