Langley City Stats: Crime Down, City Events Up. Plus, Where Do People Work?

Langley City recently released its Annual Report for 2017. This report contains information on our municipality’s priorities, operations, financial position, and statistics. There are three groups of statistics that I wanted to highlight from the annual report.

Crime Type	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013
All Property Offences	2,666	2,825	2,140	2,269	2,428
All Persons Offences	455	428	365	353	365

Langley City’s largest category of reported crime is property-related crime. In 2016, a full 90% of property-related crime was either shoplifting, theft from a motor vehicle, or theft not from a motor vehicle; all under $5,000. Reported crime stats are influenced by the number of people that actually report crime to the RCMP. Over the last few years, we have been encouraging people to report all crime. In 2017, reported property-related crime trended down.

An effective way to address property crime under $5,000 is by getting more people out in our community doing positive activities, and creating connections between people who live in the same neighbourhood. Over the last few years, Langley City has been increasing funding to support more events in our community.

	2017	2016
Events - City Free	37	24
Events - City Paid	7	7
Events - Outside Organizations	40	35
Tournaments	12	8
Seasonal Programming	88	37

The Timms Community Centre provides an opportunity for younger people to take part in positive activities. This reduces the likelihood of younger people taking part in negative activities. Youth drop-ins at Timms Community Centre increase 38% from 12,630 in 2016 to 17,377 in 2017.

On a different topic, many people believe that most Langley City residents must cross the Fraser River to get to work. This is not the case. 2017 stats show that a full two-thirds of Langley City residents never have to cross the Fraser River to get to work.

Location	Residents	Precentage
Surrey	2,945	22.3%
Langley Township	2,775	21.0%
Langley City	2,540	19.2%
No Fixed Workplace	2,080	15.7%
Other Location	585	4.4%
Vancouver	495	3.7%
Abbotsford	455	3.4%
Delta	445	3.4%
Burnaby	415	3.1%
Richmond	350	2.6%
Coquitlam	140	1.1%
Total	13,225

A full copy of the 2017 Langley City Annual Report can be download from the City’s website.

June 25, 2018 Council Meeting Notes: Traffic calming near HD Stafford approved, City financials including remuneration posted

Yesterday, I posted about redevelopment bylaws that were on the agenda of Monday night’s Langley City council meeting. Today, I will be posting about other items that were addressed at that meeting.

Simply put, traffic calming makes our streets safer and more inviting for all road users. Traffic calming reduces crashes, the severity of crashes, and road fatalities, plus increases the number of people who walk and cycle.

Langley City council unanimously approved implementing traffic calming measures by HD Stafford Middle School on Grade Crescent as follows:

Grade Crescent traffic calming fronting HD Stafford Middle School. Select image to enlarge.

Based on public feedback, of which more than 80% supported traffic calming, the City will also be adding a zebra crosswalk at the eastern school driveway entrance, and around 25 meters of sidewalk to provide better connections at the front of the school.

Every year, the City posts information about council and staff remuneration, plus information about payments to suppliers of more than $25,000. This is as per the provincial Financial Information Act. The following table shows council remuneration, expenses, and benefits for 2017.

2017 Langley City council remuneration, expenses, and benefits. Select table to enlarge.

Council also gave final reading for two housekeeping animal control bylaws which included updating the definition of “run at large.” More information is available on a previous post.

Langley City council approved its 2017 Annual Report. The report can be downloaded from the City’s website, and includes information about municipal services and operations, financial data, and other statistics.

Council heard from Weekend Fuelbag founder Brady Lumsden about how this program helps students, including at HD Stafford Middle School, have access to meals. Lumsden explained that in some parts of Langley, over 40% of people under the age of 17 live in poverty. If you are hungry, your ability to learn is inhibited. This makes it much harder to break the cycle of poverty. Council encouraged Lumsden to apply for a community grant.

People aged 17 and under in low income families based on 2015 census tracts in Langley. Select map to enlarge. Source: sparc bc

Council also heard from Rosemary Wallace on behalf of the Langley City Terry Fox Run Committee, encouraging the City to form a team to take part in the run on Sunday, September 16.

