2021 Caring for the Air Report – Metro Vancouver Air Quality Improving

The Metro Vancouver Regional District is responsible for managing air quality in the Lower Mainland. The regional district has prepared an annual “Caring for the Air” report for the past decade. This report is easy to read and contains helpful information for people. For example, this year’s report has tips on creating a homemade box fan filter for the annual wildfire smoke season.

The report also has information on some of the projects the regional district is sponsoring to help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emission. One project focuses on the film industry, where they will be looking at ways to replace portable diesel generators with clean energy sources.

It also contains information on the new residential indoor wood burning (fireplace) requirements coming into effect later this year.

Some good news is that gas pollutants continue to trend down except for ground-level ozone, which has slightly increased. This increase is due to ozone formed outside Canada that is coming into our region.

Gas Phase Pollutants. Select chart to enlarge.

Fine Particulate Matter impacts human health, which can decrease lung function, aggravate asthma, make breathing hard, and even lead to premature death in people with heart or lung disease.

The following graph highlights the significant impact of wildfires on Fine Particulate Matter and human health during the summer month.

Fine Particulate Matter. Select chart to enlarge.

For more information, check out the report starting on page 63 of the Climate Action Committee Agenda.

The Free Beer Nathan Pachal Mayoral Candidate Meetup (and Fundraiser)

Although the fall municipal election may seem like an eternity away, with summer finally here, it is actually only around 100 days away!

After serving two terms as a councillor in Langley City, I'm excited to be running for mayor. Running for mayor is not something I take lightly. It is a big responsibility. I can only run for this position because of the support of people in our great community.

As a small token of my appreciation, I'd like to invite you to Farm Country Brewing for a beer (or other non-alcoholic) beverage on me, whether you are already a supporter or want to learn a bit more about me and what I stand for.

A mayoral campaign costs money to run, so I will also be accepting donations at the event. You can donate up to $1,250.00. I'll be accepting cheques or credit cards.

Date and Time

Thursday, July 21st
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Location

Farm Country Brewing
5 - 20555 56 Avenue

Event Schedule

6:30 pm - Sign in and get a drink ticket
7:00 pm - Speeches
7:15 pm - Meet and Mingle

I look forward to seeing you at Langley City's premier craft brewery!

June 27 Meeting Notes: RCMP Budget, Apartment Project on 53rd, Fall Election

On Monday, Langely City Council gave first and second reading for a bylaw which would enable the development of a 5-storey, 93-unit rental apartment located at the corner of 53 Avenue and 201A Street. City staff will now schedule a public hearing about the proposed project.

Rendering of proposed apartment project at 20121, 20131, 20141, 20151, 20161, 20171 53 Avenue. Select the image to enlarge.

Council gave final reading for two bylaws for this fall’s local government election. These bylaws enable mail-in voting and update the procedures around using the automated vote-counting machine. You can read more about these bylaws in a previous post.

At its last meeting, Council deferred voting on providing the approval in principle for the City’s portion of the Langley RCMP’s proposed 2023 budget until we had a chance to talk to the Officer in Charge of the detachment. The proposed budget included a request for six additional police officers for a cost of $1.3 million extra per year. This cost would guarantee a 4% property tax increase in 2023. As I posted previously, this was a big ask without details around the six additional police officers.

Council heard from the Officer in Charge, who told us that he would be providing Council with a business case and staffing options for six additional police officers in the fall for Council to approve, modify or deny.

Based on this information, Council voted in favour of the approval in principle for the RCMP budget, noting that the approval is the maximum 2023 budget for the police. Council will debate the budget request in the winter as part of overall City 2023 budget discussions.

June 27 Meeting Notes: Council Approves $430,344 for Designing Water, Sewer, and Roadway Projects

Projects to renew water and sewer lines, repave streets, or put in new sidewalks require detailed design and preparation before the first shovel goes into the ground. This preparation work can take months to years to complete, depending on the complexity.

Langley City Council approved issuing a contract to ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd. for $430,344 to complete the detailed design work for the following projects.

Location of projects that are being designed. Select map to enlarge.

Site 1 – 20500 46A Avenue
Design the extension of the existing sidewalk and curb

Site 2 – 205 Street and 48 Avenue
Design sidewalk near HD Stafford Middle School

Site 3 – 206 Street/53A Avenue – Douglas Crescent to 51B Street
Design of watermain, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and roadworks, including sidewalks and bike lanes

Site 4 – 49 Avenue – 196 Street to 200 Street
Design of watermain, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer and possible roadworks, sidewalk, and bike lanes

Site 5 – 48 Avenue – 196 Street to 200 Street
Design of watermain and possible sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and roadworks, including sidewalks

Site 6 – 202 Street/ 203 Street/ 47 Avenue/ 46 Avenue
Design of watermain and roadworks and possible sanitary sewer and storm sewer

Site 7 – Grade Crescent – 200 Street to 208 Street
Design of watermain and possible sanitary sewer and storm sewer

Site 8 – Fraser Highway – Production Way to 208 Street
Design of watermain at Fraser Highway and possible storm sewer

Site 9 – 200 Street – 44 Avenue to 49 Avenue
Design of watermain and possible sanitary sewer and storm sewer

This design work will allow the City to properly budget and schedule the completion of these projects in future years.