ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT


                                                     Date:  August 29, 1995
                                                     Dept. File No. 640 184

     TO:       Vancouver City Council

     FROM:     General Manager of Engineering Services

     SUBJECT:  Local Improvement: Pavement, Curbs  and Tree Planting on 2nd
               Avenue from Nanaimo Street to Kamloops Street



     RECOMMENDATION

          THAT the pavement,  curbs and  trees project on  2nd Avenue  from
          Nanaimo  Street to Kamloops Street be reduced in scope to exclude
          street tree planting.


     COUNCIL POLICY

     Policies  governing the Local Improvement  Process are set  out in the
     Vancouver  Charter  and the  Local Improvement  Procedure By-Law.   In
     1991, Council approved a motion recommending that street tree planting
     be  included in all  residential and higher-zoned  street pavement and
     curbing local improvements where possible.

     At  its meeting of  July 27,  1993, Council  approved a  mechanism for
     considering  petitions for  paving  and curbing  without street  trees
     where  signatures from  at  least two-thirds  of  the property  owners
     representing at least one-half of the actual property value supporting
     paving without tree planting were received.



     PURPOSE

     This  report recommends  reducing the scope  of a  previously approved
     project, by deleting tree planting.


     BACKGROUND

     At the December 6, 1994, Court of Revision, Council approved pavement,
     curbs and  trees be constructed  on 2nd Avenue from  Nanaimo Street to
     Kamloops Street.  Since that time, a petition has been received asking
     Council to exclude trees from the project.

     DISCUSSION

     A petition has been received for  the exclusion of street trees on 2nd
     Avenue from  Nanaimo Street to Kamloops Street.  Ten out of the eleven
     owners who  signed the  original petition  indicated an opposition  to
     tree  planting.   Also,  two  owners who  did  not  sign the  original
     petition  signed against tree planting.   Their reasons  vary from sap
     falling  on their  cars, to  raking up  leaves.   They feel  they have
     sufficient landscaping on the block and trees are not needed.

     The Tax Department has reviewed the petition and advises the necessary
     two-thirds  majority, representing  at  least one-half  of the  actual
     value, has  been  acquired (10  required  out of  14).   Although  the

                                      - 2 -

     original  petition included  street  trees, the  property owners  have
     reconsidered and request trees be deleted.   The pavement and curbs on
     the street have been constructed.

     It  is recommended that  the project be  reduced in scope  by deleting
     tree installation due to the property owners request.



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