A1
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: December 19, 1996
FILE #
CC File: 5802-1
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Local Improvements by Initiative - March 27, 1997
First and Second Step Report
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT the projects listed in Appendix I be advanced as Local
Improvements on the Initiative and brought before a Court of
Revision on March 27, 1997.
B. THAT the reports of the City Engineer and Director of Finance
be adopted together with details of the Second Step Report as
summarized in Appendix II, and Council declare it is desirable
that the projects set out in Appendix I of this report be
undertaken and deems that each will specially benefit the real
property abutting it. (Requires two-thirds approval of those
present).
C. THAT pavement and curb projects Numbered 5, 12, 15 and 20 as
described in Appendix I, be designated as a thoroughfare for
the purpose of Part I of the Local Improvements Procedure
By-law, so that abutting residential property owners' rates
are reduced by the required 25%.
D. THAT sidewalk projects Numbered 31-37, 39-46, 50 and 52
inclusive, as described in Appendix I, be designated as
"pedestrian collector routes" so that the abutting residential
property owners' rates are reduced by the required 25%.
E. THAT the City-owned parcels on the list attached to the
Detailed Second Step Report be declared "assessable for the
local improvements projects".
F. THAT the City s share of tree planting on Local Improvement
street construction projects be funded by the Streets Capital
Accounts set aside for street construction.
COUNCIL POLICY
Policies governing the Local Improvement process are set out in the
Vancouver Charter and Local Improvements Procedure by-law.
Many initiative projects included in this report have been chosen based
on Council Policy with respect to particular local area plans as
detailed in Appendix I.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval for the local
improvement projects to be submitted to the March 27, 1997 Court of
Revision under the initiative process and to report on the financial
arrangements for those projects. Council approval is also requested for
a proposed change in the source of funding for tree planting associated
with local improvement street construction. Approval of this report does
not commit Council to undertake the projects.
BACKGROUND
The policies and process for the Local Improvement Process are laid out
in the Local Improvements Procedures Bylaw.
The Local Improvement process is used to construct a variety of projects
including lane lighting, street pavement (including trees), lane
pavement, speed bumps, sidewalks and other special projects. A portion,
or all of the cost of local improvement projects is funded by the
property owner and the City funds the balance.
There are two ways in which local improvements can come forward for
Council consideration. Projects that are initiated by citizens come to
Council as petitions which contain the support of the local property
owners. Projects that have no neighbourhood sponsor, and therefore no
petition, are brought to Council by staff under the City s initiative .
This initiative process is utilized in situations where it is
difficult to petition because of absentee owners or where Council
policy has directed improvements to be made. This report deals with the
projects brought forward under the latter process. Petition requests
are normally brought to Council closer to the date of the Court of
Revision meeting to allow the public more time to seek neighbourhood
concurrence.
This year a questionaire was sent out to 464 property owners who
recently had projects proceed throught the Initiative process. A total
of 111 responses (24%) were received. Of these 79% felt the project was
worthwhile and over 80% were happy with the design of the project as
well as the quality of construction.
Under the procedure bylaw, Council considers the projects in three
steps. The First Step is to define the projects and indicate their
approximate cost. The Second Step is a report from the Director of
Finance indicating the cost to property owners and the City and
confirming that financing for the City share of the projects can be
provided. The current report deals with these first two steps.
The final step in the approval process comes when Council, sitting as
the Court of Revision gives final approval to those projects that are to
proceed.
First Step
As required by the Local Improvement Procedure By-law, projects for:
Court #578
I. Lane Lighting
II. Pavement and Curbs, Higher Zoned
III. Pavement and Curbs, Local Residential
IV. Lane Pavement, Higher Zoned
V. Speed Humps
VI. Pedestrian Collector Sidewalks
VII. Sidewalk Reconstruction
shown on the attached schedule (Appendix I), are advanced to Council by
Initiative for review at a Court of Revision, which will be held at 7:30
p.m., Thursday March 27,1997.
