ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: September 30, 1996
Dept. File No. 2802
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Manager of Real Estate Services in consultation with the
Deputy Director of Finance and the General Manager of
Engineering
SUBJECT: Fraser Lands Capital Improvements Budget
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council approve the closure of 35 and adjustment to 25
Fraser Lands capital improvements budget accounts including
the transfer of $1,269,372 of surplus funds to Fraser Lands
contingency accounts, as listed in Appendix A of this report.
CONSIDERATION
B. THAT Council instruct staff to prepare a design and budget for
the installation of a sidewalk along S.E. Marine Drive as
described in this report, and report back for approval
including source of funding.
C. THAT Council approve the installation of a screenings walk
along Boundary Road, as described in this report at an
estimated cost of $28,000, with funds provided by the P.E.F. s
Fraser Lands capital budget contingency account.
The Manager of Real Estate Services does not recommend approval of
C above. The General Manager of Engineering Services recommends
approval of A, B and C above.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Corporate Services RECOMMENDS approval of A
and submits B and C for CONSIDERATION, noting that the projects
reflected in B and C are not related to the PEF funded development
of Fraser Lands and should be appropriately funded from the
Engineering capital accounts.
COUNCIL POLICY
The Fraser Lands Capital Improvements Budget was first approved by
Council on May 16th, 1989 and last updated by Council approval on July
27th, 1990.
Council approval is required for budget transfers that exceed 15% of the
budget amount and $50,000.
PURPOSE
This report summarizes the current status of the capital improvements
budget for the Fraser Lands Project and requests Council's approval to
close approximately 60% of the project s capital budget accounts and set
new budget amounts for the remaining accounts.
BACKGROUND
On July 27, 1990, Council approved an updated budget to complete the
various capital improvements for the development of the Fraser Lands
Project.
The capital improvements program consists of four phases of work:
1. Utilities - sewers, water, hydro, telephone and gas.
2. Streets - sub-base, grading, curb and gutter, paving and street
lighting.
3. Sidewalks and Boulevards - grading, sidewalks, street trees a n d
boulevard landscaping.
4. Public Open Space - park and other public open space areas.
The project was separated into three areas; Fraser Lands Neighbourhood
(formerly Riverside East), Champlain Heights South Neighbourhood, and
Fraserview Industrial Park (partial work program).
The total budget of $13,181,000 approved on July 27th, 1990 was for work
known at that time, in 1990 dollars and included a 10% contingency.
Over the last six years, a variety of miscellaneous improvements were
added to the work program, with specific approval by Council or the City
Manager, resulting in a modified budget of $13,990,500 as of April 1996.
PROGRESS OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM
As of April 1996, approximately 93% of the total capital improvements
program has been completed. The Champlain Heights South Neighbourhood is
complete. All public open space work is 100% complete. The balance of
the work is generally related to street, sidewalk, boulevards and street
trees in the Fraser Lands Neighbourhood that will be finished as the
remaining development sites are completed over the next two to three
years and streets work in the Fraserview Industrial Park.
Approximately 85% of the current capital improvements budget has been
expended. The estimated cost to complete the remaining work is
approximately $880,700. It is therefore forecasted that approximately
$1,269,372 or 9% of the current budget will not be required to complete
the project.
ACCOUNT CLOSURES, ADJUSTMENTS AND TRANSFERS
Appendix A contains a detailed listing of all 60 capital improvements
budget accounts. It is proposed to close all accounts that are 100%
complete and to transfer any surplus budget amounts to unappropriated
contingency accounts and to draw funds from these contingency accounts
to balance overexpended accounts prior to closing.
Accounts for work not yet complete would have their balances adjusted to
the estimated cost to complete the work. This involves transferring
surplus funds to the contingency accounts or transferring contingency
funds into the accounts to establish the required budget.
These contingency accounts would be closed once the Fraser Lands project
is fully completed and remaining funds returned to the PEF.
Accounts Total Debit Total Credit Net
To be Closed $1,522,336 $260,269 $1,262,067
To be Adjusted $479,102 $471,797 $7,305
Contingency $2,001,438 $732,066 $1,269,372
In total, as listed in Appendix A, 35 account lines are to be
closed, 25 accounts adjusted and $1,269,372 in net surplus funds
transferred to contingency accounts.
The adjusted accounts will have a modified budget of $2,150,072,
comprising the $1,269,372 of contingency funds and a budget of
$880,700 for remaining work.
The following table summarizes the current budget, transfer
amounts and proposed May 1996 Budget:
ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION
The General Manager of Engineering Services requests Council s
consideration of two additional street related items for funding
by the Fraser Lands capital budget (see attached plan for
locations):
1. Sidewalk Along South Side of South East Marine Drive from
Kerr Street to 175 meters East of Elliott Street.
(Consideration B)
The development of a sidewalk along S.E. Marine Drive was not
part of the original infrastructure requirements for this
project. However, there have been considerable cost savings in
the construction of street works in the project overall, and
there have been many requests from citizens in the area to have a
sidewalk constructed to improve their access to transit and
schools. This sidewalk would provide physically challenged
pedestrians safe access to a bus stop.
The sidewalk location is at the top of a steep slope, and
contains many large trees that screen three residential apartment
towers from S.E. Marine Drive traffic (Appendix B). The
resulting sidewalk may be relatively close to this very busy
vehicle route that is characterized by large trucks travelling at
high speeds. The sidewalk design needs to deal with these
environmental issues in a sensitive and responsible manner. The
benefit of providing this sidewalk must offset the construction
cost, negative impact on adjacent residents and potential for
limited use.
The estimated cost of this work is $225,000. After a detailed
site survey and design work is completed, a future report would
be submitted to Council for approval of the design, budget and
source of funding.
The Manager of Real Estate Services does not support the request
that the PEF fund this work as this item was not required of the
PEF as a condition of rezoning.
2. Screenings Walk Along West Side of Boundary Road
(Consideration C)
Presently, the public Red Alder Walk pathway west of Boundary
Road connects S.E. Marine Drive to the bottom of the Champlain
Heights escarpment and then east out to Boundary Road. There
needs to be, as a minimum, a screenings walk connection along the
west side of Boundary Road south from S.E. Marine Drive to Kent
Avenue North (Appendix B). This will allow a connection from the
Champlain Heights South neighbourhood down to the Fraser River
waterfront in this area. The estimated cost of this work is
$28,000.
Manager of Real Estate Services does not oppose the need for this
improvement, but feels it should not be funded by the PEF since
it was not a requirement of rezoning and the PEF already has
funded the temporary extension of the public walkway east to
Boundary Road, including lighting, at the request of Engineering
Services.
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