langleywatchdog…. and more!

My list of achievements displays my will to fight for our residents in the face of wrong doing and the absolute necessity of being honest and transparent in our deliberations and decisions. I am very proud of that fact. Uncovering the serious issues surrounding the Langley Events Center, Mufford Crescent Diversion, Athenry Development, Forewest Devlopment and more demanded the public be told THE TRUTH, and that is exactly what I did! Mayor Rick Green’s List of Achievements over TWO + Years!

• Stopped Provincial Government Gravel Mining Plans for Brown’s Pit – The Provincial Government had expressed an interest in re-activating Browns Pit to supply gravel needs for the Gateway Program. We worked with the immediate affected community residents and campaigned directly to the Provincial Government through our MLAs and media to STOP any intentions to re-activate this venue. Supported residents in their media campaign. Listened to the community!

• Stopped 224th Street Feed Lot – Worked with staff to ensure any plans to establish a feed lot addressed a number of Township Residents and Township needs and protections in the areas of roads, environment, ground water and stream protection. We worked to ensure the number of cattle was limited to net area affected. With small acreages it is important that we work for the benefit of the majority in so many sensitive areas. Listened to the community!

• Renewed Inter-urban rail passenger rights – Uncovered a previously unknown Master Agreement that secured passenger rights on the Pratt Livingston Corridor, through the Langleys, that was due to expire Aug. 29^th We uncovered it 4 months before it was lost forever and under the terms of the agreement we lobbied all municipal councils to assist us in lobbying the President of B.C. Hydro and our MLAs South of the Fraser to renew those rights. Those rights were secured for the people of B.C. in June of 2009! The result of listening to key members of our community!

• Established the South of Fraser Community Rail Task Force- With the renewal of passenger rights on the Inter-Urban Corridor we established a Task Force as I promised in the election which has been supported by all cities and municipalities South of the Fraser including our three post secondary institutions. This Task Force was created to lobby senior levels of government and transit providers with a united voice for the much need improvements to our transportation network. An initiative of mine that involved communities from Delta through to Chilliwack!

• Stopped the Mufford Crescent Diversion – As promised during the last election we brought a previously unknown road and overpass network, but secretly applied for to the ALC and conditionally approved, back to public open houses and a public meeting. After a 98% rejection from over 1,000 residents through community consultation council still approved through two significant votes, despite public anger. In response to the proponents submission in answer to the 9 conditions, I along with a community committee corrected the inaccuracies in their report. The ALC rejected the application based primarily on those corrections we submitted. We stood firm against Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation, Translink, B.C. Gov’t, City of Langley, Council, 12 Funding Partners, the ALC and WE WON! Stood firm against senior levels of government, provincial agencies and the Municipalities of Delta, Surrey, Langley City and the bureaucracy of Langley Township in favor of 95% of the 1,400 + of Township residents who came out against this project.

• New Responsible Water Management Plan – Prior to the 2008 election there was a draft water management plan slated for approval that incorporated a number of very contentious changes, including metered private wells, to the current regulations. We revisited that plan and approved a New Water Management Plan that has been passed and sent to Victoria. We also approved some preliminary funding to cap some free flowing artesian wells. Listened to a petition of over 3,500 residents initiated by Penny Anderlini, a South Langley pioneer farming family!

• Proposed Fish Farm in South Langley – Worked with residents, township staff and regulatory authorities to ensure we prevented the gravel mining of a proposed fish farm site in South Langley. This proposal was stopped but has since restarted albeit limited to the extraction of approximately 6,000 cu metres. This type of permissible activity in the ALR must stop and we will continue our lobbying to provincial and federal authorities to remove it as a permitted use or at the very least put it into the hands of the Municipal government. We have since been advised that the Federal Government has taken over responsibility for coastal and in-land fish resources. They have been issued their Federal License. Listened to residents!

• Initiated public engagement process for the protection of an expanded Noel Booth Park- This site was targeted by the Township as a fill site, a proposal that was a hot issue in the community on or about 2004. I initiated separate conversations with about seven residents who clearly expressed their wishes for an expanded Noel Booth park. These conversations led to a series of meetings with senior staff and a series of public engagement sessions that led to the protection of the site as a passive park for the community. Listened and acted in support of residents of Brookswood!

• New Core Aldergrove Community Plan – As promised during the last election we made the Aldergrove Community Plan a priority. I introduced a dramatic change in our community planning process by working with staff to introduce the concept of an Aldergrove Community Planning Committee. This change was presented through a staff report to council and adopted. The committee consisted of members of the community; business, residents and association representatives who were instrumental in council adopting and giving final reading to this document last fall. Acted on a campaign promise to change the process of Community Planning. (After my loss in 2011 the Township have gone back to top down planning)

• GVWD Water into Gloucester and Aldergrove – As promised in the 2008 election we brought back the essential element to allow for the growth of Aldergrove and expansion of Gloucester. GVWD water is also essential to take the pressure off of the declining aquifers throughout the Township of Langley. Council approved the route and it is now well under construction. This was considered a priority as it’s implications are supporting needed growth and development in residential, commercial and industrial as well as the protection of our environment. Initiated the long promised but never initiated Metro Water line into east Langley. This project was and is essential for development and growth, commercial and residential.

• Repatriated Land Fills on Agricultural Land back to the Township of Langley – Township of Langley residents had been told for years that Landfill on ALR land was the responsibility of the ALR. That was and is Residents were mislead. Through significant due diligence we uncovered that it was the decision of the past municipal council to transfer their responsibility to the ALC contrary to their legislated responsibility. That was stopped and is now back in the hands of the Township of Langley. Listened to residents throughout rural Langley who had long complained but never addressed by Council.

• Fought to ensure the Aldergrove Border Crossing was kept open for trucks – Worked on a community, business and municipal committee to stop the planned closure of this crossing for truck traffic. Construction of the expansion of this facility is well under way. This was very important to the economic development of the Township of Langley. Worked with adjoining Municipalities in putting together a community/business committee as well as a political lobbying group (Mayors and other elected representatives) to ensure this crossing was protected for future truck traffic.

• Joint Langley Police Board Committee – Established a Joint Police Board Committee consisting of the two Mayors, two CAOs, our RCMP Superintendent and an Inspector. This committee dealt with reviewing policing issues from a high level designed to be pre-emptive on policing needs in the Langleys. Through this committee and the CCJR Committee, a prolific offender program has been launched. Listened to the needs of our community to provide a safe and secure environment through this pro-active community initiative. This ceased to operate after the 2011 election.

• New “Citizens for Criminal Justice Reform Committee” – Originated by Township of Langley resident Carol Mills and MP Mark Warawa, this committee was established at the start of our mandate and included representatives from all levels of government, both Mayors, policing and fire from Surrey, Langleys and Abbotsford along with well known Criminal Justice advocate Darryl Plecas and other community leaders. Significant advancements have been derived in policing and senior government lobbying through this committee. A community pro-active initiative.

• Created an Open and Transparent Township of Langley Property Inventory – As promised in the 2008 election campaign I had staff create and make available to the public a complete property portfolio providing pictures and property information. This is available through the Township of Langley Real Estate department. Never before available, this initiative laid out in complete detail the Township of Langley property portfolio estimated to be valued at $500,000,000. Previously not available to the public.

• Initiated NEW bylaw controlling metal theft that resulted in Province wide legislation – Due to some serious cases of metal theft that resulted in some serious public safety issues (Township at the time considered central to this problem) I went on Global TV to discuss the serious problem we had. In my effort to have our bylaws reviewed I was publicly chastised by Councillors Bateman and Fox suggesting we had a crime problem not a bylaw problem. I was persistent in getting that passed and through our initiative we held a region wide meeting for police, Telus, bylaw officers and fire with the result of our Municipality adopting a resolution to UBCM calling for Province Wide legislation. UBCM adopted our resolution unanimously. That call was heard by Victoria and we were successful in getting that province wide legislation passed. Credit must go to Bill Storey our Director of Bylaws for spearheading this initiative. Listened to a community problem and took steps to find a solution for ourselves but more important throughout the Province of B.C.

• Created and established the “Langley Healthier Community Partnership Council” – Together with the City of Langley we created the Langley Healthier Community Partnership Council which is co-chaired by both Mayors and Lois Dixon from Fraser Health. This initiative was about bringing ALL agencies together with a common purpose to find new and creative ways to make our communities healthier. This affects all aspects of our living environment. Another pro-active initiative to create a healthier community in partnership with Fraser Health.

• Encouraged Citizens to launch a campaign against the 208^th Street Truck Route – Residents living on or around the 208^th Street corridor approached me for help in their campaign against this initiative. In response to their request I offered advice that led to  their email, petition and open house turnout to fight what was being proposed. The residents compiled a petition of 2,200 signatures and an attendance of close to 700 at the Open House held at the LEC. The proposed truck route was defeated by council. This community action was initiated in response to a visit of 25 community residents to one of my Monthly Town Hall meetings held at the Willoughby Hall.

