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
1 comment:
Businesses in Downtown Langley are sufering as parking restrictions are not enforced, Students, Teachers and staff from New Directions park for 4, 5, 6 hrs and no parking for customers. Enforment should start before businesses keep going out of business.
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