Replacing the many steps from First Street to Seawall Park is a growing concern for Langley’s city leaders.

City council members said they wanted to form a committee to review plans for replacing the stairs at Boy and Dog Park and maintaining the bluff that overlooks Saratoga Passage. Recently hired Public Works Director Maria Cablao said she will seek pro-bono design work for new steps. She also cautioned the council that designing an entirely new stairway will cost “far more” than replacing the existing system that zig-zags down.

Councilwoman Rene Neff wanted to see new landscaping on the bluff to expose more of the water view and better stabilize the land. One of the thorns in the city’s side is the overgrown bramble of blackberry bushes that snake through the steps.

“It is a safety issue,” Neff said.

Mayor Fred McCarthy reminded the city council that he hopes cost savings on the $2.1 million Second Street redesign project may be used to fund other projects, such as the stairs at Boy and Dog Park. Langley approved $750,000 in councilmanic bonds, non-tax money the city will pay back over 20 years.