• Exposed the serious financial issues surrounding the Langley Events Center – Living up to what I promised during the last election I issued a press release surrounding the extensive problematic issues surrounding the Langley Events Center. Full detail surrounding this issue was ultimately provided by Press Release. Made public the financial wrong doing behind the development of the Langley Events Center in keeping with my promise of public transparency.

• Initiated the discussion and creation of the Walnut Grove Business Association – Working with a couple of major business owners in the Walnut Grove area we provided some Township of Langley resources which were instrumental in the Creation of the Walnut Grove Business Association now numbering over 100 members. This association is proving to be very beneficial in a wide variety of ways in business development, crime information and communication and municipal two-way communication. In response to a telephone call from Ron Knight, owner of McDonalds Restaurants in Walnut Grove and Port Kells I initiated and chaired the first couple of information meetings at the LEC of prospective members of what I wanted to see develop – The Walnut Grove Business Association.

• Initiated the discussion and creation of the Aldergrove Business Association – Working closely with and being encouraged by the Walnut Grove Business Association, Aldergrove businesses have taken the same step as Walnut Grove.  Supported by and with some Township of Langley resources, which were instrumental, Aldergrove is well on their way to create the same vehicle. This association is proving to be very beneficial in a wide variety of ways in business development, crime information and communication and municipal two-way communication. Following the template we used in Walnut Grove we initiated the same campaign in Aldergrove which successfully formed the Aldergrove Business Association.

• Mayor’s Monthly Public Forum – As promised during the 2008 election I held monthly Mayor’s Forums which attracted over 1,000 residents in the first two years. This was a drop-in session designed to be informal and to engage the public in a dialogue on individual and collective issues in the community with the Mayor. Delivered on my campaign promise!

• Langley Agriculture Trust Foundation – The Township of Langley has created the Langley Agriculture Trust Foundation which is being managed by a Community Board of Directors. This initiative was designed to help promote and fund agriculture improvements within the Township going forward. A pro-active initiative supporting Agriculture in the Township of Langley.

• Re-Activated the Langley Horse Federation – I worked with previously involved prominent citizens of the Township of Langley in the promotion of the previously approved Langley Horse Strategy (by council circa 1996) These residents are now back, actively involved in the Langley Horse Federation with a new community based board of directors who are energized to revisit this important Langley initiative. An important element of their work will be building and adding to our agriculture / horse economic development opportunities. A pro-active initiative to support the equine industry in the Township of Langley know with the moniker “The Horse Capital of B.C.” They initiated a Town hall Meeting at the Langley Events Center supported by the Township, of over 300 industry representatives which dealt with a priority list of needs.

• Metro Vancouver Food Strategy – As Vice Chair of the Metro Vancouver Agriculture Committee I am proud to have played a major role in the development of the Metro Vancouver Food Strategy. This is an important initiative which is designed to raise the profile and importance of our agriculture, food production and food distribution system. This strategy was the result of an initiative sponsored by our metro Agricultural Committee of which I was Vice-Chair.

• Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy – As a Director of Metro Vancouver I played a major role in the Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy which has been very closely addressed by the Township of Langley Municipal Council and Staff. This is a provincially mandated initiative that, through our input, protects the Township of Langley and the region’s residents quality of life and liveability. This was a hotly discussed and debated provincially mandated initiative which ultimately resulted in unanimous support by all Metro Directors and ALL Municipal Councils. Approved in 2011.

• Translink Transit Service to Gloucester Industrial Park / Aldergrove Corridor – For over 30 years the Township of Langley has ignored the Transit needs of one of the regions largest industrial parks. There are 8,000 to 10,000 employees per day in and out of that park. On my initiative, working with Translink, Gloucester property owners and the Aldergrove Business Association, we conducted a comprehensive survey of their transit needs. Gloucester property owners are contributing $1.4 million in Translink Property Tax levies without so much as a bus to show for it. An initiative by myself in conjunction with businesses in Gloucester to find a solution for the lack of ANY bus transportation in and out of Gloucester. A $1.4 million investment into Translink coffers without a bus to show for it.

There is a lot of gossip, rumor and innuendo being spread by my opposition in this campaign, I find that very unfortunate. A read through my list of achievements demonstrates a Mayor that fought for residents and I don’t apologize for that. In office the easy decision is to go with the flow and don’t rock the boat, I happen to believe residents deserve better. If there are any questions I would be pleased to answer them. Contact me at 604 607-7338 or 604 309-7795 Thank You

Mayor Froese in finally recognizing the anger directed at him and this Council for their actions in Brookswood is now striking out in a sad, and frankly very desperate, fashion. Calling a Press Conference this Friday morning, Mayor Froese attempted to 1) Deflect blame from where blame should be directed on the Brookswood issue and 2) and NOW he is planning to revamp the Planning Process? Did I hear all of this correctly?

This will be short and sweet – The Facts! Don’t believe me, believe the Council Minutes!!!

One – In May of 2011 the Municipal Council of the day dealt with the Brookswood issue and I was absent! Minutes show who was at Council that day and approved the Brookswood Plan makeup and exactly what they approved.

(For the record I was away for two consecutive meetings due to me daughter’s serious life threatening illness. I am sure the residents of the Township forgave my absence.)

“When the petition from landowners to initiate a neighborhood plan process came before council on Feb. 14th, 2011, Green voted in favor of a motion to refer the petition to staff for a report on the implications of that idea.” Langley Times Nov. 7th. Confirmation of that fact has been reported in the both local papers.

Township of Langley Minutes / Verbatim copy follows of items pertinent to this issue. You can access the minutes through the Township of Langley archive web-site.

Regular Afternoon Meeting of Township Council

Monday. May 30th, 2011 at 3:00 PM

PRESENT: Acting Mayor, M. Kositsky

Councillors J. Bateman, B. Dornan, S. Ferguson, C. Fox, B. Long and G. Ward

Absent – Mayor Green and Councillor Richter

B. 1.

Griffith Neighborhood Advisory Group

Request by the Griffith Neighborhood Advisory Group to appear before Council to answer any questions with regards to the Brookswood/Fernridge Neighborhood Plan – Carried

F. 2.

Brookswood/Fernridge Community Plan Update and Neighborhood Plan

Report 11-66

File CD 6480-21-001

Moved by Councillor Ferguson,

Seconded by Councillor Bateman,

That Council authorizes staff to proceed with a process to update the Brookswood/Fernridge Community Plan, as needed, and to create a Neighborhood Plan as described in this report and set out in the form of a draft Memorandum of Understanding, provided as attachment C, including the hiring of planning staff and retention of consultants all at the proponents expense.

CARRIED (Unanimous)

Special Note: Please note, the motion that passed unanimously was by Acting Mayor Kositsky, Councilors Bateman, Dornan, Ferguson, Fox, Long, and Ward. Similar to other contracts and motions I uncovered while in the Mayor’s office (read Langley Events Center) the wording approved by Council gives staff complete control (a blank cheque) with NO referral back to Council for final approval. This is a practice that MUST be stopped!

Where was Mayor Froese after his election, when confronted by such community outrage over this issue? Why did he not review the process and the agreement which was obviously a conflict of interest? 

TWO – Mayor Froese then announces, if elected, he will revamp the Planning process through a Special Committee? This would be another Blank Cheque of trust! Questions the community needs to ask themselves – Who would sit on it? What would the process be for establishing changes? How open and transparent would it be? Would it involve a Community Planning Committee fairly selected and fairly represented? Would it hold Open Public Meetings? And we could go on….

So let’s see if I understand this? We have a Mayor that promised addressing the Community Plan process in his 2011 election campaign and has done nothing for three years except voting for every development that came along despite public anger. We have a Mayor that openly disrespected literally thousands of residents submissions on a litany of developments by voting in favor, not recognizing residents wishes. We have a Mayor who is on record as saying he does not make decisions based on Public Hearings, petitions and other public input but has to consider those that did not come out to the meetings? This is a form of democracy that is NOT welcome in the Township of Langley.

NOW, we have just gone through 4 weeks of the Election Campaign in which this Mayor has defended and justified all of his actions in public debates, all candidate meetings and literature and NOW one week before election-day he recognizes a problem? Given his past history he is not to be believed!

Conclusion – The sitting Mayor on the eve of the election is being pushed by his handlers to respond to what are the real issues in this campaign, unfortunately Mayor Froese’s response at this late a date comes across as political, not sincere and not to be believed. Mayor Froese tried this new “revamp Township Planning” last night in front of over 450 people from all corners of the municipality and it received the reception it deserved!

Vote for REAL Change Nov. 15^th NOT  FOUR MORE YEARS OF THE SAME!

There will be more political NEWS in the days ahead. We are coming down to the home stretch. Don’t be swayed, stay the course and lets take back the Township of Langley for ALL of our residents. When in office I fought hard for you and listened to you. Lets get back at it!!

Unfortunately my response as printed in the Langley Advance today was seen by some as I did not answer, which of course is not true. I didn’t believe the majority of questions could be answered in the simple terms they requested. They did post my full answers in their expanded version but just in case you missed them, here they are!