Drainage Prior to Paving
In addition to construction of the initiative paving projects, advanced
drainage work involving installation of catch basins and storm drains
must first be carried out. Based on past experience, the estimated cost
of this work is in the order of $50,000.
This drainage work is not necessarily related to the street and lane
construction. However, it should be done now in order not to delay the
construction and so that the newly paved streets and lanes will not have
to be dug up to accommodate the drainage works in the future. The work
involves installation of permanent facilities to replace temporary
drains and should be done whether or not the paving proceeds.
The location and individual costs of this work will be reported in a
subsequent Manager's Minute upon completion of the necessary design
work.
Capital Funds
Funds for the City's share of the projects are available from existing
Engineering Department Basic Capital Accounts or are subject to approval
of the 1997 Streets Basic Capital Budget.
Tree Funding
Funds for the City s share of tree planting associated with Local
Improvement street construction have previously been provided by the
Park Board in residential areas,(approved by Council June 25, 1991) and
by the Street Beautification account in other areas(approved by Council
October 22, 1991). Property owners also contribute funds towards trees
on petition projects. This relatively minor funding from the Park Board
and Beautification accounts requires tracking and reconciliation
throughout the Local Improvement process. To simplify the accounting
procedures it is proposed to include the City s cost of trees within the
general street construction funding. This will bring street projects in
line with sidewalk reconstruction where trees are simply included as
part of the cost of the overall project. It will also free up some funds
for the Park Board, allowing them to plant additional
trees. This proposed change is part of the streamlining of the Local
Improvement process, and is supported by the Park Board.
Second Step
The Director of Finance reports as follows:
In accordance with the Local Improvements Procedure By-law, I am
submitting the attached City Engineer's report. The estimated cost of
these projects is $4,170,570. The property owners share of the
projects is $2,021,343. The City s share is $2,149,227. I have to
report that the necessary financial arrangements can be made to carry
out this work.
* * * * *
Appendix I
COURT OF REVISION -MARCH 27, 1997
INITIATIVE PROJECTS - SCHEDULE #578
I. LANE LIGHTING
1. Lane south of Alberni Street from Broughton Street to Jervis Street
2. Lane west of Vivian Street from 53rd Avenue to 54th Avenue
These two projects are being initiated because of the difficulty
in obtaining signatures for a petition due to absentee landlords.
3. Lane south of 10th Avenue from Prince Edward Street to Guelph
Street
4. Lane south of 18th Avenue from the lane west of Prince Albert
Street to Prince Albert Street and the lane west of Prince Albert
Street from 18th Avenue to the lane south of 18th Avenue
These two projects are being initiated due to complaints from
police and residents concerning prostitution and drug activity.
II. PAVEMENT & CURBS - HIGHER ZONED
The following higher-zoned streets being initiated have strip
pavements and are all in poor condition. Higher-zoned streets that
are in poor condition are often difficult to improve by the
petition process due to the large number of absentee land owners on
the block. These streets therefore deteriorate, causing numerous
resident complaints and maintenance concerns. The initiative
process is an effective way of improving these situations. In
addition some of these projects are initiated due to Local Area
Plan Recommendations or for other specific reasons which are noted
below where appropriate.
5. Adanac Street from Salisbury Street to Commercial Drive excluding
Lot 15-18 & F of 8, Blk D, DL 183, Pln 729
This project is being initiated in an effort to improve streets on
the Adanac Bikeway corridor. The adjacent owners are also provided
with a 25% reduction in local improvement charges in recognition of
the broader citywide benefit of the bike route.
