Tuesday, January 27, 2015

City of Langley proposed 2015 capital spending

Yesterday, I posted an overview of the City of Langley’s proposed 2015 budget. Today, I wanted to look at some of the major projects that the City is looking to fund this year.

The City has a policy of using the revenue it receives from the Cascades Casino to pay for major projects. Casino revenue accounts for 13.5% of the total revenue the City receives; a sizable amount. $4.4 million in casino revenue is being proposed to be allocated to major projects this year. The City plans to invest $8 million into projects in 2015.

The City has allocated $35,000 to start a Mental Illness, Addiction and Homeless Study. The outcome of the study will be to “recommend a service model and business plan that would provide better assistance to residents challenged with mental illness, addiction and/or homeless.” It is good that the City is planning to move forward with this study because, as I noted yesterday, policing costs have been rapidly increasing over the last decade. Hopefully the recommendations in this report will be acted on, leading to a healthier community while addressing the cost of policing services in the City.

The Langley Fire & Rescues Service will be getting a new $835,000 Pumper Truck if the City’s budget is approved.

The City of Langley is proposing to spend $3.5 million on improving streets and sidewalks this year. This includes $240,000 for a proposed 203rd Street bridge replacement, $200,000 to improve the rail crossing at 200th Street/Logan Avenue, and $800,000 to upgrade traffic lights in the community.

The City is also proposing to invest $815,000 to improve the public realm, focusing in Downtown Langley. This includes installing new street lights, upgrading the streetscape around City Hall, replacing trees, and preforming some small upgrades to Salt Lane.

Starting last year, the City started to invest in pedestrian facilities in the community. This year, the City is proposing to spend $100,000 on building new sidewalks and multi-use pathways. The City is also proposing to spend $80,000 on expanding the trail system throughout the parks system.

Every year, the City includes a line item for improving bicycle facilities. Every year, the funding for bicycling faculties, which includes building new bike lanes, gets deferred to a future year. It’s really depressing. I’m starting to wonder why the City even includes cycling in their capital projects plan.

The City is planing to spend $500,000 this year to repair roads in the community. This includes repaving sections of 51A Avenue, 53A Avenue, 200 Street, 201A Street, and 203 Street.

With the new Timms Community Centre under construction, the City is proposing to allocate $480,000 for new equipment in the facility. The library may also get a $200,000 upgrade with a new book sorter.

One of the exciting proposed new projects in Downtown Langley will be the programming of events throughout the year, in partnership with the Downtown Langley BIA, in McBurney Lane. The City is proposing to invest $20,000 into this project. I look forward to seeing McBurney Lane become a gather place for the community.

The City is also proposing to invest $905,000 into the sewer and storm water system, and $784,000 into the water system in 2015, to keep them in a state of good repair.

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