Do you currently live in Langley Township?

A – Yes

How long (in years) have you lived in Langley Township?

A – 17 years

Should a new OCP allow increased density in Brookswood and Fernridge?

A – A NEW OCP should only be allowed after a NEW Community Based Planning Model is created through collaboration with the community. The Community must play a very active role in this process.

Should Township council act to slow down development of Willoughby?

A – Once again, like Brookswood above, a NEW Community Based Planning Model must be adopted after collaboration with the community. We have to take a step back and take a deep breath and move forward cautiously listening to the community which has been absent up to now.

Does the Township do enough to help ensure there are enough schools in developing areas?

A – Schools are an important part of the infrastructure necessary to service our ever increasing population. The new rules that have just been laid down by the Province, specifically the School Board must come up with 50% of the funding and now the Province has rejected our 5 year Capital Plan with no funds available this year make our situation untenable. We have two Senior Cabinet Ministers elected by our community and we get this kind of message? We must meet with them to find solutions to this problem. It is Provincially based.

Would you vote in favour of a tax increase?

A – We must establish a more intensive budgeting process looking at a variety of issues such as the ongoing substantial Operating Subsidy of the Langley Events Center and more. At the most a very minimum tax increase would be accepted ONLY after a comprehensive budgeting review looking into ALL aspects of Township spending and current priorities.

Would you support tolling ALL Metro Vancouver bridges to fund transit?

A – Yes I would support a minimum toll on all bridges within the region sharing the cost with all residents going forward. This is something I agreed with when on the Mayors Translink Council. Township residents are unfairly penalized by tolls on the Golden Ears and Port Mann. Live North of the river and you have West Coast Express and no tolls into the region to the West. Live on the South side of the Fraser and you get penalized and unfairly treated.

Would you support road pricing to fund transit?

A – No, there should be no additional costs to residents of the Township of Langley UNTIL we receive an adequate service by Translink. Currently we are not receiving anything close to what we are submitting in tax dollars. (property and gas taxes)

Would you support increasing property taxes to fund transit?

A – No, property taxes are an unfair source of taxation for transit. It should be based on the user formula but as I said above only after adequate service is provided and available to our residents. Suggesting that we are going into a 10 yr. or 20 yr. plan to receive the service we have been paying for years is unfair and unacceptable.

Should a tree protection bylaw be applied to the entire Township?

A – We have to be very careful when we impose a by-law of this nature. Does this include agricultural land? Would it negatively affect a private property owners ability to use his land for an agricultural use. I believe a public process should be established to hear from residents, urban and rural. Community, ALL communities should be represented for input into this issue.

Should developers be required to provide more low-income housing in the Township?

A – There is no question that there is a need and every municipality should do it’s share. I believe a decision such as this can only come after serious due diligence is undertaken. What are best practices, what funds are available for partnership?

Should the Township create more bike lanes and public cycling infrastructure?

A – While this is a trendy improvement we cannot get ahead of it’s need and use. Great idea if it is used over time and at that time should be expanded. What financial resources are available from Translink and other senior governments.

Do you support the construction of high rise developments in Willoughby?

A – This consideration must be broached through a NEW Community Based Planning Model that is developed through Community Collaboration. It is essential the community plays an integral part in that decision.

Should the Township open sales of municipal lands to public scrutiny in advance?

A – One of the issues I ran on in 2008 was the non-transparency of the Township property portfolio. On my initiative it is now available for the public to view through the Township Real Estate Division. Yes, the process to sell municipal lands (IF they should be sold) should be open to public scrutiny, BUT they should be a part of a process to enhance that public asset value.

Should the Township commit to building the Aldergrove rec centre and pool regardless of land sales?

A – Yes and it will take a change in priorities to do so. When we have just spent over $22,000,000 over 4 ½ years in Operational Subsidy for the Langley Events Center we have a serious problem in the Township. With strong financial controls I believe that expenditure can be handled.

Should the Township ensure that roads, sidewalks, and crosswalks are in place prior to the completion of new developments?

A – There must be a review of our Development Cost Charge Funds and the legislation allowing us to do so. There also has to be a full review on the potential for CACs (Community Amenity Contributions). Through both of these reviews I believe we can do a much better job in preparing the necessary infrastructure going forward.

Is the Township doing enough to protect agricultural land?

A – No, it is very clear that they have little respect for ALR land. One just has to look at the Wall Development of 69 Townhouses in the middle of prime farm land to understand their position in ALR protection.

Does the Township need more parks?

A – There is a significant inventory of parks and land dedicated for parks. The answer to that question will be different in Willoughby than possibly another community. The other question is are we talking passive or active parks and for what use? I was instrumental in the move to initiate the Noel Booth Park in Brookswood from what was being planned as a fill site.

Does the Township need more sports and recreation facilities?

A – For the most part we probably have some of the finest facilities in the lower mainland however there will be an increase in need as our population grows. The old Aldergrove complex should be rezoned, sold and developed into high rise development (approved in the Core Aldergrove Community Plan) The funding from that could be utilized for the NEW Aldergrove Pool, Ice and recreation facility.

Should more firefighters be hired, even if it means a tax increase?

A – We should move immediately to make the Township compliant with WCB / Worksafe BC rules of four man crews. That will require some funding however I believe we can find that funding out of our existing budget.

Should more RCMP officers be hired, even if it means a tax increase?

A – We must explore the use of Community Police Officers which is a significantly lower cost where needed.

Do you believe Langley Township and City should be amalgamated into one municipality?

A – Yes, however the discussion is moot point because a referendum would have to be agreed to by the City Council and passed and likewise the same in the Township. I think it is safe to say that won’t happen so why debate it?

I hope the above clarifies my position on a number of issues of interest.

RG

The following Candidates for the Township of Langley have been endorsed by the Farmland Defense League of British Columbia. For the record ALL of these candidates are INDEPENDENT and proud of their independence.

Their comments follow as received:

Mayor	Rick Green	Most prominently recognized as a true fiscal conservative, Green came to the attention of the Farmland Defence League with his successful 2010 fight to ensure the voters and taxpayers of Langley Township were given an opportunity to be heard about the BC government’s plan to pave Langley’s historic Hudson’s Bay Farm. A hobby farmer himself, Green remains one of Langley’s most respected advocates of the preservation of farmland  and rural life and the democratic voice of its citizenry.
Council	David Davis	4th generation professional farmer of a family that has worked Langley’s historic Hudson’s Bay Farm for more than 100 years, Council incumbent David Davis served his community for a number of years as a member of its Agricultural Advisory Committee and as the only reliable voice for agriculture, food security and rural life on the 2011-2014 Township Council.
	Petrina Arnason	Her mother’s daughter in every honourable way, Petrina has carried on the family tradition of eloquently articulating for preservation of all that is wholesome and green in Langley, including its fish bearing watercourses, its wildlife and farmland and farmers.
	Dave Stark	Introduced to the true nature of food security as a former director of Meals on Wheels, this Langley farmer emerged as a leading voice for preservation of his community’s farmland  during the 2008-2011 campaign to preserve the Hudson’s Bay Farm from becoming a ribbon of highway.  Stark remains a passionate advocate for rural Langley.
	Kevin Mitchell	This Langley sheep farmer has been a vocal opponent of landfilling (dumping) on Langley farmland and an advocate for farmland preservation and honest, transparent government.

Stay tuned for more election information on the Township of Langley Municipal Election 2014!

RG

We have just gone through a very well attended and a very telling All Candidates Meeting put on by the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce and the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board at the Langley Events Center. The first items on the agenda were questions of all non-incumbent candidates asking for a yes or no to all of the controversial decisions of the past three years. Well, it was at least admitted that there have been a number of controversial issues, I would suggest very contentious issues over the incumbents three year term in office.

Now, you would think that members of this council would understand the anger by now and be a little bit contrite over the balance of the evening when they had an opportunity to respond directly to these issues. Unfortunately rather than recognizing wrong doing they all fell into a defensive shell and attempted to justify their actions in front of a full house of residents that were looking for more than they got from the incumbents. It was very apparent to all in attendance that the old saying “The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior” will be true in this case should this council get reelected.

Why does it appear our Municipal politicians have lost respect for our communities and residents?

One thing I learned many years ago from those I observed, good and bad,if you resist providing opportunities for communication and dialogue with taxpayers, eventually, like what has happening throughout the Township of Langley, it will flare up into a giant protest. Welcome to the Township of Langley Municipal Election 2014! The voter WILL have their final say!

Politicians must earn the respect of the voter, not the opposite. It appears more often than not, that the longer a politician serves, elitism takes over and arrogance rises to the surface. I am firmly of the opinion in the long run that there should be term limits which would afford the opportunity for new ideas; unfortunately that isn’t the case and it is up to the voter to make the changes that our communities need.

How do the taxpayers of the Township of Langley really feel?

Leading up to this Municipal Election, a Mario Canseco Public Opinion Poll by Insights West for the Vancouver Sun released some very interesting information and some suggest very disturbing information for the incumbents; but to taxpayers not surprising. The information that follows validates the feelings and concerns of residents who very plainly have had enough!