6. Aisne Street from S.W.Marine Drive to 517 ft south of S.W. Marine
Drive
7. Argyle Street from S.E. Marine Drive to Kent Ave. North
8. Evans Avenue from Begg Street to Glen Drive
II. PAVEMENT & CURBS - HIGHER ZONED (cont d)
9. Georgia Street from Woodland Drive to Commercial Drive
10. Heather Street from S.W. Marine Drive to Kent Avenue North
11. North Kent Avenue from Laurel Street to Heather Street
12. Lakewood Drive from 10th Avenue to L/S 13th Avenue
This project is being initiated in an effort to improve streets on
the Lakewood bikeway corridor. The adjacent owners are also
provided with a 25% reduction in local improvement charges in
recognition of the broader citywide benefit of the bike route.
13. 4th Avenue from McLean Drive to Woodland Drive
14. 4th Avenue from Woodland Drive to Commercial Drive
The above two projects are being initiated as a result of sewer
reconstruction work which has damaged the existing driving surface.
Funds for the repair of the street are being used to reduce the
property owners share for the work should these projects be
approved.
15. 5th Avenue from Quebec Street to Ontario Street
This project is being initiated in an effort to improve streets on
the BC Parkway corridor. The adjacent owners are also provided
with a 25% reduction in local improvement charges in recognition of
the broader citywide benefit of the bike route.
16. 5th Avenue from Woodland Drive to Commercial Drive
The above project is being initiated as a result of sewer
reconstruction work which has damaged the existing driving surface.
Funds for the repair of the street are being used to reduce the
property owners share for the work should this project be
approved.
17. 19th Avenue from Main Street to Sophia Street
On behalf of the Strata Council of LMS1000, the management company
requests the City s assistance to improve the street. The Strata
have circulated a petition without success due to difficulty in
acquiring support from absentee owners. Of the 181 owners
involved, over a third of the owners, (67 owners) are absentee.
III. PAVEMENT & CURBS - RESIDENTIAL STREETS
The following residential streets are being initiated due to the
condition of the street. In addition some of these projects are
initiated for other specific reasons which are noted below where
appropriate.
18. Collingwood Street from 33rd Avenue to 34th Avenue
This project is being initiated as a result of sewer reconstruction
work which has damaged the existing driving surface. Funds for the
repair of the street are being used to reduce the property owners
share for the work should this project be approved.
19. Euclid Street from Rupert Street to Joyce Street
The Joyce Station Area Planning Association have held discussions
with City staff regarding a traffic plan for the area. With the
increasing density of the area they recognized the need to have
Euclid street improved because of its poor conditions and the need
to improve this collector street to relieve congestion. They have
formally requested the City to initiate improvements.
20. Heather Street from 18th Avenue to 19th Avenue
This project is being initiated in an effort to improve streets on
the various bicycle corridors. The adjacent owners are also
provided with a 25% reduction in local improvement charges in
recognition of the broader citywide benefit of the bike route.
21. Manitoba Street from 14th Avenue to 15th Avenue This project is being initiated based on a recommendation of the
Mount Pleasant Community Development Policy Plan that:
"The City Engineer initiates a few Local Improvements each year for
pavement, curbs and sidewalks in Mount Pleasant."
22. Nootka Street from 1st Avenue to Graveley Street
23. Tyne Street E/S from 47th Avenue to 49th Avenue
This project was petitioned and received the required two-thirds
majority. However, the petition could not be accepted because the
majority does not represent at least 50% of the assessed value of
the block. The remaining property belongs to the Salvation Army
and because of the size of their property at the north east corner
of Tyne & 49th Ave., their value exceeds the value of the
residential owners. This project is being initiated to assist the
residential owners to improve the street which would also benefit
the City by completing the curbing of Tyne Street (now a bus route)
from 45th Ave. to 49th Ave.
IV. LANE PAVEMENT - HIGHER ZONED
Higher-Zoned lane paving addresses Council's stated priority on
infrastructure renewal. These lanes tend not to be improved by
petition because of absentee ownership, yet they carry much more
traffic than residential lanes, and the lane surface deteriorate as
a result. This causes high maintenance cost and a significant
number of complaints from commercial and/or apartment tenants.
