ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: August 29, 1995
Dept. File No.
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Local Improvements by Initiative - November 23, 1995
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 November 23, 1995.
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 (on file in City Clerk's Office),
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 sidewalk projects Numbered 44,48,55,57-63,73,75-77,79-
82,86,87 and 92 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%.
D. THAT pavement and curbs projects Number 1 and Number 28 as
described in Appendix I, be designated as a thoroughfare for
the purposes of Part I of the Local Improvements Procedure By-
law, so that 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".
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. - 2 -
PURPOSE
A Court of Revision is scheduled for November 23,1995 at 7:30 p.m. to
review a number of petition and initiative projects. The report for
petition projects will be advanced to Council separately at a later date
to allow as much time as possible for residents to circulate their
petitions. The purpose of this report is to begin the formal Local
Improvement process by advancing the initiative projects to the Court of
Revision and reporting on the financial arrangements for the projects.
Approval of this report does not commit Council to undertake the
projects.
First Step
As required by the Local Improvement Procedure By-law, projects for:
Court #571
I Pavement and Curbs, Arterial Street
II Pavement and Curbs, Higher Zoned
III Pavement and Curbs, Local Residential
IV Lane Pavement, Higher Zoned
V Lane Pavement, Local Residential
VI Speed Humps
VII Pedestrian Collector Sidewalks
VIII Sidewalk Reconstruction
IX Lane Lighting
X Underground Wiring
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, November 23, 1995.
Drainage Prior to Paving
In addition to construction of the initiative paving projects, advanced
drainage work involving installation of catchbasins and storm drains
must first be carried out. Based on past experience, the estimated cost
of this work is in the order of $75,000.
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. - 3 -
STREET BULGES
In accordance with recently approved Council policy, where appropriate,
all residential street projects being initiated will include bulges, and
street widths in multi-family areas will be 10 metres. Property owners
will be informed of the option of curbing without bulges and 11 metre
width (the previous standard) and if there is sufficient preference for
either of these options, the project will be cancelled for the November
Court of Revision, and initiated in the desired configuration to the
June, 1996 Court of Revision.
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 1996 Streets Basic Capital Budget and Park Board Capital Budget.
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 $3,364,915. The property owners' share of the
projects is $1,605,690. The City's share is $1,702,884. The Park Board
share is $ 56,341. I have to report that the necessary financial
arrangements can be made to carry out this work subject to Council
approval of the Streets and Park Board 1996 Basic Capital Budget.
* * * * *
APPENDIX I
COURT OF REVISION - NOVEMBER 23, 1995
Initiative Projects - Schedule #571
I. PAVEMENT & CURBS - ARTERIAL STREETS
1. 33rd Avenue - N/S - Arbutus St. to Valley Drive &
S/S - Arbutus St. to Cypress St.
This section of 33rd Avenue is unimproved and many complaints have
been received regarding its condition. The scope of this project
spans the length of an old utility cut.
II.(A)PAVEMENT & CURBS - HIGHER ZONED STREETS
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.
2. Alberta Street - 4th Avenue to 5th Avenue
3. Alberta Street - 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue
4. Alberta Street - 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue
The three projects on Alberta Street are being initiated based on a
recommendation of the Mount Pleasant Community Development Policy
Plan that:
"The City Engineer initiate a few Local Improvements each year for
pavement, curbs and sidewalks in Mount Pleasant."
These adjoining blocks are all in poor condition and it would be
preferable to complete them at the same time.
5. Ash Street - 16th Avenue to 17th Avenue excluding Lot 26
7. Brunswick Street - 2nd Avenue to 5th Avenue
An adjacent development has recently been completed and this
section is now being initiated.
8. Slocan Street - 21st Avenue to 22nd Avenue
9. Templeton Street - Franklin Street to Pandora Street
- 2 -
II.(A)PAVEMENT & CURBS - HIGHER ZONED STREETS (cont'd)
10. Templeton Street - Pandora Street to Triumph Street
11. Templeton Street - Triumph Street to Dundas Street
12. Willow Street - 16th Avenue to 17th Avenue excluding Lot 19
13. Windsor Street - 7th Avenue to 8th Avenue
14. 8th Avenue - Alberta Street to Columbia Street
This project is being initiated based on a recommendation of the
Mount Pleasant Community Development Policy Plan that:
"The City Engineer initiate a few Local Improvements each year for
pavement, curbs and sidewalks in Mount Pleasant."
