At this point, it's safe to say they agree to disagree - or maybe not.

While officials with the Evergreen Line continue to propose traffic changes to the bottom of the Clarke Road hill to prepare for the line's construction, Port Moody city council still isn't on board.

The two groups met Tuesday during a committee of the whole council meeting, but it doesn't appear any sort of compromise on the issue is imminent.

Coun. Diana Dilworth said the Evergreen Line group presented the same plan that got blasted by council a week previously as being unsafe.

"Right now, they're trying to work collaboratively, but their idea of working collaboratively right now is saying this is what we're doing and this is why we're doing it and we hope you like it," she told The NOW. "There doesn't seem to be a lot of back and forth."

Specifically, the plan is to put a timed stoplight on Clarke for southbound traffic heading up the hill only.

That would allow for drivers to make a left turn at Charles Street and merge with eastbound traffic on Clarke and St. Johns Street.

The plan includes widening Clarke along the stretch of road and adding barriers down the hill.

In an unusual twist, city engineers approve of Evergreen's plans, putting council at odds with its own staff.

Dilworth said council suggested the Evergreen Line project consider adding a light to the intersection of Clarke Street and Barnet Highway as an exit for residents in the neighbourhood.

However, she said at every suggestion, the Evergreen Line group has a rationale for turning the idea down.

"They seem to be on a track where they're very set that this is what they're going to do, and they're just going to continue to tell us why this is the best thing," Dilworth said, noting council has started to hear from residents who are also upset with the plan.

But Amanda Farrell, the Evergreen Line's project director, said the plan isn't a done deal yet, even though some prep work has started along Charles Street.

She said the group is hoping to come up with a solution that will work for council and residents, noting the work on Charles would be done either way.

Farrell said a final decision wouldn't be made until the project's engineers are sure they didn't miss any other options.

As for the Clarke Street option proposed by council, the project director noted a right-out is being added, but a full interchange presents its own concerns.

Farrell also said a plan needs to be in place soon, and acknowledged the traffic changes don't need to be approved by the city.

"The bottom line is, we don't need the approval of the city, but our intention is to work collaboratively with the city and work as a partner and that's really what we want to do," she said.

The Evergreen Line group is expected to make another appearance at next week's city council meeting.

jdeutsch@thenownews.com