July 27 Council Notes: Firehall Repair and Other Matters

Langley City’s Fire Hall is over 20 years old. Back in 2024, the City began an assessment of the building due to leaks. The assessment noted that the building envelope, especially in the brick facade and roof, was failing. As such, Council approved a budget last year to undertake repairs.

Langley City Firehall Back in 2005. Source: Johnston Davidson Architecture

This Monday, Council approved a tender to Hodgson King & Marble Ltd. for $1,245,257 (excluding GST) to replace select exterior wall sections and the entire roof. The tender also included improvements to roof access, electrical, and lighting.

Council gave final reading to the 2027 Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw. You can learn more about this in a previous post.

Council also received a letter from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, which asked what Langley City is doing to support cooling in rental units, increase the tree canopy, establish public cool centres, and incentivize heat pumps in existing buildings, among other things. Council directed staff to respond to the organization.

Council also approved a request for the Manager of Engineering and Parks Operations and the Tradesman responsible for water meters to attend the 2026 Neptune CONNECT Users’ Conference in Minett, Ontario, from October 26 to 28, 2026. The travel cost is $2,500.

July 27 Council Notes: Murals, the Downtown Langley Business Association and Discovery Langley City

Last night, Langley City Council heard a presentation from the Downtown Langley Business Association (DLBA) and Discovery Langley City, which the DLBA operates under a contract with the City.

Both organizations support efforts to grow the local economy in Langley City. The DLBA does this by encouraging people to visit Downtown Langley City and shop at local businesses. Discovery Langley City does this by encouraging people to stay overnight in Langley City and enjoy our many amenities.

Chris Parsons, who is the Executive Director of the DLBA, outlined some of the ways that the DLBA supports local businesses, including holding events to draw people to the Downtown, programs that help businesses spruce up their storefronts, the Downtown Dollar program, and the street cleaning team.

Taryn Antalek, the Operations Manager for Discovery Langley City, discussed how they promote experiences in Langley City, including activities and dining options. She was very excited about the upcoming Langley Christmas Market and the opportunity to encourage people to visit and stay in Langley City.

Both Mr. Parson and Ms. Antalek highlight the murals in our community as a major draw for people to visit Langley City and as a key part of both their marketing efforts.

The DLBA is funded by a special business property tax within the Business Improvement Area, as shown in the following map. Discovery Langley City is funded through a tax applied to all hotel and short-term accommodation providers in the City. Council also gives community grants to the DLBA, including a $16,935.00 grant this year to support the Art Alive Festival. In the past, the City also partnered with the DLBA to partially cover the cost of some projects, such as the aerial display in McBurney Plaza.

Business improvement area in blue. Select the map to enlarge.

When asked by a member of Council about the Fraser Highway renewal project, Mr. Parsons noted that it has been a positive for the Downtown and has encouraged people to rediscover Downtown Langley City, supporting local businesses.

What Is Langley City’s “Resilient Neighbourhood Networks”?

One of the key recommendations from Langley City’s Citizens’ Assembly on Community Safety and Well-being is to establish Resilient Neighbourhood Networks in our city. These networks bring together residents, business owners, non-profit community organizations and service providers, and government services to improve community safety and well-being. At the end of June, the City announced that this program has launched in the Nicomekl neighbourhood and will launch in the Douglas neighbourhood later this year.

Linwood Park Social Streets Pop-Up in June

Resilient Neighbourhood Networks will directly enable people to learn practical skills in safety and emergency preparedness and to help lead or take part in neighbourhood safety initiatives. One of the outcomes will be getting to know other people in your neighbourhood.

I’ve had some people ask for a bit more information about Resilient Neighbourhood Networks. The following is from a presentation to Council.

Rather than responding only after problems occur, Resilient Neighbourhood Networks help neighbourhoods:

• Build stronger neighbour-to-neighbour relationships
• Improve communication
• Access shared skill and learning opportunities
• Increase emergency preparedness
• Reduce social isolation
• Connect people to community safety and local services
• Create opportunities for participation and volunteering
• Support inclusion and belonging

In many ways, this is like a super-charged Block Watch program.

If you’d like to get involved with Resilient Neighbourhood Network, you can apply on Let’s Chat, Langley City!

You can also save the date for Friday, September 4th between 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm at Rotary Centennial Park, as the City will be holding a free, family-friendly Social Street pop-up with entertainment, food, and an opportunity to learn more and get involved with the Resilient Neighbourhood Networks.

Ballot Questions Released for Pool and Timms/Performing Arts Centre Expansions

As you may know, during the fall Langley City municipal election, people who are eligible to vote will also be able to take part in a Community Opinion Vote. This vote will inform the next City Council on whether they should continue planning for building two significant projects, an expanded Timms Community Centre with a Performing Arts Centre and an expanded Al Anderson Memorial Pool, or put one or both of them indefinitely on hold.

Over the years, there have been calls to build these expanded facilities, so it is important to understand whether the community wants the City to invest in them.

Render of the proposed Al Anderson Memorial Pool expansion. Select the image to enlarge.

An Al Anderson Memorial Pool expansion would include:

• Steam room and sauna
• Hot tub
• Indoor leisure pool
• Change rooms
• Relocated spectator seating

Render of the proposed Timms Community Centre and Performing Arts & Cultural Centre expansion. Select the image to enlarge.

A Timms Community Centre and Performing Arts & Cultural Centre expansion would include:

• Expanded existing fitness & recreation area and half-gym
• 500-seat performance theatre with concession
• Multipurpose rooms
• Gallery and exhibit space
• Commercial spaces
• Outdoor plaza
• Underground parking

These projects will also have property tax implications, as an expanded Al Anderson pool would cost $73 million to build and an expanded Timms Community Centre and Performing Arts & Cultural Centre would cost $107 million.

The City recently released the ballot questions on Let’s Chat, Langley City! You can learn more about these projects, the cost implications, the ballot questions, and how to vote on Let’s Chat, Langley City! There are also frequently asked questions.

I’ve lived in Langley City for over 20 years, and this is the first time I can recall Langley City Council giving eligible voters a direct say in how to move forward with significant projects. I’m very excited about this process, and I hope that this encourages people to get out and vote this fall!