The poll was effectively answering the question:

What are residents thoughts on their local municipal governments?

Langley came second to last in overall satisfaction. Only Maple Ridge residents are less satisfied than us in Langley with our Mayor and Council!

When the numbers are reviewed to see why Langley received such a poor rating, the following tells us all we need to know:

57% of Langley residents gave their local Mayor and Council a Fair/Poor rating in regards to being trustworthy!

62% rated their transparency as Fair/Poor!

57% don’t think they are fair!

Only 6% said they were very happy with the present Mayor and Council!

54% didn’t think our Mayor and Council were accessible!

58% didn’t think they were doing a good job of listening to the community!

53% thought they were doing a bad or very bad job of engaging with regular people! Literally nobody thought they were doing a very good job of engaging with regular people.

53% clearly said it was time for a change!

63% wanted better people running for public office!

75% of Langley residents believe developers and lobbyists have TOO MUCH INFLUENCE in Langley! This was the most stunning number in regards to developers and their relationship with the present Mayor and Council!

Conclusion?

This is an independent poll on the feelings of average citizens about their Municipal elected leaders. It is very clear that the tipping point of dissatisfaction has been reached and the wishes are for REAL Change. We have two weeks to go in this election campaign and I can tell you without a doubt those in power and those with something significant to gain if the incumbents stay in power will be pulling out all the stops. They have a lot to lose!

On the other hand, to make the changes all of us are looking for we must stay the course, talk to our friends and neighbors, talk to family and get involved in your area to promote the change that will benefit us all. The Township of Langley is a great Municipality with great people making up great communities.

There is no question that we will be out spent given the money and power that is at stake, but the forces for change will not be out motivated to make change happen WITH YOUR HELP!

Stay tuned for more Township of Langley Municipal Election Information! More updates shortly!!!

Today I am announcing that I will be running as an independent for Mayor of the Township of Langley in the Municipal Election to be held Saturday November 15^th, 2014. While very happy in retirement with no plan of getting back into politics my decision to do so is in response to numerous requests I have received from all areas of the Township of Langley. This decision has been made only after careful and long reflection and discussion with my family; my decision to run is also in response to the devastating decisions made by our current Mayor and Council and the negative affect those decisions are having and will have on our community.

Carol and I have lived in the Township for over 17 years; we have been married for over 47 years, have three grown children who live in the Township and we have four grandchildren. It is well documented that I am an enthusiastic free enterpriser. The wide-spread community support and encouragement I have received to run for Mayor is very broad based throughout the Township who have identified themselves as the “Citizens to Re-Elect Rick Green for Mayor”. We sincerely appreciate that support and fully understand why residents want change, REAL Change!

After the last election I was prepared for retirement and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with family and working around our property. I was willing just to sit back and observe from a distance how this Council would operate and deal with the issues of the day. It only took about ten months for me to feel the need to do my part through a community BLOG designed to inform Township residents about what is really going on at their Council table. Since the end of this Council’s first year it has been no secret that there has been an endless number of community based controversies over decisions this council was making on a weekly basis. Observing the actions of Mayor and Council and seeing the absolute frustration on the part of taxpayers and their collective communities, I have reached the point where I cannot sit back and observe any longer without doing something about it. Again I am responding to the urging of a large number of taxpayers who have had enough!

There is a tendency to place our trust in Council members elected to represent us. Although these representatives are elected to look after our best interests, in the case of the majority of current Township of Langley Council they have fatally broken that trust. We need effective REAL Change –

I am committed to changing the way our communities are being treated and the endless number of questionable deals and decisions being made behind closed doors that suffer from a complete lack of transparency and due process. A special deal for friends and insiders comes to mind.

Who is to blame? The blame has to lie squarely at the feet of Mayor Froese and his majority on this Council who have clearly gone past their best before date. Mayor Froese has shown a complete lack of leadership on a variety of issues. It is the Mayor and Council’s responsibility to provide strong and effective leadership for staff in the areas of fiscal responsibility, accountability and Community Vision. The Mayor of the Township must set the course and lead council and staff toward initiatives that will serve the best interests of residents and taxpayers, embracing community input and LISTENING TO THAT COMMUNITY INPUT! Listening to the Mayor’s own words, he doesn’t believe in the public’s right to be heard and listened to.

I have operated my own business with a million dollar payroll, served on many boards both elected and appointed in the private and public sector and served as an Alderman in Delta and Mayor in the Township of Langley (Curriculum Vitae is available)

My experience in Municipal government gives me a unique perspective in terms of evaluating the performance of this council. It is time for REAL Change!

Why are we seeing so many poor decisions that are costing our communities and taxpayers significantly? This cost comes not only in dollars and cents but in quality of life and livability. What has become so blatantly clear to all is that this Mayor and Council have NO respect for public input.

So what are some of the issues?

WILL NOT LISTEN TO RESIDENTS / TAXPAYERS – In what has become a sad reflection on local democracy and governance, the only avenue available to residents (Public Hearings and Petitions) to communicate their interests or concerns to their elected Council have been publicly denied. The Mayor is on record that HE DOES NOT make decisions based on Public Hearing presentations and petitions! Examples of not listening? Coulter Berry Fort Langley, Athenry, Willoughby Development i.e. Forewest and more, Brookswood, Aldergrove and Glen Valley – It just doesn’t quit!

Approving a 69 unit Wall Townhouse Development in the middle of Prime Agricultural land.

Approving the Forewest Development, a multi-unit, multi floor and multi Condominium building development in a community that had to be re-zoned from single family!

NO ACCEPTABLE COMMUNITY PLANNING – Despite very high levels of community and public anger we continue to embrace top down planning with Community involvement and collaboration absent from the process.

Out of control Taxpayer funded subsidy of over $32,000,000, Capital and Operating over 4 ½ years for the Langley Events Center, over $11,000,000 during the last year alone! These are from the Township’s own numbers!

Building a $7.5 million expansion to the Langley Events Center without any public input, public need or public announcement until six weeks after construction started. Transparency doesn’t appear to be important in the Township of Langley.

The majority of this Council purchased a Golf Course and a Fort Langley Restaurant with real extrapolated costs estimated to be over $12 million… Why?

Buying property from Trinity University paying 80% over assessed value, an additional $1.2 million of your tax dollars.

Very Questionable Land Deals (Sales) that lack any form of public transparency that can only lead to public suspicion and mistrust with their Elected Municipal Council ranging from selling ¾ of an acre for $12,000 to the Dickson Pit sale for $2 million.

What are my plans? What is my Platform?

Throughout the course of the last couple of years I have had ample time to sit back and observe the irresponsible actions of this Municipal Government. While I have had the time to consider what I would do, I never considered that it was something I would undertake until now! While considering my plans going forward I have identified a very comprehensive platform surrounding the issue of how to put the Township back on track and re-establish public confidence in their municipal government. My platform will be announced as we get into the election period; however as a general statement I offer the following:

With the support of a NEW Municipal Council we will review and address the public angst on the many public issues surrounding loss of protection of our Community Heritage Value, No Community in Community Planning, questionable property purchases (Your tax dollars), questionable property transactions (Your property portfolio asset value), debt, taxation, projects over-budget and Langley Events Center Subsidies, Operational Costs and facility use contracts that are in place.

It is important to understand that as an independent (all councilors and the Mayor claim to have been in the recent past) changes will only happen with the support of the majority of the elected council. I believe that my plans for sound management of the Township will be supported by any and all clear thinking elected councilors and I am committed, willing and able to work with all councilors that are elected and embrace their willing contribution and participation going forward. I sincerely tried to do that during my three year term but resistance on their part failed the taxpayer.

How satisfied are you? IT IS TIME FOR REAL CHANGE! It is time to start ensuring the Township of Langley will be the community of choice in the Lower Mainland. At no time in our history, with the Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy, have the development pressures been greater and the land use decisions been more acute. Working together we can build a community that respects individual opinion and values community input. Working together we can expedite economic development activities building a much stronger commercial and industrial tax base. Working together we can involve interested members of the community on Council Advisory, Standing and Select Committees as well as Task Forces that are established with clear objectives in mind focused on community improvement. Community members of those committees should feel valued offering their expertise and commitment of time. We can achieve this by setting priorities that meet our taxpayer’s community and fiscal expectations. To build the community I talk about we need to bring about change in the Mayor`s office and CHANGE THAT WORKS! IT IS TIME…. IT IS TIME FOR REAL CHANGE!

I am asking for your support November 15^th, 2014 for sound, strong and fiscally responsible leadership for the Township of Langley and for a Mayor that has proven he listens and fights hard for YOU the taxpayer.

Sincerely

W. R. Rick Green

Candidate for Mayor

Township of Langley

Mayor 2008 – 20113.+ick Green 604 607-7338 Cell 604 309-7795 email at rgreen@rickgreenformayor.ca        or my website at www.rickgreenformayor.ca for a detailed platform and campaign information.

