Wednesday, March 13, 2019

March 11, 2019 Council Meeting Notes: Pickleball, Environmental Task Group, Arts & Culture Task Group, and Door-to-Door Canvassing

Monday night’s Langley City council meeting was a full house with members of the Langley Area Pickleball Dinkers. Pickleball has become a popular sport in Langley City in recent years. The sport “combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis.

Members of Langley Area Pickleball Dinkers at Monday night's council meeting. Select image to enlarge.

When pickleball is played outdoors in Langley City, it is played on the tennis courts in Douglas Park. Client Davies, who represented the Langley organization at the council meeting, requested that the City repair the surface cracks on the courts and repaint permanent lines to support both tennis and pickleball. He also noted that there will be a pickleball tournament in Langley between July 5th and 7th, with proceeds benefiting Douglas Park Community School.

Council passed a motion to have staff investigate options to repair and repaint the tennis courts in Douglas Park.

As I noted yesterday, later during the meeting, council gave final reading to the 2019-2023 Financial Plan. Council also gave final reading to the Advisory Planning Establishment Commission Bylaw which I posted about previously.

Council also approved the terms of reference for our new Environmental Task Group, and Arts and Culture Task Group. These task groups will run until the end of this year, and could be extended by council for another year if required.

The Environmental Task Group “will evaluate and recommend to City Council bylaws and policies related to the protection and enhancement of the environment.” The membership of this task group will include: two members of council, a member representing the Langley Field Naturalist, a member representing the Langley Environment Partner Society, a youth member, a member from a post-secondary institution, and a member from the community at-large.

The Arts and Culture Task Group “will evaluate and recommend to City Council initiatives and programs related to the furtherance of arts and culture in the community.” The membership of this task group will include: two members of council, a member from the Langley Arts Council, a member from a local multicultural organization, a youth member, and two members from the community at-large.

Council also approved an update to our Door-to-Door Canvassing Policy. People who go door-to-door in our community to fundraise for registered charities are subject to this policy, and should receive approval from council for canvassing activities.

The policy’s principles include that canvassing should only occur between 9am and 8pm, Monday thru Saturday (excluding holidays), and that any one organization can only canvass for one month per year. Information about groups that are permitted to canvass are sent to the RCMP, and the policy states that all canvassers must carry proof of authorization at all times. As a note, this policy is not meant to apply to children selling cookies for a club that they belong to.

Tomorrow, I’ll be posting about the remaining topics covered at Monday night’s council meeting.

No comments: