CITY OF VANCOUVER

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

 

Date:

August 24, 2004

 

Author:

Carolyn Drugge

 

Phone No.:

604-873-7623

 

RTS No.:

4483

 

CC File No.:

3501

 

Meeting Date:

September 14, 2004

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT:

Construction of Vancouver's First Environmentally Sustainable Street

RECOMMENDATION

COUNCIL POLICY

Construction contracts over $300,000 are to be awarded by City Council.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to obtain Council approval of a change order to Contract No. 2004-01 for the construction of phase one of the Crown Street Sustainable Streetscapes and Fish Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project, and provide City funds for the project.

DISCUSSION

Council approved this environmentally sustainable demonstration project on Crown Street between SW Marine Drive and W 48th Avenue in 2002. Construction of this project has been delayed for two years while substantial additional funding was sought. Staff are pleased to report that in April 2004 the Canadian Federation of Municipalities awarded a grant of almost $600,000 through the Green Municipal Investment Fund for the construction of this exciting project. A condition of the federal grant is that the work be done by contract.

This innovative local improvement has the support of the residents whose share of the funding represents nearly $50,000. The Musqueam Indian Band, David Suzuki Foundation, and UBC's Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability have all enthusiastically endorsed the project.

To expedite construction, the project has been separated into two phases. Phase one includes building a traffic-calmed street with minimal impermeable surfaces and a naturalized storm water management system between SW Marine Drive and W 46th Avenue and, pending approval of this change order, will be built this fall.

Phase two will see the replacement of the stream crossings over two of Vancouver's last salmon bearing streams, Musqueam and Cutthroat creeks; street rehabilitation; and pedestrian safety improvements between W 46th Avenue and W 48th Avenue. Because of a construction window imposed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans designed to safeguard the salmon's lifecycle, this phase of the project will be tendered and scheduled for construction in 2005.

Requests for quotations to build phase one were sent to the two construction companies already under contract with the City of Vancouver to build local improvement projects. A tabulation of the two lump sum quoted prices is shown below with the best offer highlighted:

Contractor

Total lump sum quoted price

Columbia Bitulithic Ltd.

$660,787.00 plus gst*

Imperial Paving Ltd.

$677,447.00 plus gst

Engineer's Estimate

$691,177.70 plus gst

*GST is fully rebated to the City of Vancouver

A change order is being sought to expedite construction on this project that residents have been anticipating for more than two years.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The overall budget for this pilot project is an estimated $1.18 million. Through the local improvement process, the adjacent property owners have agreed to fund $49,363. The City's share of $545,162 is being sought by this report. This funding is available in the Streets Basic Capital unappropriated account set aside for Higher Zoned Streets (SCA5b-unapp). The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has awarded a grant of up to $593,350 in matching funds to help cover the costs associated with building and monitoring this leading-edge project.  (See letter.)

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

This demonstration project has potentially dramatic environmental benefits. The storm water management system of conveying rain water through a series of swales and small ponds allows for direct infiltration into the ground water table, thereby reducing peak flows in the near-by salmon bearing streams. This alternative storm water management system also allows for natural filtration of contaminants out of the water before reaching the groundwater table and surrounding streams. Improved water quality and more constant flow levels in the stream will enhance fish habitat.

Opportunities for direct infiltration of storm water are maximized by reducing the amount of impermeable surfaces including minimizing the width of the asphalt and using recycled concrete. Additionally, using native plants in the landscaping plan reduces requirement for irrigation and increases the amount of storm water infiltration.

Improved water quality and more constant flow levels in the stream will enhance fish habitat.
The culverts that are currently in place are filled with silt, making the passage of salmon up and downstream very difficult. Replacing these culverts with adequately sized stream crossings will make this passage easier for fish, and prevent the creeks from over topping the banks and roadway as they have in the past.

Working in conjunction with UBC's Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, our plan is to monitor the amount of water infiltration, water quality, and fish population. The success of this project has the potential to change the way we build residential streets in Vancouver. Moving away from the standard curb and gutter system with an underground storm water sewer, to a more naturalized streetscape offering opportunities to maximize green space, reduce heat-island effects associated with wide asphalt surfaces, and reduce requirements for underground storm water sewers.

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