Let’s be upfront from the outset, the Langley Events Center is a great community asset! Now let’s also be upfront and state the inconvenient facts and tell the UNTOLD truth about its financial reality! A lot has been said about out of control Municipal spending, put this at the top of the list!!

No Business Plan – Very questionable Management Plan – NO satisfactory Oversight.

In short, the taxpayers of the Township of Langley are owners of a Financial Disaster, brought to you by your current local Township of Langley Municipal Council. From cutting an unnecessary cheque for $8.83 million to a non-existent private partner back in 2011, to a mind blowing annual subsidy! Read on, unfortunately this story just gets worse….

A Taxpayer Funded Annual Subsidy that has grown to over $11,000,000 for fiscal 2013 and it looks like it is still growing!!! Yes that is not a mistake, it is the correct number of “0”s over $11,000,000 for one year in taxpayer subsidy! Yet, there is more!

As I have said so-often before, you just can’t make this stuff up. There are many internally in the Township (Council) who have never questioned staff as to the lack of a business plan from the outset (pre-construction) let alone the operational costs and it’s needs going forward. Pretending a problem doesn’t exist doesn’t cut it. Suggesting anyone questioning anything about the LEC is opposed to the LEC is of course a lie, patent nonsense and an all too often used diversionary tactic, as an excuse in the absence any logical answer or explanation for you the taxpayer.

This is a sad statement, but with anything close to good management we could have had the Langley Events Center at a much cheaper cost without the questionable payouts to non-existent partners and an increasingly outrageous annual subsidy that is going who knows where; these are not mutually exclusive! This kind of annual subsidy for a Public Facility just doesn’t exist anywhere else except in the present day world of the Township of Langley. It isn’t even close!!!

As I have blogged on numerous occasions, the first significant and very difficult issue I had to deal with when elected Mayor in 2008 was the untruth in the public domain that the Langley Events Center was a P3 agreement when in fact it wasn’t! Just for the record, this story was told through Press Release after Press Release (all documented) over two years supported by senior TOL staff, our MLA Rich Coleman and all members of Council.
If all of this wasn’t bad enough there was much more to come, unfortunately for the best part of two years I couldn’t say anything as it was tied up under in-camera rules. All of these facts were finally able to be detailed to the public through my Press Release dated Wednesday, December 15th, 2010 after all agreements were passed by Council and signed off. I received severe internal criticism for doing so, but I was being consistent in fighting for residents.

Inconvenient facts for sure, but all have to be laid at the feet of Council. All of this was highlighted in an earlier BLOG Post Dated March 3rd, 2013 http://www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/03/ .

It does not cause me any pleasure, but with my three years of experience in the Mayor’s office combined with what we have just learned, an external review is in order, or going forward is demanded. With the new information that follows with respect to the operations subsidy, it only reinforces this need! While the numbers we are quoting are all audited numbers, this revelation is no reflection on the auditor, they were only dealing with the numbers provided.

The Annual Operational Subsidy? – What hasn’t been discussed to-date and made public are the annual subsidies for the Langley Events Centre? Good and responsible governments are transparent which is absolutely essential in gaining public trust. In the case of the Township it doesn’t exist. Voters should be demanding it and accepting nothing less. The Mayor should be providing it and Councilors should be insisting on it. Unfortunately ALL members of our Council have been silent with respect to all questions on the detail of the start, the construction, the finish, the expansion and now the operations of the Langley Events Center.

Do we all remember the financial debacle of a contract entered into by our neighboring City of Abbotsford with the Abbotsford Heat Hockey Team playing out of the NEW Abbotsford Entertainment Center? It had to be bought out at a healthy cost to the taxpayers by the City of Abbotsford. So what am I talking about? Let’s put everything into perspective:
Total Abbotsford City subsidy to Abbotsford Heat Hockey Team for 5 years – $7.2 million.
Total Abbotsford City buy out of 5 remaining years for the Ab. Hockey Team – $5.5 million
City subsidy to the Abbotsford Heat for the last year of their contract – $1.76 million
Abbotsford Ent. Center Facility Operations subsidy for the 2011 / 2012 year – $1.70 million
(not related to Hockey Team subsidy – more on this comparison below)

That contract and buy out, combined with the Operational subsidy while outrageous, is nothing compared to what you, the taxpayers are paying for the Langley Events Center in the Township of Langley.

The Langley Events Center – for the Record – First we must understand the complicated management structure of the Langley Events Center, an arrangement, if nothing else, that should cause one to pose a few if not many questions. The first that comes to mind “Is the best interest of the taxpayer being served by this rather convoluted management and operational structure”? So here it goes –
Langley Facilities Society – Established March 12th, 2009 under the Society Act of British Columbia. The purpose of the Society is to manage annual funding provided by the Township of Langley and other parties for the operation and maintenance of the Langley Events Centre.
Society Members:
Mark Bakken Langley B.C. Voting Member / TOL CAO
Township of Langley Langley B.C. Voting Member
Dellarae Sawchuk Langley B.C. Voting Member / Purch Mgr TOL
David Leavers Langley B.C. Voting Member / Director Parks
Society Directors:
Mark Bakken Langley B.C. CAO Township of Langley
Christine Ann Corfe Langley B.C. Director Corp. Admin. TOL
David Leavers Langley B.C. Direct. Parks and Rec. TOL
Dellarae Sawchuk Langley B.C. Purchasing Mgr. TOL
Hilary Tsikayi Surrey B.C. Director of Finance TOL

Ten Feet Sports and Entertainment – The Langley Events Centre commenced operations in 2009. On May 1st, 2010 operations of the Langley Events Centre were assumed by Ten Feet Sports and Entertainment Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Langley Facilities Society.
Owners / Directors
Margaret Mason 0 shares Partner – Bull Housser & Tupper
Langley Facilities Society 100 shares
Jason Winslade 0 shares TOL GM, Direct. Presid. and Secret.

IMPORTANT – It is important to note that there is an agreement in place between the Society and the Township dated April 14th, 2009. Both parties agree to a “Right of Reverter” related to beneficial title in addition to a “Keep Well” agreement. The Township commits to provide all the funding required by the Society to meet its financial obligations in the operation of the Langley Events Center. “A blank cheque for unlimited funds? Read on – You decide!” NOTE – Ten Feet Sports and Entertainment by contract is responsible for operations NOT CAPITAL PROJECTS! Are the $10.898 million in Capital Fund Taxpayer Subsidies an effort to bypass public scrutiny? What were they for?

TOL Financials – The Township of Langley’s Consolidated Financial Statement for 2013 lists the following – (note – they state that their Annual Financial report includes the financials of the Langley Facilities Society and Ten Feet Sports and Entertainment)
Recreation Culture and Parks
Revenue $11,948,000
Expense $28,784,000
Deficiency ($16,836,000)

What part does the LEC play in this 2013 deficiency?

Langley Facilities Society Financials (LEC) – According to the Langley Facilities Society, the Society relies upon annual grants (I prefer to use the words “Taxpayer subsidies” YOUR TAX DOLLARS!) because that is what it is from the Township to fund its operations. The following numbers are taken from the Societies audited Consolidated Annual Report.
Item Subsidy
2009 TOL Operating Grant (Subsidy)   $2,137,000
2009 TOL Capital Grant (Subsidy)       —————
2009 Total TOL Subsidy                  $2,137,000

2010 TOL Operating Grant (Subsidy)   $3,329,000
2010 TOL Capital Grant (Subsidy)       —————-
2010 Total TOL Subsidy                  $3,329,000

2011 TOL Operating Grant (Subsidy)     $6,281,000
2011 TOL Capital Grant (Subsidy)        —————-
2011 Total TOL Subsidy                    $6,281,000

2012 TOL Operating Grant (Subsidy)     $5,332,000
2012 TOL Capital Grant (Subsidy)          $3,933,000
2012 Total TOL Subsidy                    $9,265,000

2013 TOL Operating Grant (Subsidy)     $4,044,000
2013 TOL Capital Grant (Subsidy)           $6,965,000
2013 Total TOL Subsidy                    $11,009,000
Total Subsidy for 4 years and 9 months $32,021,000
2014 – What will it be – $12,000,000?
Salaries / Wages
2010 $ 691,000
2011 $1,220,000
2012 $1,072,000
2013 $1,526,000
2013 + 42% over 2012
LEC Revenue
2013 $2,370,000 (Exclusive of TOL Grants)

IMPORTANT NOTE – All numbers quoted come direct from the annual financial statements of the Langley Facilities Society and are audited by KPMG Burnaby.
Not only are the annual grants (taxpayer subsidies) completely out of line, the rate of growth of those grants (taxpayer subsidies) paid by the TOL since 2009 is completely irresponsible. The total taxpayer subsidy paid to the end of 2013 is over $32,000,000. That total is for only 4 years 9 months – March 12th 2009 to Dec. 31st 2013! What do we have to look forward to for 2014 – $12,000,000?