15. 8th Avenue -Nanaimo Street to Kamloops Street excluding Lot A, Blk
24, LMP 12320
Funds have been acquired from the developer on the south side of
the street to install curb and pavement adjacent to the development
which occupies a majority of the south side of the street. To
provide the opportunity to improve the entire street the other side
of 8th Ave. has been initiated for improvement.
II.(B)PAVEMENT ONLY - HIGHER ZONED STREETS
16. Woodland Drive - William Street to Kitchener Street
This project is being initiated based on a recommendation of the
Grandview Woodlands Policy Plan that:
"The City Engineer initiate street improvements on at least one
block of street in Britannia Area Plan per year."
III. PAVEMENT & CURBS, LOCAL RESIDENTIAL
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. Nanaimo Street - W/S - Trinity Street to L/S Trinity Street
and
E/S - Trinity Street to L/N Trinity Street
19. Penticton Street - 18th Avenue to 19th Avenue
20. Penticton Street - 28th Avenue to 29th Avenue
- 3 -
III. PAVEMENT & CURBS, LOCAL RESIDENTIAL (cont'd)
21. Pr. Edward Street - 61st Avenue to 63rd Avenue
23. Windermere Street - Grant Street to Kitchener Street
24. 15th Avenue - Victoria Drive to L/E Victoria Drive
26. 35th Avenue - Trafalgar Street to Larch Street
This project is being initiated as a result of sewer reconstruction
work which 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.
27. 38th Avenue - Slocan Street to Chambers Street
28. 51st Avenue - Arbutus Street to West Boulevard
This project has been initiated because it is on a bus route but is
unimproved. The property owners will receive 25% arterial relief.
29. 71st Avenue - Ash Street to Dead End West
One of the adjacent owners has made two attempts at circulating a
petition to improve the street. Both attempts were unsuccessful
due to absentee owners. Rather than circulate a third petition,
the petitioner's request for assistance resulted in this project
being initiated.
VI.(A)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.
30. L/S Hastings Street - L/E Main Street to 100 ft east of the L/E
Main Street
31. L/S Keefer Street - L/E Main Street to 125 ft. east of the L/E Main
Street
32. L/W Main Street - Pender Street to Keefer Street
33. L/S Pender Street - L/E Main Street to Gore Street and L/E Main
Street from 74 ft south of Pender St. to 182 ft. South of Pender
Street - 4 -
VI.(A)LANE PAVEMENT - HIGHER ZONED (cont'd)
The above 4 projects are being initiated in response to a request
for assistance from the Chinatown Business Association. Their
membership have identified these problem lanes which require
extensive maintenance work.
36. L/S 3rd Avenue - 75.4 ft. West of WPL Trafalgar Street to Dead End
West
35. L/S 3rd Avenue - Trafalgar Street to Larch Street
38. L/S 14th Avenue - Spruce Street to Oak Street
39. L/S 15th Avenue - Montcalm Street to Oak Street
IV.(B)LANE PAVEMENT & SPEED HUMPS - HIGHER ZONED
34. L/S Robson Street - Denman Street to Bidwell Street
This project is being initiated as a result of a letter from the
property managers of 1717 Haro St. Their complaints concern the
condition of the lane and the pooling of water behind their
property as well as speeding. Speed humps are also being included
in the scope of this project as the lane speeding concern already
exists.
V. LANE PAVEMENT, LOCAL RESIDENTIAL
40. L/E Gladstone Street - L/S Kingsway to 30th Avenue
This lane has been initiated because of complaints from adjacent
residents.
VI. SPEED HUMPS
41. L/S Haro Street - Thurlow Street to Bute Street
42. L/S Robson Street - Thurlow Street to Bute Street
The above two projects are being initiated because of complaints
from the area residents of the hazardous speeds of vehicle using
the lane. The L/S of Haro is adjacent to a mini-park and vehicles
using the lane tend not to stop at the lane intersection thus
endangering pedestrians accessing the mini-park or walking towards
Robson Street. Similar complaints have also been received at the
lane intersection south of Robson Street.
- 5 -
VI. SPEED HUMPS
43. L/S 48th Avenue - Frontenac Street to Boundary Road
The adjacent owners requested assistance to have speed deterrent
ramps installed in the lane because their efforts through the
petition process were unsuccessful due to numerous absentee owners
in this mixed single family and higher zoned area.
VII. 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 21 new sidewalk projects
initiated, 2 are pedestrian collector routes serving schools. The
remaining 19 projects are adjacent to bus routes or provides access
to bus routes.
