Langley City Solutions Tracker 2.1

During the fall 2018 and 2022 election, I promised to work on solutions to increase safety, improve health, and create prosperity for people and businesses in our community.

Over the course of my second term as a Councillor and first term as Mayor, I will track the progress towards, and in some cases, what is blocking progress towards implementing these solutions. I have categorized these solutions into seven broad categories.

Partnering to Tackle Homelessness and Affordable Housing

Solution: Lobby the provincial government to increase funding for the ICM Team who connects people who are homeless with stable housing, and health & social services
Status: Teams are in place. The City is now working to help facilitate the coordination of these teams and another service in our community to serve vulnerable populations best.

Solution: Investigate rental-only zoning along the Fraser Highway corridor to support affordable housing near high-quality transit
Status: While there is no rental-only zoning currently, the new Official Community Plan has policies to promote affordable rental units near transit as detailed in sections 1.6-1.22.

Solution: Building a supportive housing facility and Complex Care Housing in Langley City to get people off the street.
Status: Not Started.

Solution: Work with local doctors, non-profits, and the province, to ensure timely and effective access to primary care - including mental health & addiction support services.
Status: Not Started.

Solution: Take a leadership role in facilitating and coordinating resources to help people experiencing homelessness stop living rough, including by hiring a full-time Social Planner to help with this work.
Status: The City has hired a part-time Social Planner contractor that is starting this work.

Solution: Create an affordable housing policies, including below-market-rate rental policy, and update zoning to support increasing the number of affordable housing units in our community
Status: The City incorporated this into the new Official Community Plan. I put forward a motion that Council adopted to develop a below-market-rate rental policy to be applied when older purpose-built rental buildings undergo redevelopment.

Solution: Update tenant relocation policy when older housing is redeveloped to ensure tenants can afford rents at a new location and are offered the right of first refusal to move back to the redeveloped site at below-market rents.
Status: Council recently adopted a tenant relocation policy, but it needs to be adjusted to strengthen the lanauge.

Solution: Support increasing the number of independent living units for low-income seniors in the area around the Langley Mall
Status: Redevelopment of the current 518-unit Langley Lions Housing complex into a 981-unit, seniors-focused complex in progress.

Solution: Work with the faith community to build BC Housing subsidized housing
Status: Not started yet.

Solution: Work with the Province and TransLink to ensure that additional affordable rental housing is built in close proximity to SkyTrain
Status: Not started yet.

Solution: Explore new affordable homeownership models, such as rent-to-own and the BC Housing Affordable Home Ownership Program
Status: Not started yet.

Working Towards a Safer Langley City

Solution: Implement a Citizen's Assembly to collaborate with experts from community organizations and emergency services across the region to put forward solution to rebuild trust & confidence in the safety of our community. Work with Council to implement the recommendations. For more information, please visit: A Fresh, Community-Led Action Plan for Increased Safety in Langley City
Status: Council adopted motion for Citizen's Assembly.

Solution: Continue to improve lighting in our parks, streets, and walkways
Status: LED lighting replacement program to be completed in 2020.

Solution: Investigate gradually moving the Bylaw Enforcement department to a 24/7, 365 model
Status: Approved a new bylaw enforcement officer position in 2019.

Solution: Support projects that bring more eyes and ears onto the street
Status: Incorporated into new Official Community Plan.

Solution: Increase bike patrols with the RCMP and Bylaw Department
Status: Completed.

Solution: Increase the number of positive activities in our parks
Status: There are more summer events in our parks.

Solution: Work towards increasing fire prevention and suppression services in our community
Status: Hired three additional firefighters, but more firefighters and equipment are need due to the arrival of SkyTrain.

Building a Walkable Langley City

Solution: Continue to implement safer crosswalks including across 208 Street to provide safe school access, and across 200 Street near Penzer Park
Status: Crosswalk installed across 208 Street near 45A Avenue and another along Grade Crescent at the Sendall Gardens entrance.

Solution: Work towards implementing a Grade Crescent Greenway
Status: Planned to start construction in 2029.

Solution: Work towards implementing a Michaud Crescent Greenway
Status: Deferred until 2031.