Ten Feet Sports and Entertainment Financials (LEC) – The detail of expenditure and revenue Information is not available as yet? How many employees? What is their compensation? What expenses are covered? What revenue is generated…. And much more!
The Facility Operating and Licensing Agreement between the “Langley Facilities Society” and “Ten Feet Sports and Entertainment” states the following – under section 5. Funding of Operations.
(a) At the beginning of each quarter (first quarter commencing January 1st, 2011) Langley Facilities Society shall pay to Ten Feet a sum sufficient to operate the LEC without running a deficit, or such other amounts agreed to by the parties, after accounting for all other revenues that Ten Feet may have received from operating the LEC pursuant to provisions hereof.
(b) Ten Feet shall use its best efforts to minimize any deficits, provided however that ten Feet shall not be responsible to repay Langley Facilities Society for any funds advanced to cover such deficits.

Without these subsidies the Society would be unable to meet its obligations during the normal course of operations.

On December 31st, 2010 the Langley Events Center was carried on the books of the Langley Facilities Society at a cost of $73,756,000.

There were additions during 2011, 2012 and 2013 totaling $15,512,000 for a total cost (cost of construction) of $88,138,000.

The LEC has been given as security for a B of M loan of $15,940,000. Interest on this loan was $446,000 in 2011 and a principal repayment was made of $1,000,000. It is clear that an increasing subsidy of what we have seen will be required as payments are simply not available out of operations of the LEC.

Question – Why was this loan (it’s purpose?) processed through the Bank of Montreal as opposed to the Municipal Finance Authority which as I understand it is required under provincial legislation?

Appraisal – Although the LEC cost $88,138,000 to build, its value is a completely different story. If it were appraised by a commercial appraiser, a major factor affecting its value would be the income generated from the property. That amount of income is minimal. It is clear the appraisal of this facility would not be close to the cost to build.

Comparison: How bad are these deficits (taxpayer subsidies) compared to a similar facility?
How does this annual subsidy of $11,000,000 in the last year compare to any similar facility?
(See above, but just in case someone was asking, here is something to think about?)
The NEW larger (and more expensive to build) Abbotsford Entertainment Center operations for the year 2011/2012 were subsidized by their taxpayers to the tune of $1,700,000.

The Township / LEC spent $7,565,000 MORE in taxpayer subsidy than Abbotsford for the same year by comparison (5½ times more)

The Township / LEC spent $9,309,000 MORE in taxpayer subsidy than Abbotsford by comparison (6½ times more) for 2013!

(Note – the Abbotsford subsidy above was stated by Mayor Bruce Banman at an Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce luncheon presentation in November of 2012 as reported in the local media.)

Summary – This information will be explosive to ALL taxpayers of the Township of Langley as it should be!!! Leading into a major Municipal Election (and it is by all measure) it is imperative that the sitting Council members are measured on their job performance while in office. If they are not held to account, you will have in essence said we are fine with this annual subsidy. It is unfortunately that simple. This is not about liking or not liking the Langley Events Center, but it is about whether your tax dollars are being managed with sound and prudent management which is clearly not the case.

Important Questions to ask yourself or any other resident of the Township of Langley?
Where were the elected members of our Municipal Council throughout the budget review?

Did they go through a thorough Budget Review?

How much did they know about this subsidy and when did they know it?

During the budget process (if there was one) were the Financial Statements of the Langley Facilities Society discussed? If so were they challenged?

Did Council members know about this taxpayer funded subsidy?

If Township Mayor and Council did not know about this subsidy they are grossly negligent in their elected responsibility and if they did know and it was left unchallenged this alone calls for a majority change of council by voters on Nov. 15th!

Does this information not leave residents / taxpayers speechless?

Further reasons to be concerned as a taxpayer aside from the obvious gross waste of your tax dollars? What about other Township priorities that have been put on hold?

Where is our promised NEW Aldergrove Indoor Pool and Recreation Center? Over $32,000,000 (up to 2013) in Langley Events Center deficits (taxpayer subsidies) with no end in sight and the taxpayers in the eastern side of the Township are left with a new promise from one election to the next all dependent on selling off taxpayer owned property assets?

The Township of Langley had no problem cutting a cheque to a non-existent private partner for the Langley Events Center for $8,830,000, they had no problem in secretly approving a deal to expand the Langley Events Center (not announced until 6 weeks after construction started) for $7,500,000 plus covering deficits from the operation of the Langley Events Center which by the end of 2013 (a little over 4 ½ years) had reached more than $32,000,000.

FACT! A total of $32,000,000 has been spent in less than 5 years on one facilities operations, plus $88,138,000 in capital for a total of $120,138,000 – none of it approved by voters!!!

What about other priorities? Council has been putting Aldergrove and East Langley residents on ignore regarding the Aldergrove Pool and Recreation Center, we can’t fix and widen 208th street through Willoughby, we can’t fund a community based planning function for Brookswood (we borrow from developers) and we can’t fund 4 man crews for our Fire Department as mandated by Worksafe B.C. to just name a few. There is much more than this which is being ignored as we know!

Message to voters – Don’t believe any renewed promises about a new facility in Aldergrove that members of this current council will trot out prior to the November election. They have repeatedly proven they cannot be trusted! If a sitting Councilor of the majority state they are fiscally responsible during the election campaign, sorry they don’t know what the words mean or how to spell the word!

Another way to look at it if we need one – Just how much does this deficit (taxpayer funded subsidy) represent of your total Township of Langley Budget or it’s potential affect on taxes if that amount was needed to be made up?
5.941%! Just think of that number, 5.941% or very close to 6% of the total 2013 budget went to a taxpayer funded subsidy of one Municipal Facility!

In the Township of Langley $850,000 represents about 1% in your Municipal Budget therefore an $11,000,000 shortfall represents a 12.94% property tax increase to make up the difference.

Question – Would YOU vote for that?

This takes the well-known Financial incompetence of the Township of Langley (see McLeod Park expansion) and members of our council to a whole NEW level! It is nothing less than a shocking development. The Langley Event Center is a fabulous facility of which our community has a great deal to be proud of BUT! That does not mean it is a great big black hole into which we pour your hard earned tax dollars unabated without investigating the cause and fixing it!
Question – Where has this money gone?
How are these costs possible or plausible?

As I said earlier, Aldergrove residents can have a new Recreation Facility, and other priorities can be looked after BUT ONLY IF the current long standing financial incompetence that has gripped this municipality for many years is eliminated. In the November election, Get Out and Vote, we owe it to ourselves, friends, neighbors and relatives who live in the Township. Spread the word!!!!

IMPORTANT NOTE: The figures listed above come from the Dec. 31st 2013 audited Consolidated Financial Statements published in June of 2014 for both the Township of Langley and that of the Langley Facilities Society.

RG
I am working on a few posts at present that I believe should be of significant concern and interest to residents of the Township of Langley.
Protect your Democratic Rights – Protect your NEIGHBORS Democratic Rights – stay informed, stay involved and VOTE!!!

Share this BLOG; forward it to your friends, neighbors and relatives!

To comment on this post – Click on this Post, top left hand corner under recent posts.

This BLOG, www.langleywatchdog.com has been up and running for the best part of two years outlining the disastrous performance of the current Municipal Council in the hope of seeing a voter backlash develop. My readers will recall my frequent suggestions about rising up and doing something about it, well it appears someone was listening! 

A surprising development just appeared in my email the other night, you may have received the same; In what appears to be a first in Municipal, Provincial or Federal elections (I have checked and can’t find anything comparable) certainly in Canada. This appears to be a significant united campaign to UN-ELECT the majority on Township of Langley Council that are responsible for this disastrous performance, under the creative name Un-Election Campaign. It has just been launched! A review of their website www.unelectioncampaign.ca and Facebook is an eye opening experience in what can only be described as democracy in action. While I certainly don’t agree with all of their conclusions (some ratings of members of Council higher than they should be), I certainly find the website and Facebook site to be very objective and balanced. I can only imagine the amount of work that has gone into this campaign, it certainly was not developed overnight. The work that had to go into it’s development in my mind is mindboggling, check it out, it is an education, informative and in short, outstanding! I would strongly encourage taxpayers throughout the Township of Langley to get behind this initiative! Remember this next election is for a four year term!

To be very clear and for a point of clarification I have been contacted on many many occasions by people in the community requesting my help and advice on numerous Township issues as well as asking for permission to use information from my BLOG. I was very supportive. This was obviously the initiative they were working on going forward. To all of them I say congratulations!  

The ongoing news and issues that have been an ongoing source of public dismay and frankly serious anger in the Township of Langley, if my emails, phone calls and messages are any indication, have been going on for over a decade. It appears to of now reached its boiling point through what appears to be a unification of all communities, an achievement that has long been necessary to make the changes needed. Up to now we have seen nothing more than a disjointed opposition based on individual issues. Uniting all of our communities, especially through a campaign of information and informing is what has long been needed! Well done!

www.langleywatchdog.com has been trying to fill the void on the information side of this equation for close to two years. I am thrilled at the launch and introduction of www.unelectioncampaign.ca ! Once again congratulations to all involved!

