July 13 Council Meeting: Watermain inspection, community grants awarded, and EV charging in apartments.

On July 6th, Langley City council attended its first public hearing via Zoom Webinar, streamed live on YouTube. The public hearing was for discharging land-use contracts for:
19671 50A Avenue
19986 50A Avenue

For more information about this, please read my post about that public hearing. On Monday, council gave third reading to two bylaws to enable the discharging of the land-use contracts for the noted properties.

As I posted about yesterday, it is important that the City keep up with inspecting our watermains, so that issues can be identified and repaired quickly. This ensures that our water supply remains reliable and safe.

The City budgeted $75,000 to inspect 3km of old 1960s era asbestos cement (AC) watermains on Fraser Highway, Glover Roads, and Grade Crescent. AC watermains are safe provided they are not disturbed.

Council approved City staff to apply for a $50,000 grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Municipal Asset Management Program. If we are successful in receiving the grant, we will be able to inspect an addition 3km (for a total of 6km) of AC watermains.

Langley City normally has two intakes for community grants for non-profit organizations that provide programs, services, or events that benefit Langley City residents. These grants are funded by a portion of the casino revenue we receive.

Council approved grants as follows:
Archway Community Services - Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity: $750.00
Boys and Girls Club of Langley: $1,420.00
Douglas Park Community School: $2,300.00
Fibromyalgia Well Spring Foundation: $358.40
Langley Arts Council: $1,500.00
Langley Food Bank Society: $1,861.74
Langley Meals on Wheels: $26.25
Langley Ukulele Association: $1,810.00
Langley Volunteer Bureau: $2,000.00
Southgate Church - Back to School: $4,500.00
Special Olympics Langley: $3,500.00
Terry Fox Foundation - Terry Fox Run: $1,038.42

With the casino shutdown, funding for community grants will be limited next year.

Langley City currently has a voluntary requirement that new apartment buildings have all underground parking spots roughed-in for EV charging, and that at least two spots have EV chargers installed.

Council received a letter from the Victoria EV Association around the “right to charge” in apartments.

The City is currently in the process of updating our official community plan and zoning bylaw. City staff noted that there will be a higher requirement for EV chargers in the updated zoning bylaw.