44. E/S Angus Drive- 61st Avenue to 64th Avenue
Bus Route
48. W/S Baille Street - 39th Avenue to 41st Avenue
INFILL - Access to Bus Route on 41st Ave., access to Oakridge
Special School on 39th Ave.
55. S/S - Brock Street -Nanaimo Street to WPL Lot A of 4, BLK B & 10,
PLN 12544, DL 393 (WPL 2268 Wenonah St.)
INFILL - Access to Bus Route on Nanaimo St.
57. E/S Clarendon Street - 40th Avenue to 41st Avenue
Bus Route, Infill
58. E/S Clarendon Street - 43rd Avenue to 45th Avenue
Bus Route, Infill
59. W/S Clarendon Street - 40th Avenue to 41st Avenue
Bus Route, Infill
60. E/S Elliott Street - 51st Avenue to 53rd Avenue
Bus Route, Infill - 6 -
VII. PEDESTRIAN COLLECTOR SIDEWALKS (cont'd)
61. N/S King Edward Ave. - Quesnel Drive Puget Drive except Lot 2 AMD
of A, BLK U, DL 139, PLN 5702
Bus Route, Infill
62. E/S Knight Street - 27th Avenue to NPL Lot 1 of 1, Blk 1 & 3, DL
352, PLN 1909
Bus Route, Infill
63. E/S Knight Street - 28th Avenue to 29th Avenue
Bus Route, Infill
73. W/S - Nanaimo Street - Vanness Avenue to L/N Vanness Avenue
Bus Route, Infill
75. N/S - Parker Street - Kaslo Street to Renfrew Street
INFILL - Access to Bus Route on Renfrew Street, adjacent to
NotreDame School
76. S/S - Parker Street - Kelowna Street to L/E Kelowna Street
INFILL - Complete sidewalk system to access bus route on Renfrew
St.
77. E/S - Rupert Street - Georgia Street to Adanac Street
INFILL - Complete sidewalk system to access bus route on Adanac St.
as well as access to PNE park and ride lot.
79. E/S -Semlin Drive - Broadway to 8th Avenue
INFILL - Access to Bus Route on Broadway
80. E/S - Semlin Drive - L/S 7th Avenue to 8th Avenue
INFILL - Access to Bus Route on Broadway
81. W/S - Semlin Drive - 7th Avenue to 8th Avenue
INFILL - Access to Bus Route on Broadway
82. W/S - Semlin Drive - 8th Avenue to L/S 8th Avenue
INFILL - Access to Bus Route on Broadway
86. S/S - 17th Avenue -Garden Drive to Nanaimo Street except 19ft
fronting Lot O of 18-32 of 5, BLK A, DL 195, PLN 7943
INFILL - Access to Bus Route on Nanaimo St.
87. S/S - 27th Avenue -Nanaimo Street to WPL of Lot A of 1, BLK B &
10, DL 393, PLN 10063
INFILL - Access to Bus Route on Nanaimo St.
92. S/S - 52nd Avenue - Butler Street to Tyne Street
INFILL - Access to Bus Route on Tyne St.
- 7 -
VIII.SIDEWALK RECONSTRUCTION
The Sidewalk Reconstruction Program is directed towards poor
condition sidewalks in commercial areas which involve high
pedestrian usage and are usually on transit routes. In this report
there are 3 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 7 years ago.
94. S/S - Hastings Street - Granville Street to EPL Lot 1 to 6, BLK
23, DL 541, PLN 210
95. S/S - Hastings Street - Seymour Street to Richards Street
96. N/S - 8th Avenue - L/E Main Street to Scotia Street
X. LANE LIGHTING
97. L/S of Alexander Street from Columbia Street to the L/W of Main
Street and the L/W of Main Street from Alexander Street to Powell
Street
This project is being initiated at the request of Four Sisters
Housing Co-Operative whose tennants are concerned about late-night
intruders in their ground level balconies and disruptive behaviour
after dark which is a constant source of worry to them.
XI. UNDERGROUND WIRING
98. N/S of 30th Avenue continuing on the north side of Elm Street from
Macdonald Street to 31st Avenue.
This project was initiated at the request of a property owner who
has shown interest in the possibility of under-grounding the
overhead wires along this block. Therefore, the Engineering
Department balloted the property owners to determine if there was
enough support to warrant doing an in-depth estimate and initiating
the project. Of the 19 ballots sent out, 17 were returned (90%)
and 12 of those were in favour of pursuing this project (71%).