I am in receipt of the following Press Release which follows in it’s entirety! I will be following their Unelection Campaign with great interest!

For Immediate Release:

UNELECTIONCAMPAIGN.CA

Email: info@unelectioncampaign.ca Tel: 778-871-8182

For Immediate Release:

The Un-election Campaign 2014

The Campaign to un-elect the Township of Langley Municipal Council

Date: August 25, 2014

Concerned Residents of the Township of Langley are announcing today the immediate launch of “Un-Election Campaign 2014”. An initiative from united residents in the Township of Langley motivated to remove the majority of the Township of Langley Municipal Council in the 2014 municipal election.

In the opinion of a varied cross section of residents throughout all communities in the Township including Aldergrove, Brookswood / Fernridge, Fort Langley, Murrayville, Walnut Grove, Willoughby / Willowbrook and Rural Areas, we have all been adversely affected by the majority of this Council in their decisions and direction. We cannot chance the continuance of the current status quo and therefore must be proactive in assuring a fresh, fair and independent thinking Municipal Council is elected for the Township of Langley in November 2014.

Concerned Residents of the Township of Langley joined together over a number of months through many discussions of a common thread or issue – specifically that the majority of this Council are guilty of ignoring community input, ignoring petitions, ignoring Public Hearing presentations and ignoring the public culminating in flawed decisions that do not meet the expectations of the majority of residents throughout the Township of Langley. This is not about any one issue but the collective number of issues where the majority of Council members have been consistent in their misuse of power.

This is not the start of an election campaign for a candidate or group of candidates. Our Executive Committee identified on our website unelectioncampaign.ca will not be candidates nor will anyone that is part of the Concerned Residents of the Township of Langley who are responsible for launching this campaign.

This is a campaign by residents for residents to present information to voters about the past and present voting records of the current council members along with the facts behind the issues important to our communities.

UNELECTIONCAMPAIGN.CA  Email: info@unelectioncampaign.ca Tel: 778-871-8182 Cont’d – Page 2

The decision to initiate this united community Un-election Campaign was not entered into nor is it being done lightly, but is a result of numerous issues facing all of our communities that have been dealt with unfairly and undemocratically by the majority of this Council. We will be providing information to the electorate through the utilization of our significant collective networks as well as encouraging an increase in our Municipal Election turnout. The Township of Langley deserves better than what it has been receiving through its Municipal Council over the past decade.

As we are an alliance of many established groups we have a very strong initial support base. We will engage our networks to create awareness of the issues affecting our communities and encourage more residents to take part in our campaign. As residents learn they do have the ability to participate and affect positive change with a strongly united vote we believe this grass roots effort will have considerable impact.

It is our fervent belief that the Township of Langley has within its borders many very solid citizens who would be very interested in running for public office and would serve our community well. We encourage new independent candidates to step forward. It will be our community responsibility and role to communicate the facts about all candidates between now and election-day to help all residents of the Township of Langley make their single vote have greater strength on November 15, 2014.

Please contact us at:

Email : info@unelectioncampaign.ca

Phone: 778-871-8182

Webpage : www.unelectioncampaign.ca

Face book: http://www.facebook.com/unelection-campaign

RG

_________________________________________________________________________

I am working on a few posts at present that I believe should be of significant concern and interest to residents of the Township of Langley.

Protect your Democratic Rights – Protect your NEIGHBORS Democratic Rights – stay informed, stay involved and VOTE!!!

Share this BLOG; forward it to your friends, neighbors and relatives!

To comment on this post – Click on this Post, top left hand corner under recent posts.

What is important now is the election that is coming up in less than 5 months! The following Directory of 62 BLOG Posts and links are dedicated to Township of Langley Issues and facts surrounding those issues. There are a few on regional issues that have links to the Township as well as a few on the Provincial scene.

This material is designed to inform the electorate on important issues of concern and for consideration when exercising your franchise right!! If anyone has a question, debate or thought of interest please contact me at any time. All of my contact information is available on my BLOG – For Private contact, my Phone and email are available on my BLOG and/or offer a public comment on my BLOG.

Here is a list of posts to better inform you in preparation for that important exercise in November!!!!

www.langleywatchdog.com Blog Post Directory

Date                                                Blog Post Content

Jan. 30^th, 2013               Taxpayers – What are you willing to accept from the Township?

www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/01/

Feb. 4^th, 2013                 When are politicians going to wake up to community consultation?

Feb. 7^th, 2013                 Township Muzzles and banishes citizens in Council!

Feb. 11^th, 2013               Wall Townhouse Dev. Vs Metro RGS – The truth behind the fight!

Feb. 16^th, 2013               Translink – New Taxation? More waste…..

Feb. 18^th, 2013               The Throne Speech by Christy Clark & Rich Coleman              !

Feb. 22^nd, 2013              The Mufford Crescent Diversion – Your Council mislead you!

Feb. 26^th, 2013               The sad reality of the upcoming Provincial Election –

www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/02/

March 3^rd, 2013            Langley Events Center – The Inconvenient Facts! The uncomfortable truth!

March 11^th, 2013          Development in the Township of Langley – The Inconvenient Facts!

March 14^th, 2013          B.C. Rail – “Remember – An election is a referendum”

March 18^th, 2013          Soil Deposit on Agricultural land – It is about Money!

March 23^rd, 2013          Politics in the Township – Some factual insight!

March 30^th, 2013          Exclusive Breaking News – What is Township up to now?

www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/03/            

April 5^th, 2013                Soil Deposit on Agricultural land – It gets more interesting!

April 12^th, 2013              The B.C. Liberal Government is a product of leader and cabinet!

April 21^st, 2013              Township residents experiencing a deficit in Municipal Leadership!

April 24^th, 2013              Wall Townhouse Development  Closing comments speaks volumes!

April 30^th, 2013              Township residents denied just benefit in land sales!

www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/04/

May 9^th, 2013                 Is Township of Langley Council “Morally Bankrupt”?

May 11^th, 2013              Well it is time to vote, here is my view! Think about it!

May 15^th, 2013              The fear of the devil we didn’t know vs the one we knew!

May 17^th, 2013              Municipal Finances – The truth in Langley!

May 29^th, 2013              Langley Speedway in Campbell Valley Park? Thinking?

www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/05/

June 5^th, 2013                UPDATE – 4^th Reading Trinity Wall application

June 13^th, 2013              UPDATE – Thank you Metro RE Coal transferring facility

www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/06/

July 4^th, 2013                  Interrupt Holiday – Councilor Fox; Council creating farmland?

July 10^th, 2013               Metro Parks Committee – Say no to Campbell Valley Park Track.

July 11^th, 2013               Thank you Metro Directors for rejecting track proposal!

www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/07/

August 19^th, 2013         Coulter Berry – Complete show of contempt for residents!

August 28^th, 2013         Coulter Berry – It could only happen in the Township

www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/08/

Sept. 23^rd, 2013             Township sues citizen over FOI request! Concerned yet?

Sept. 26^th, 2013             UPDATE – Township sues citizen over FOI request! Facts!

www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/09/

Oct. 26^th, 2013               Breaking NEWS – Township acted improperly Coulter Berry

www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/10/

Nov. 5^th, 2013                UPDATE: Coulter Berry – Froese says he is very concerned?

Nov. 5^th, 2013                Township Property Deals: Stench is palpable and rising!

Nov. 12^th, 2013              Township treatment of accidental Mercury Spill?

Nov. 22^nd, 2013             Changes coming to ALR, be concerned!

www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/11/

Dec. 5^th, 2013                 Township of Langley: Out of control taxation & spending!

Dec. 16^th, 2013              Common Sense Coulter Berry decision. The Rest of the Story!

Dec. 20^th, 2013              Recap of a successful first year for langleywatchdog.com

www.langleywatchdog.com/2013/12/

Jan. 14^th, 2014               Township pays Trinity 80% over assessed value!

Jan. 23^rd, 2014               Trying to make sense out of Township Council & creative leg.

www.langleywatchdog.com/2014/01/

Feb. 4^th, 2014                 Translink Referendum? An unmitigated joke!

Feb. 17^th, 2014               Coulter Berry – It is about preserving Heritage and Community

Feb. 23^rd, 2014              Coulter Berry – Stand up for what is right!

Feb. 28^th, 2014               Urgent – Brookswood Plan a sadly failed effort by Council

www.langleywatchdog.com/2014/02/

March 3^rd, 2014            Coulter Berry call to action – Poster Child for bad government!

March 18^th, 2014          Coulter Berry Public Hearing a circus

March 24^th, 2014          Brookswood Plan – Don’t accept referral!

March 28^th, 2014          Brookswood Com. Plan – Inconvenient facts and truth!

March 31^st, 2014           Monday night Council Meeting – Unprecedented opposition!

www.langleywatchdog.com/2014/03/

April 5^th, 2014                And the decision is… No surprise to anyone!

April 22^nd, 2014             Metro Vancouver Appeals Trinity Wall Judgment

www.langleywatchdog.com/2014/04/

May 13^th, 2014              Township sues citizen / Township loses badly!

