Local Improvements by Initiative

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: October 30, 1997
CC File No. 5809
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM:General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:Local Improvements by Initiative - February 3, 1998
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 February 3, 1998.
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 5,7 and 8 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%.
D.THAT sidewalk projects Numbered 19-38 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."

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

A Court of Revision is scheduled for February 3, 1998, 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 #583
I. Pavement and Curbs, Higher Zoned
II. Pavement and Curbs, Local Residential
III. Lane Pavement, Higher Zoned
IV. Speed Humps
V. 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., Tuesday, February 3, 1998.
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 $35,000.
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 1998 Streets Basic 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 $ 1,764,053. The property owners’ share of the projects is $ 799,851. The City’s share is $ 964,202. I have to report that the necessary financial arrangements can be made to carry out this work.
* * * * *
COURT OF REVISION -FEBRUARY 3, 1998
INITIATIVE PROJECTS - SCHEDULE #583
I. 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.
1. Franklin Street - Victoria Drive to Semlin Drive
In an attempt to deal with the prostitution trade in the area, the community working in conjunction with the Neighbourhood Integrated Service Teams and the Police Department would like to see several streets in the area improved. They considered the poor street condition along with poor aesthetics as a potential contributor to the problem and by improving this street the area will be less of an attraction to the prostitution trade.
2. Heather Street - 70th Avenue to L/N 70th Avenue
As part of the report for Implementation of High-Priority Public Realm Amenities in Oakridge/Langara, this section of Heather Street is being recommended for initiation.
3. McGill Street - Wall Street to Garden Drive
Through the neighbourhood process for Garden Drive, several requests were made to improve McGill Street.
4. Pandora Street - Victoria Drive to Salsbury Drive
In an attempt to deal with the prostitution trade in the area, the community working in conjunction with the Neighbourhood Integrated Service Teams and the Police Department would like to see several streets in the area improved. They considered the poor street condition along with poor aesthetics as a potential contributor to the problem and by improving this street the area will be less of an attraction to the prostitution trade.
II. 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.
5. Collingwood Street - 38th Avenue to Mayfair Street
This project is being initiated in an effort to curb streets on the proposed Midtown Bikeway. 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. Killarney Street - 44th Avenue to 45th Avenue
7. Lakewood Drive - Grant Street to Graveley Street
8. Lakewood Drive - Graveley Street to 1st Avenue
These two projects are being initiated in an effort to curb streets on the Lakewood Drive Bikeway. 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. These two projects are also part of the Grandview Woodlands Policy Plan that recommend:
"The City Engineer initiate street improvements on at least one block of a street in the Britannia Area Plan per year."
9. Melbourne Street - Foster Street to Euclid Street
III. 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 deteriorates as a result. This causes high maintenance cost and a significant number of complaints from commercial and/or apartment tenants.
11. L/W Fraser Street - from 56th Avenue to 57th Avenue
12.L/N Kingsway - Aberdeen Street to L/E Aberdeen Street and L/E Aberdeen Street from L/N Kingsway to Kingsway
III. LANE PAVEMENT, HIGHER ZONED(cont’d)
13.L/E of Main Street - 30th Avenue to L/S of 30th Avenue and L/S 30th Avenue from L/E Main Street to Walden Street
14.L/S Pender Street - Cambie Street to Beatty Street & L/E Cambie Street from L/S Pender Street to 2nd L/S Pender Street
15.L/S 11th Avenue - L/E Victoria Drive to Semlin Drive and the L/E Victoria Drive from 11th Avenue to 12th Avenue
IV. SPEED HUMPS
The following two projects are being initiated to assist owners/area residents who are experiencing traffic problems due to high speeds in a lane that was previously paved throughout the Initiative process.
17. L/S Kingsway - St. Catherines Street to 19th Avenue
18. L/E Main Street - 23rd Avenue to 24th Avenue
V. 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 20 new sidewalk projects initiated, 3 are pedestrian collector routes serving schools or parks and 10 provide access to bus routes.
19. E/S Arbutus Street - King Edward Avenue south to NPL lot 6 Pln 11136, Blk 26, DL526 except 27 feet fronting Block 75 DL526 Plan 6018 ex Plan 19157
Infill, on bus route
20. W/S Brunswick Street - 6th Avenue to 8th Avenue
Infill, access to bus route on Broadway
V. PEDESTRIAN COLLECTOR SIDEWALKS(cont’d)
21. N/SGraveley Street - Kootenay Street to Boundary Road
Infill
22. E/S Highbury Street - from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue
Infill, access to bus route on 4th Avenue
23. W/S Inverness Street - 59th Avenue to L/S 59th Avenue
Infill
24. W/S Inverness Street - 64th Avenue to SE Marine Drive
Infill, access to bus route on SE Marine Drive
25. E/S Kootenay Street - Charles Street to Graveley Street
Infill
26. W/S Mackenzie Street - L/S 28th Avenue to 29th Avenue
Infill, on bus route
27. W/S Ontario Street - 37th Avenue to 39th Avenue
Infill, connects to Greenways/Bike route
28. W/S Penticton Street - L/N Napier Street to Napier Street
Infill
29. W/S Penticton Street - Napier Street to L/S Napier Street
Infill
30. N/S Pt.Grey Road - Alma Street to dead end west of Wallace Street
Infill, adjacent to Hastings Mill Park, Jericho Beach
31. E/S Salsbury Street - Venables Street to L/N of Venables Street
Infill, Access to park
32. W/S Salsbury Street - Venables Street to L/N of Venables Street
Infill, Access to park
33. S/S 21st Avenue - Penticton Street west to WPL of Lot 1, Blk G & W, DL SEC 45 THSL
Infill, Bus route on 22nd Avenue as well as Nanaimo Street
V. PEDESTRIAN COLLECTOR SIDEWALKS(cont’d)
34. N/S 42nd Avenue - Montgomery Street to L/W Oak Street
Infill, access to Oak Street
35. S/S 51st Avenue - L/W Killarney Street to Lancaster Street
Infill, access to bus route on Kerr Street
36. N/S 52nd Avenue - Oak Street to L/E Oak Street
Infill, Access to bus route on Oak Street
37. S/S 52nd Avenue -Kerr Street to L/W Kerr Street
Infill, Bus route on Kerr Street
38. N/S 71st Avenue - Granville Street to L/W Granville Street
Infill, Bus Route on Granville Street
VI. SIDEWALK RECONSTRUCTION
The Sidewalk Reconstruction Program is directed toward sidewalks in poor condition, with high pedestrian usage or on transit routes. In this report there are 7 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 and the program has been very well received since it began about 12 years ago.
39. S/S Broadway - WPL Lot 5 to EPL Lot 8, all of Blk B, PLN 346
(from 132 feet east of Prince Albert Street to 264 feet east of Prince Albert Street)
40. S/S Broadway - Woodland Drive west to WPL of Lot 8
42. E/S Clark Drive - Kingsway to L/S of Kingsway
43. S/S Kingsway - Knight Street to the WPL of Lot 2 of C & D of 1-3 Blk 13 DL301 Plan 8410
44. S/S Robson Street - L/E Richards Street to 3.4 ft. West of WPL Homer Street
45. S/S Robson Street - Richards Street to L/E Richards Street
46. S/S 4th Avenue - Pine Street to Fir Street

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