December 10, 2018 Council Meeting Notes: Smoking Ban in Parks, Magic of Christmas Awards, Committee Appointments

Last night was the final public Langley City council meeting of 2018. The meeting started with a presentation for the Magic of Christmas Parade Entry Award winners. These awards went to the best of the best in the categories of corporate, private, and community group.

Back in the summer, council gave third reading to an updated Smoking Bylaw. As required by provincial law, it had to go to Fraser Health for review. Based the health authority’s feedback, council moved forward with an update Smoking Bylaw last night. The updated bylaw covers tobacco, vapour products, and cannabis. Major changes include:

• Creating a no smoking zone within six metres of all doorways, air intakes, and open windows of any substantially enclosed public space and workplaces
• Prohibit smoking in a vehicle with children under the age of 16
• Ban smoking in parks

There is the option to create smoking zones in parks in the future is required. I asked what measures the City will be implementing to inform people of the smoking ban in parks including the possible use of signs. I was told that signs will not be placed in parks, but that the City will be engaging in a public education campaign.

Council gave first, second, and third reading to update the Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw which is used for issuing fines. Someone could receive a fine in the amount of $150 for a first offence, $300 for a second offense, and $500 for a third or each subsequent offence for smoking in contravention of the updated Smoking Bylaw.

Council approved renewing the animal control contract with the Langley Animal Protection Society for five years start in January. The cost of the contract is $97,895 per year, and will be adjusted annually based on the Vancouver Consumer Price Index.

Council endorsed the City applying for a $25,000 grant from UBCM. If successful, this grant will allow the City to “collect information regarding the child care needs of the community; create an inventory of existing child care spaces; identify space creation targets over the next 10 years; and identify actions that can be taken to meet those space creation targets.”

Council also gave final reading to adopt four bylaws. The first bylaw rezoned the properties located at 19727, 19737, 19755 and 19763 55 Avenue to accommodate a 36-unit, 3-storey townhouse development. A development permit was also issued for the project which you can read more about in a post from the summer.

Council also adopted updated Waterworks, Solid Waste, and Sanitary Sewer Bylaws by giving them final reading. As I posted about last week, utility rates are increasing in our community in 2019 due to the increased cost of services we receive from the Metro Vancouver Regional District.

Members of Langley City council sit on various city-controlled and external committees. The following list outlines which committees members of council will serve on in 2019.

Advisory Planning Commission

1. Councillor Storteboom (Chair)
2. Councillor Pachal (Vice Chair)

Committee of the Whole – All Council

Community Day Committee

1. Councillor Wallace (Chair)
2. Councillor James (Vice Chair)

Community Grant Committee – All Council

CPR Railway, Township and City Advisory Panel

1. Councillor Albrecht (Co-Chair)
2. Councillor Storteboom (Alternate)

Crime Prevention Task Group

1. Councillor Pachal (Chair)

Discover Langley City

1. Councillor Albrecht
2. Councillor Storteboom (Alternate)

Downtown Langley Business Association

1. Councillor Storteboom
2. Councillor Albrecht (Alternate)

Economic Development Committee

1. Councillor Albrecht
2. Councillor James

Emergency Planning Committee

1. Councillor James (Chair)

Finance Committee – All Council

Fraser Health Municipal Advisory Council

1. Mayor van den Broek
2. Councillor Martin (Alternate)

Fraser Valley Regional Library

1. Councillor Martin
2. Councillor James (Alternate)

Gateway of Hope Community Council

1. Councillor Martin
2. Councillor Storteboom (Alternate)

Healthier Community Partnerships

1. Mayor van den Broek (Co-Chair)
2. Councillor Wallace (Alternate)

Homelessness Action Table

1. Councillor Martin

Joint School Board #35 / Municipal Liaison Committee

1. Councillor Wallace
2. Councillor James

Langley Christmas Bureau

1. Mayor van den Broek (Chair)
2. Councillor James (Alternate)

Langley Human Dignity Coalition

1. Councillor Wallace

Langley Refugee and Immigrant Advisory Committee

1. Councillor Storteboom

Langley Senior Resources Centre Society

1. Mayor van den Broek
2. Councillor James (Alternate)

Langley Walk Committee

1. Councillor Albrecht
2. Councillor Wallace (alternate)

Local Government Awareness Day

1. Councillor Storteboom (Chair)
2. Councillor Martin

Lower Mainland District RCMP Mayors Forum

1. Mayor van den Broek

Langley Secondary School Round Table

1. Councillor Wallace

Magic of Christmas Parade Committee

1. Councillor Albrecht (Chair)
2. Councillor Wallace (Vice Chair)

Metro Vancouver Board of Directors

1. Mayor van den Broek
2. Councillor Martin (alternate)

Performing Arts Task Group

1. Councillor James (Co-Chair)
2. Councillor Wallace (Co-Chair)

Youth Commission

1. Councillor Wallace
2. Councillor Pachal (Alternate)