May 24^th, 2014              Transportation needs South of Fraser / Council fails badly!

www.langleywatchdog.com/2014/05/

June 16^th, 2014              Metro FOI – Breaking News – Coleman email!

June 22^nd, 2014             Fort Langley BIA… The plot thickens!

www.langleywatchdog.com/2014/06/

July 1^st, 2014                  TOL politics more interesting / Liberal Poll

July 8^th, 2014                  Appeal Court decision – What does it mean?

July 21^st, 2014                Move along nothing happening here? Right?

July 22^nd, 2014               http://www.langleywatchdog Directory, election coming!

www.langleywatchdog.com/2014/07/

RG

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I am working on a few posts at present that I believe should be of significant concern and interest to residents of the Township of Langley.

Protect your Democratic Rights – Protect your NEIGHBORS Democratic Rights – stay informed, stay involved and VOTE!!!

 

Share this BLOG; forward it to your friends, neighbors and relatives!

 

To comment on this post – Click on this Post, top left hand corner under recent posts.

One of the oldest tricks in the book by municipalities that are ethically and morally challenged are to attempt, where possible, to conduct business on potentially controversial development projects during the dog days of summer! Or at the very least get done what you can get done! Well what else could we have expected? Check out the following, on the agenda for tomorrow night’s Council meeting!

The following residential development projects scheduled for tomorrow night’s Council meeting are an example of how the moral compass of a municipality can and has gone wrong. For those that don’t know, tomorrow night’s Council meeting, July 21^st, is the last one before September 8^th 2014, providing a six week break for members of your Township of Langley Municipal Council. It is no surprise to anyone that the summer period of Council activity is not high on anyone’s agenda. It frankly in many cases flies under the public radar. As mentioned above, it depends on the ethics and morality of your municipality? It is not about eliminating work during the summer, what we are talking about is residential development and density, something currently high on the radar screens of residents being rammed through in the dog days of summer. What should be of serious concern primarily is the list of developments that came to the Public Hearing of July 14^th and are subsequently being considered for third reading (approval in principle) tomorrow July 21^st, a short one week later! In addition there is an interesting item coming forward for a Development Permit as well as one for Final Reading. So here is some of what is being considered –

E.3        Development Permit Application 100620 – Focus Architecture Inc. / 19913 70^th Ave.

Well it just gets more interesting. For many of you this item may sound familiar, it is the old Willoughby / Routley School / land swap issue which was very controversial and was dealt with at Public Hearing June 27^th 2011 Bylaw 4853 chaired by yours truly. Looking at the records it didn’t come back for 4^th Reading until June 11^th, 2012 under a NEW Council. It was passed at 4^th with Richter and Davis in opposition. The developer according to the report had requested that a Development Permit not be issued at the time due to some issues with lot lines? Possibly more? So here we have a very controversial development that goes to Public Hearing June 27^th, 2011 and doesn’t request a Development Permit until July 21^st, 2014 – More than three years later? What else is involved? You can still appear tomorrow to speak to the Development Permit although given its timing mid-summer, out of sight, out of mind!

Surprise! – Not a question or comment about the past controversy, not a question or comment about past OPPOSITION – Approved, Development Permit issued!

H.3        Third Reading – Rezoning Application Qualico / 20445 and 20477 – 86^th Ave. Willoughby!

This development (Bylaw 5099) is applying to rezone a portion of a 1.87 ha (4.6 ac) site to Residential Compact Lot Zone R-CL (RH) to permit development of 24 rowhouse units.

The issue here in my mind is the lack of good planning, lack of Community Based Planning and the endless continuation of Spot Zoning of which this is a prime example. What is going to happen with the rest of the site? Are we going to see another application for spot zoning in this development? In this Neighborhood Plan?

For the sake of all current Willoughby residents and those who are going to make a decision to invest in this community in the future, it is time long past time to bring sanity to our planning process.

Surprise! Third Reading passed, no questions about the planning process, no questions about Spot Zoning. Richter opposed with Ward clearly in favor of anything! What is it Ward continues to say, staff are the experts so how could Council go against their recommendations? Boy, that is comforting!

H.4        Third Reading – Official Community Plan Amendment and Rezoning Application 100109 and Development Permit Application 100738 / Portrait Homes Ltd. 20300 65^th Ave.

This could happen to you and you probably would not have heard about it! This is another prime example of bad government. While many residents who live just on the bottom of the Willoughby slopes, just above the 20300 65^th Ave., are busy with family and summer holidays; your Municipal Government is busy scheduling a development proposal Public Hearing that will have serious impact on your quality of life and household investment.

On July 14^th your Municipal Council introduced for consideration an OCP Amendment and Rezoning Application, there we go again with our all in one Omnibus Bylaw changes, for a change from a “Business Office Park” to “Comprehensive Development” consisting of 91 Townhouse Units, and two mixed use buildings containing 120 apartment units plus retail and office space.

One thing that you can say for this Council is when they are elected they are oblivious to the wishes of those that voted them in. It is hard to fathom how drunk they can become with power. Despite a number in opposition just last week, they have scheduled 3^rd reading for Monday night, tomorrow July 21^st, 2014. What do you think their vote will be, three guesses and the first two don’t count!

Surprise! It was referred to staff to clean up a few issues but clearly in the words of most  of Council it is accepted as is. Not a word about density, not a word on changes of zoning, move along nothing happening here! In his own scare tactic way Fox suggests what would local residents prefer, what is being proposed or welding shops repair centers etc. Well Charlie, it was being rezoned from Business Office Park, doesn’t sound like welding shops to me! Council makes the final decision you are not obligated!

H.5        Third Reading – Official Community Plan Amendment and Rezoning Application 100114 and Development Permit Application 100751 / Kelson Investments Ltd. / 4877 and 4887 – 221^st and 22070 – 49^th Ave.

Once again this could happen to you and you probably would not have heard about it! This is another prime example of bad government. How many neighborhood residents are busy with family and summer holidays; while your Municipal Government is busy scheduling a development proposal Public Hearing that will or could have serious impact on your quality of life and household investment. I am not suggesting that it will but your Municipal Government should exercise every caution to ensure the neighborhood has a clear opportunity to respond to a development of this nature. That is the least they should be able to expect.

On July 14^th your Municipal Council introduced for consideration an OCP Amendment and Rezoning Application, there we go again with our all in one Omnibus Bylaw changes, for a change from “Multi Family Three” to “Multi Family Four” to accommodate the development of 105 rental apartment units.

Surprise! Adopted unanimously! Not a word about density, not a word about our inadequate planning process and not a word about what is effectively spot zoning!

H.6        Third Reading Rezoning and Community Plan Amendment Application 100107 and Development Permit Application 100733 (East Gordon Developments Ltd. / 7021 to 7165 – 210^th Street) Bylaws 5078 and 5079

A wildly comprehensive Omnibus Bylaw and OCP Amendment change, that was dealt with at the June 16th 2014 Public Hearing. This is the same ongoing planning disaster that is affecting Willoughby, an all in one Omnibus change of two changes in one.

Once again it featured significant community opposition to these proposed changes. A constant thread of that opposition dealt with the concern about the changes that have been made or proposed since the original plan was tabled and accepted by the community.

Once again this could happen to you and you probably would not have heard about it! This is another prime example of bad government. How many neighborhood residents are busy with family and summer holidays; while your Municipal Government is busy scheduling significant changes to bylaws that could have devastating impact on what you thought you had bought into. Your Municipal Government should exercise every caution to ensure the neighborhood has a clear opportunity to respond to changes they are proposing.

That is the least residents should be able to expect. You deserve better!

Surprise! Given Third Reading – Davis and Richter opposed! Not a word about the significant community opposition, not a word about the changes in development plans, not a word about poor planning, move along nothing happening here!

Summary – This post features a cross section of examples of what is wrong in planning within the Township of Langley. This IS NOT anti-development but it is about good development and a good return for the Township of Langley taxpayer. It IS about the need to bring COMMUNITY back into Community Planning.

Lets be clear, I do not fault the developer, I lay the blame at the feet of senior staff and Council, who for whatever reason are willing promote and accept bad planning. Good developers want to be a part of well thought out and planned development and community.

Let’s stop accepting mediocrity! Let’s stop accepting a continuing barrage of Spot Zoning!

I would encourage residents to watch Council proceedings on the Live Stream provided. It gives anyone who is willing to go through that pain (also great cure for those with insomnia) to see what passes for a Council who is charged with the serious responsibility of looking after the taxpayers best interest!

I rest my case! And after doing that damage they are now off for a 6 week holiday!  

RG

_________________________________________________________________________

 

I am working on a few posts at present that I believe should be of significant concern and interest to residents of the Township of Langley.

Protect your Democratic Rights – Protect your NEIGHBORS Democratic Rights – stay informed, stay involved and VOTE!!!

 

Share this BLOG; forward it to your friends, neighbors and relatives!

 

To comment on this post – Click on this Post, top left hand corner under recent posts.