Langley City council, January 26: a new animal shelter contract, a liquor licence for the seniors' centre and a bigger car lot

The first full meeting of 2026 was over by 7:28 pm, but it settled who looks after the City’s stray and surrendered animals.

Animal control goes to LAPS

Council awarded the animal control and sheltering contract (RFP2025-018) to the Langley Animal Protection Society. The debate was less about LAPS and more about where the animals would go. Before the vote, a motion to refer the decision back so the City could keep using the Patti Dale shelter, instead of the commercial kennel arrangement in the proposal, was defeated. The mayor and five councillors voted against the referral.

The main motion then carried, with Councillor Mack opposed. She returned to the subject two weeks later with a motion about disclosure around the commercial kennel, which the chair ruled out of order (more in our February 9 recap).

A liquor licence for the seniors’ centre

Bylaw 3329 got first and second reading. It rezones the Langley Senior Resource Recreation Centre at 20605 51B Avenue so it can hold a liquor primary licence, the kind of licence a pub or event venue has, rather than relying on one-off special event permits. The public hearing and final reading came on February 23.

Homes on the Nazarene church site take a step

Housing Agreement Bylaw 3316 got three readings. It covers the Pacific Nazarene Housing Society project on the Church of the Nazarene lands at 49 Avenue, 50 Avenue and 200 Street. A housing agreement is how the City locks in a promise like below-market rents on a property’s title, so it holds even if the building is sold. The rest of the project came to council two weeks later.

Tree fees and fines

Two companion bylaws got three readings: Bylaw 3327 adds a fee schedule for the City’s Tree Protection and Management Bylaw, and Bylaw 3328 sets the ticket amounts for breaking it. Both were adopted on February 9.

A dealership grows on the Bypass

Council approved Development Permit 10-24, a 1,510.6 m² expansion of a car dealership at 20622 Langley Bypass. A development permit doesn’t decide whether a use is allowed (zoning does that). It decides the form and character: how the building looks and sits on the site.

Getting ready for October

Council appointed the Chief Election Officer and a deputy for the October 2026 general local election.

Council also amended the January 12 minutes so the record of its grant policy discussion reads that applicants are asked whether they explored other sources of funding.

More background: How development gets approved · City vs Township: who does what