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CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
June 21, 2004 | |
Author: |
Brian Willock | |
Phone No.: |
(604)873-7995 | |
RTS No.: |
04330 | |
CC File No.: |
5802 | |
Meeting Date: |
July 6, 2004 |
TO: |
Vancouver City Council |
FROM: |
General Manager of Engineering Services |
SUBJECT: |
Sidewalk Funding and Local Improvement By-Law Revisions |
RECOMMENDATIONS
A. THAT Council approve the re-allocation of $1.0 million from various 2004 Local Improvement Street and Lane Construction programs to the recently revised New Sidewalk Construction program. The funding will be re-allocated from the following sources:
i. $50,000 to be provided from the Unappropriated account for Streets Basic Capital for Higher Zoned Streets (SCA5b).
ii. $610,000 to be provided from the Unappropriated account for Streets Basic Capital for Residential Streets (SCA5c).
iii. $340,000 to be provided from the Unappropriated account for Streets Basic Capital for Residential Lanes (SCA5e).
B. THAT to apply the reduced rates for sidewalks approved on April 8, 2004, Council request the Director of Legal Services to bring forward the necessary amendments to By-law No. 3614 (Local Improvement Procedure By-law) to modernize the language of the by-law, to revise the cost share divisions for new projects undertaken by Council after the date the by-law takes effect, and to make other amendments to the by-law necessary to give effect to the revised cost share divisions. The revised cost share divisions before reliefs are applied will be expressed in percentages of the total project costs as follows:
iv. All New Sidewalk Projects:
City pays 65% and Property Owners pay 35%
v. Residential Street Pavement and Curb Projects:
City pays 40% and Property Owners pay 60%
vi. Residential Lane Pavement Projects:
City pays 30% and Property Owners pay 70%
vii. Higher Zoned Street Pavement and Curb Projects:
City pays 10% and Property Owners pay 90%
viii. Higher Zoned Lane Pavement Projects:
City pays 10% and Property Owners pay 90%
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to implement the reduced sidewalk local improvement costs approved by Council on April 8, 2004, and to reallocate the necessary funds in the 2004 Capital Budget.
BACKGROUND
On April 8, 2004, Council approved a report setting targets for sidewalk completion and reducing the cost to property owners for sidewalk construction. At that time it was reported that the cost to a property owner for a 33 foot lot would be reduced from about $1600 to about $600. This would result in the property owners ultimately paying for about 20% of the cost of a project overall once the various reliefs are applied.
At the time we reported that the property owner sidewalk rate that would be incorporated in the bylaw would be 20%. However this was incorrect as the rates in the bylaw need to be expressed prior to reliefs being applied.
DISCUSSION
To arrive at a net property owners' share of 20% after reliefs are applied, it is necessary for the purposes of the bylaw to set the property owners' rate at 35% as recommended in this report. Similarly, it is necessary to adjust the rates for Local Improvement street and lane paving projects so that the net property owners cost after the various reliefs are applied are as reported on April 8, 2004. Table 1 summarizes these cost share percentages as well as the current and proposed costs to a typical 33 foot property for the various improvements.
Table 1: Current and Amended Cost Share Percentages & Typical Property Owner Costs |
|||||||
Improvement |
Avg. Current Cost Share (After Relief) |
Avg. Current Cost (33 Ft Frontage) |
Amended Cost Share for By-law purposes (Recommendation B) |
Avg. Cost Share After Relief (As reported on April 8, 2004) |
Proposed Cost (33 Ft Frontage) | ||
New Sidewalks |
47% City / 53% PO |
$1,647 |
65%City / 35% PO |
80% City/20% PO |
$622 | ||
Residential Streets |
76% City / 24% PO |
$1,873 |
40% City / 60% PO |
70% City/30% PO |
$2,341 | ||
Residential Lanes |
46% City / 54% PO |
$1,193 |
30%City / 70% PO |
40% City/60% PO |
$1,325 | ||
Higher Zoned Streets |
34% City / 66% PO |
$4,514 |
10% City / 90% PO |
30% City/70% PO |
$4,788 | ||
Higher Zoned Lanes |
20% City / 80% PO |
$1,919 |
10% City / 90% PO |
20% City/80% PO |
$1,919 | ||
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Also as reported on April 8, 2004, the budgetary effect of changing the local improvement cost share will result in an allocation of approximately $1.45 million annually for new sidewalk construction. For 2004, staff propose that this funding will consist of $0.45 million from the Unappropriated account for New Sidewalks (SCA2a unapp.) and $1.0 million reallocated from various Local Improvement street and lane construction programs after considering funding commitments for projects already approved. The sources of the reallocated funds, as proposed in Recommendation A, are as follows:
i. $50,000 from the unappropriated account for Higher Zoned Streets (SCA5b).
ii. $610,000 from the unappropriated account for Residential Streets (SCA5c).
iii. $340,000 from the unappropriated account for Residential Lanes (SCA5e).
The funding for sidewalks and street/lane local improvement programs for the 2003-05 Capital Plan is provided from the borrowing authority approved for Public Works. The recommended re-allocation will not affect the overall borrowing authority but will result in transfer between categories within Public Works. The changes are shown below:
Category |
Program |
2004 Budget |
Re-allocation |
Revised 2004 budget |
Pedestrian& Cycling Facilities |
Sidewalks (new & reconstruction) |
$1,410,000 |
+$1,000,000 |
$2,410,000 |
Local Area Improvements |
HZ Street |
$1,200,000 |
- $50,000 |
$1,150,000 |
Local Area Improvements |
Residential Street |
$ 2,400,000 |
- $610,000 |
$1,790,000 |
Local Area Improvements |
HZ Lanes |
$ 120,000 |
$120,000 | |
Local Area Improvements |
Residential Lanes |
$ 1,000,000 |
- $340,000 |
$660,000 |
Total - Local Area Improvements |
$4,720,000 |
-$1,000,000 |
$3,720,000 | |
Total for both |
$ 6,130,000 |
0 |
$6,130,000 |
This is a shift of about 6.7% of the 2004 Streets Capital Budget, net of Traffic Signals and the Sustainable Region Showcase project. This shift increases the direct pedestrian and bicycle share to about 33% in 2004. Next year, the increase in sidewalk funding will be reflected in submissions for the 2005 Capital Budget.
CONCLUSION
The reallocation of funds identified in this report will facilitate accelerated sidewalk construction for 2004, while the Local Improvement By-law revisions will reduce sidewalk local improvement costs for projects undertaken by Council after the date the by-law takes effect.
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