24. L/W Fraser Street from 50th Avenue. to 51st Avenue
25. L/S 6th Avenue from Prince Albert Street. to St. Catherines Street
26. L/S 8th Avenue from Balaclava Street to Trutch Street
27. L/S 8th Avenue from Trutch Street to Blenheim Street and L/W Trutch
Street from 8th Avenue to L/S of 8th Avenue
V. SPEED HUMPS
The following three projects are being initiated to assist owners
who are experiencing traffic problems due to high speeds in the
lane. They feel that transient traffic who access the commercial
properties adjoining the lane are jeopardizing their safety concern
and that circulating a petition would not be successful because of
absentee owners.
28. L/E Granville Street from 64th Avenue to 67th Avenue
29. L/S 8th Avenue from Trafalgar Street to Larch Street
30. L/S 14th Avenue from Oak Street to Spruce Street
VI. PEDESTRIAN COLLECTOR SIDEWALKS
On February 9, 1982, Council reaffirmed its policy objectives of
providing sidewalks:
- on both sides of arterial streets;
- on both sides (as needed) of pedestrian collector routes;
- on both sides of higher-zoned streets; and
- on local residential streets, where property owners petitioned
for them.
The construction of new pedestrian collector sidewalks responds to
Council's top two priorities for transportation improvements;
pedestrians and transit. Of the 17 new sidewalk projects
initiated, 3 are pedestrian collector routes serving schools or
parks and 8 provide access to bus routes.
31. E/S Alberta Street from L/S 44th Avenue to 49th Avenue except 30
ft. fronting Lot 1 of 1, Blk 1000, Pln 2063, DL 526
Infill, access to Columbia Park and bus route on 49th Avenue
VI. PEDESTRIAN COLLECTOR SIDEWALKS (cont'd)
32. N/S Ancaster Street N/S from Elliott Street to L/W Elliott Street
and S/S Ancaster Street S/S from Elliott Street to L/W Elliott
Street and W/S Elliott Street W/S from Ancaster Drive to S.E.
Marine Drive and S/S SE. Marine Drive from Elliott Street to wpl of
Plan Vas 2874, DL 258
The above project is being initiated due to complaints received
from the Fraser Lands Residents Association and the Principal of
Oppenheimer School concerning a lack of sidewalks for those
elementary students from the area attending the school.
