The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a method that enables people with limited or no ability to communicate to use pictures to express their thoughts and feelings. This system was originally developed to assist individuals with autism, although it can be used by anyone. One of the members of Langley City’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, Andrea Castro, has developed a PECS board that can be installed at playgrounds and other public spaces. The Accessibility Advisory Committee asked Council to approve the City to apply for a grant to install one of these PECS boards at Douglas Park or City Park. Council approved this request.
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| An example of a Picture Exchange Communication System board. Select the image to enlarge. |
There are many community events in Langley City, and some do a better job than others of managing waste, including reducing waste, composting, and recycling. Zero Waste Strategies look at a hierarchy to eliminate waste and prevent it from ending up in landfills. The top of the hierarchy aims to prevent waste generation in the first place, followed by reducing waste, reusing, and then recycling or recovering energy from waste. The bottom of the hierarchy is sending waste to a landfill. Langley City’s Environmental Sustainability Committee asked Council to direct staff to develop a phased Zero Waste Strategy for all events held in the City, with the first phase focusing on large City-run events, such as Community Day. Expansion to other events could be considered in future years. As a note, Langley City had waste sorting stations at Community Day. Council approved this request.
At the same meeting where Council approved these two committee recommendations, Council also gave final reading to implement the 2026 permissive tax exemptions. You can read about these exemptions in a previous post.
On September 29th, Council received a presentation from United Way about its 100 More Homes program in Penticton on homelessness response and coordination. Council passed a motion requesting that City staff provide more information about this program, including whether it would be beneficial for Langley City and any associated funding requirements. Staff provided a report back to Council recommending that Langley City continue its leadership role with the new coordinated access system for people experiencing homelessness, and to invite United Way to collaborate through funding and research contributions to this system.
Finally, Council released the phase two engagement summary for the upcoming zoning bylaw update. Some of the key takeaways from the engagement are:
- Support for sloped roofs in the detached/’plex zone
- Concern about vehicle parking
- Support enhancing public amenities such as green spaces and increasing below-market rental housing, as long as it doesn’t impact the affordability of market units
- Concern about crime, traffic safety, and flood risk as population density increases