June 25, 2018 Council Meeting Notes: Redevelopment, pedestrian access, and parking

Last year was the busiest year of the last 20 for residential redevelopment in Langley City. This year looks to be continuing at a similar pace.

Building permit values in Langley City, 1998-2017. Select chart to enlarge.

Last night at the Langley City council meeting, three rezoning applications received first and second reading to allow them to move forward to a public hearing. The first rezoning bylaw was for a 3-storey, 36-unit townhouse development located along 55 Avenue as shown:

Rendering of proposed development located at 19727, 19737, 19755, 19763 55 Avenue. Select image to enlarge.

Location of 19727, 19737, 19755, 19763 55 Avenue. Select map to enlarge.

The second rezoning bylaw was for a 4-storey, 48-unit condominium apartment located along 53A Avenue as shown:

Rendering of proposed development located at 20105, 20109, 20119, 20129 53A Avenue. Select image to enlarge.

Location of 20105, 20109, 20119, 20129 53A Avenue. Select map to enlarge.

The third rezoning bylaw was for a 3-storey, 13-unit townhouse development located in the 199A Street cul-de-sac as shown:

Rendering of proposed development located at 5471 and 5481 199A Street. Select image to enlarge.

Location of 5471 and 5481 199A Street. Select map to enlarge.

Council also gave first and second reading to allow a public hearing to be scheduled for zoning an unused section of lane by Park Avenue to Downtown Commercial. You can read more about this former lane in a previous post. Final reading was also given to remove an unused lane along Brydon Crescent.

Council gave final reading, and approved issuing a development premit, for a 3-storey, 64-unit townhouse development located along 55 Avenue and 198 Street. The public hearing was held back in March. You can read more about this project in a previous post.

With rapid redevelopment occurring along Brydon Crescent, there is a need to ensure good walking connectivity to that neighbourhood. Easy walking access to our park system is important. Councillor Albrecht, who is Vice-Chair of the Advisory Planning Commission, noted that City staff is evaluating pedestrian access options.

On the topic of the Advisory Planning Commission, Commission members unanimously asked City Council to review tandem parking. Most townhouse units approved in our community use tandem parking; where one car is parked directly behind another. Parking is controlled by our zoning bylaw which is currently under review. A tandem parking policy review will now be incorporated into the overall bylaw review.

Working with other municipalities to deliver value for Langley City residents and businesses

One of the comments that some people tell me is that they believe Langley City residents and businesses would get more value if we were part of a bigger municipality. Working with other municipalities to deliver services can create value. Langley City currently partners with other municipalities to deliver services for our residents and businesses.

The following charts are based off the 2018 operating budget for Langley City. The blue represents services that are delivered in partnership with other municipality, and the orange represents services that are delivered directly by the City.

Chart showing percentage of services delivered directly by Langley City (orange) or in partnership with other local governments (blue), based on the 2018 operating budget. Select chart to enlarge.

Chart showing dollar values of services delivered directly by Langley City (orange) or in partnership with other local governments (blue), based on the 2018 operating budget. Select chart to enlarge.

Langley City and Langley Township partner to provide protective services including the RCMP, Youth & Family Services, and other programs such as the Langley Emergency Program.

We are provided drinking water, sewer treatment, and solid waste disposal services as a member of the Metro Vancouver Regional District which includes 21 municipalities and one treat First Nation.

Langley City is part of the Fraser Valley Regional Library System which is funded by 13 municipality and 2 regional districts.

There are other items that aren’t captured in the charts. For example, we receive funding from TransLink to maintain the major road network in our community. Transit service is also provided by TransLink.

Fire services, though we partner with E-Comm, are provided directly by the City. Parks, recreation facilities, local roads, street lights, sewer, and water lines are also operated and maintained directly by Langley City. Planning, zoning, and building permitting is controlled by Langley City. This list is not comprehensive.

Working with other municipalities to deliver services together makes sense when there is a value for all parties. Currently, half of Langley City’s operating expenditures are delivered in partnership with other local governments.