33. E/S Ash Street from King Edward Avenue to 23rd Avenue
Infill, bus route on King Edward Avenue
34. W/S Carnarvon Street from 26th Avenue to L/S 27th Avenue Infill
35. E/S Collingwood Street from 18th Avenue to L/S 18th Avenue
Infill
36. E/S Heather Street from 66th Avenue to L/S 66th Avenue
Infill
37. E/S Highbury Street from 34th Avenue to lane south of 34th Avenue
Infill
39. W/S Kaslo Street from SPL Lot 2, south 1/2 of Sec 35, THSL Plan
9744 to 79ft. North of SPL Lot 2
Infill
40. E/S Lillooet Street from Grandview Hwy. to 19th Avenue
Infill, access to bus route on 22nd Avenue
41. E/S Manitoba Street from 19th Avenue to King Edward Avenue
Infill, access to Simon Fraser Elementry School and bus route on
King Edward Avenue
42. E/S Nootka Street from Broadway to 5th Avenue
Infill, access to bus route on Broadway
43. W/S Ontario Street from 20th Avenue to King Edward Avenue
Infill, access to bus route on King Edward Avenue
44. E/S Prince Albert Street from L/S 37th Avenue to 38th Avenue
Infill, access to Sir Alexander MacKenzie Elementry School
VI. PEDESTRIAN COLLECTOR SIDEWALKS (cont'd)
45. W/S Prince Albert Street from L/S 37th Avenue to 39th Avenue
Infill, access to Sir Alexander MacKenzie Elementry School
46. E/S Slocan Street from 306.8 Ft. south of Broadway to 518.8 ft.
south of Broadway except 83 ft. fronting Lot A, Sec 35, S1/2 DL
THSL Pln 9744
Infill
50. S/S 52nd Avenue from Brooks Street to Butler Street
Infill, access to bus route on Tyne Street
52. N/S 63rd Avenue from Cambie Street to Columbia Street
Infill, access to bus route on Cambie Street
VII. SIDEWALK RECONSTRUCTION
The Sidewalk Reconstruction Program is directed toward poor
condition sidewalks in commercial areas which involve high
pedestrian usage and are on transit routes. In this report there
are 14 projects recommended for initiative. Sidewalks rating
reconstruction are often badly cracked and sloped and may be
patched in many places by asphalt fillets. In spite of inspection
and regular maintenance by City staff, sidewalks in this condition
are more prone to trips, water ponding and liability concerns for
the City. Sidewalks in poor condition also provide obstacles for
the disabled and seniors.
The sidewalk reconstruction projects are shared 50/50 with the
abutting commercial owners, and the program has been very well
received since it began about 10 years ago.
53. E/S Burrard Street from 3rd Avenue to 4th Avenue
54. E/S Commercial Drive from 12th Avenue to 13th Avenue
55. W/S Commercial Drive from 12th Avenue to 13th Avenue
56. W/S Commercial Drive from 13th Avenue to 14th Avenue
57. N/S Kingsway from Glen Dr. to WPL Lot E DL 301 Plan 4040 excluding
59 ft. fronting Lot 1, Blk 64, Pln 20431, DL 301
58. S/S Kingsway from St. Catherines Street to Windsor Street
excluding 31 ft. fronting Lots 7, 8 & 9, Pln 3940 & excluding 13.4
ft. fronting Lot A, Pln 15868 All of Blk 65, DL 301
59. B/S 11th Avenue from Birch Street to Hemlock Street
60. S/S 13th Avenue from Commercial Drive to WPL of Lot 2, except 30
ft. frnt. Lot 2, Blk 170, Pln 14017, DL 264A
APPENDIX II
CITY OF VANCOUVER - LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS DETAILED SECOND STEP REPORT
Summary of Estimated Costs and Certificates to the Attached Local
Improvement Estimates
Advanced on the Initiative Principle for a Court of Revision March 27,
1997
Court #578
ITEM P.O. CITY'S TOTAL EXISTING SUBJECT TO APPROVAL
CATEGORY NUMBER TYPE OF PROJECT SHARE SHARE COST FUNDS OF THE 1997 CAPITAL
BUDGET
Lane Lighting $ $ $ $ 843
I 1-4
II 5-17 Pavement & Curbs, $ $ $ $140,563 $ 650,000
Higher Zoned 1,489,5 790,563 2,280,140 13/32/9802/999
77
III 18-23 Pavement & Curbs, $ $ $ $ 718,483
Local Residential 186,561 718,483 905,044
IV 24-27 Lane Pavement, Higher $ $ $ $ 48,469 Zoned 90,792 48,469 139,261
V 28-30 Speed Humps $ 0 $
31-37,39 Pedestrian Collector $ $ $ $ 86,809
VI -46, $ 300,000 Sidewalks 144,543 386,809 531,352 12/31/6901/999 50,52
VII 53-60 Sidewalk $ $ $ $ 54,060 $ 150,000
TOTAL $ $ $ $282,275 $1,866,952 2,021,3 2,149,22 4,170,570
43 7
The estimated costs provide for necessary incidental work. The cost of
the property owner s share of the above noted projects, and interest, is repayable over 15 years, except for lane lighting which is repayable
over five years.
Certified correct as to measurements.
_____________________________ __________________________
_____________________________________
Collector of Taxes Director of FinanceCity Engineer
Certified adopted by the City Council on __________________________ ________________________C i t y
Clerk