Solution: Support an Old Yale Road Walking Corridor
Status: Not Started.

Solution: Increase the amount of sidewalks in our community
Status: Duncan Way area sidewalk construction completed. 206 St sidewalk between 44 Ave and 44A Ave completed. $350,000 in additional sidewalk improvement in 2022.

Solution: Implement traffic calming where requested
Status: On-going. Traffic calming near all schools and most parks. Traffic calming is planned on 53 Avenue near the trail that connects to Brydon Lagoon.

Solution: Implement a trail bridge in the Brydon Crescent area
Status: Will be completed as part of Brydon Crescent redevelopment.

Creating a Vibrant Downtown Langley

Solution: Implement Fraser Highway One-Way project to enhance the public realm and walkability
Status: Plan completed. Construction planned to start in 2023.

Solution: Invest in more evening and winter programming
Status: Not Started.

Solution: Support the construction of a performing arts centre
Status: In the new Official Community Plan.

Solution: Support the construction of a shared parking facility
Status: $343,300 in off-street parking fund as of the end of 2021.

Solution: Create safe and inviting laneways in Downtown
Status: New street lights installed in Fuller Lane. Murals installed in Fuller Lane and Salt Lane.

Solution: Complete the protected cycling network in Downtown
Status: Glover Road and 208th Street Causeway cycling projects completed. The gap in the network between 203rd and Glover Road needs to be completed.

Improving Parks and Increasing Green Space

Solution: Increase and enhance our urban tree canopy
Status: Funding increased by $100,500 to enhance public tree maintenance in our community. Urban Forest Management Strategy in progress.

Solution: Support funding to enhance our parks and park programming
Status: Parks maintenance increased by $45,000 and Recreation Office Supervisor position created in 2019. Playground maintenance increased by $20,000 in 2020. Mowing and trails maintenance increased by $50,000 in 2020. Brydon Park maintenance increased by $15,000 in 2021. An Environmental Coordinator position was funded in the 2022 budget.

Solution: Improve lighting and dog off-leash area, including more benches, in Linwood Park
Status: Not Started.

Solution: Improve washroom facilities in parks
Status: Nicholas Park Washroom will be rebuilt. Rotary Centennial park washroom reopened. Douglas Park washrooms renovation planned in 2021.

Solution: Implement recommendations of the Brydon Lagoon task force
Status: Implemented floating islands to promote resting/nesting areas for birds. Improved culvert between lagoon and floodplain. Covered the concrete overflow structure on the southwestern corner. Diversified Lagoon shoreline. Developed viewing platform.

Solution: Partner with Fraser Health to reduce the number of needles in our parks
Status: Fraser Health and its partner organization have a program that collects inappropriately discarded needles in Langley City.

Getting the Basics Right

Solution: Work with Council and City Staff to implement proactive and rapid response protocols to fix potholes, burnt out streetslights, uneven or broken sidewalks, and other transportation & accessibility issues
Status: Not started yet.

Solution: Expand asset management program
Status: Asset management program funded.

Solution: Increase funding into the Infrastructure Levy to ensure that basic infrastructure is renewed in a timely fashion
Status: Contributing a budgeted $954,450 per year.

Solution: Ensure our community amenities, such as parks, trails, washrooms, and community centres, are always clean and accessible.
Status: Not started.

Maintaining Langley City’s Sense of Community and Character

Solution: Work toward increasing community engagement and meaningful public consultation
Status: Neighbourhood meetings will continue. Public consultation is occurring for several key documents such as the Official Community Plan, zoning bylaw and major corridors plan. There is now a gap between public hearings and third reading of bylaws to allow time to consider feedback from the public. Online council and public hearings are now occurring.

Solution: Support programs that encourage neighbours to get to know one another
Status: Know Your Neighborhood Door-to-Door Campaign active via Crime Prevention Committee. Grants available for neighbourhood-led events via community grants.

Solution: Update Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw
Status: New Official Community Plan adopted. A zoning bylaw update is in progress.

You can still read the original solutions tracker from my first term on council.

Last Updates: October 17, 2022