ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: April 6, 1998

Author/Local: J.Griffin/7928

CC File No: 5802

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Local Improvements by Initiative - June 16, 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 June 16, 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 13,15-17,19-22 inclusive as described in Appendix I, be designated as a thoroughfare for the purposes of Part II 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 23-31 and 34 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 in recognition of the Citywide benefits, projects on designated City Greenways be eligible for a 25% reduction in local improvement charges through designation as "pedestrian collector routes' or "thoroughfare".

COUNCIL POLICY

Policies governing the Local Improvement process are set out in the Vancouver Charter and Local Improvements Procedure By-law. Under the Vancouver Charter and Local Improvement By-law, Council may undertake street improvement projects under the Special Grounds.

PURPOSE

A Court of Revision is scheduled for June 16, 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 #585

I. Pavement and Curbs, Local Residential
II. Pedestrian Collector Sidewalks
III. 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, June 16, 1998.

Greenways

Council has established transportation priorities of walking, cycling and transit use. City Greenways are routes enhanced for walking and cycling. They join important city-wide destinations and create a network that covers the entire City. In recognition of the city-wide benefit enjoyed by any improvements along a City Greenway, it is appropriate to provide a25% reduction in local improvement charges as is done for bikeways, school pedestrian routes and arterial streets.

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 $25,000.

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 detailed in a subsequent General Manager of Engineering Services Funding Transfer 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.

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 $945,560. The property owners' share of the projects is $209,542. The City's share is $736,018. I have to report that the necessary financial arrangements can be made to carry out this work.

Appendix I

COURT OF REVISION - JUNE 16, 1998

INITIATIVE PROJECTS - SCHEDULE #585

I. PAVEMENT & CURBS - LOCAL RESIDENTIAL

13. Discovery Street - 12th Avenue to 13th Avenue
15. Discovery Street - 14th Avenue to 15th Avenue
16. Earles Street - 43rd Avenue to 44th Avenue

Owner adjacent to the above 3 projects have been preballotted to determine the level of support for this improvement. Their responses ranged from inconclusive to positive. In an effort to improve street segments along Greenways routes, these projects are being formally initiated for improvement. Owners adjacent to these projects are eligible for a 25% reduction in local improvement charges in recognition of the broader citywide benefit of Greenways.

17. Heather Street 19th Avenue to 20th Avenue excluding Lot A & Lot B

This project is being initiated in an effort to curb 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.

18. Kaslo Street - 16th Avenue to 18th Avenue

This residential street is being initiated due to the condition of the street.

19. 38th Avenue - Slocan Street to Chambers Street
20. 45th Avenue - Battison Street to Toderick Street
21. 45th Avenue - Toderick Street to Arlington Street
22. 45th Avenue - Tyne Street to Battison Street

Owner adjacent to the above 4 projects have been preballotted to determine the level of support for this improvement. Their responses ranged from inconclusive to positive. In an effort to improve street segments along Greenways routes, these projects are being formally initiated for improvement. Owners adjacent to these projects are eligible for a 25% reduction in local improvement charges in recognition of the broader citywide benefit of Greenways.
II. 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 two of Council's top priorities for transportation improvements; pedestrians, bike and transit. Of the 10 new sidewalk projects initiated, 5 projects are along Greenway routes and the remaining 5 projects are infill or provide access to transit routes. With the exception of Project No. 27, 28 & 34 all other projects have been preballotted to determine the level of support for this improvement. Their responses ranged from inconclusive to positive. In an effort to improve sidewalk segments along Greenways & collector routes, these projects are being formally initiated for improvement.

23. E/S Earles Street - 43rd Avenue to 44th Avenue

Ridgeway Greenway

24. W/S Earles Street - 43rd Avenue to 44th Avenue

Ridgeway Greenway

25. E/S Earles Street - 44th Avenue to 45th Avenue

Ridgeway Greenway

26. W/S Earles Street - 44th Avenue to 45th Avenue

Ridgeway Greenway

27. E/S Tyne Street - Foster Avenue to Kingsway

Infill

28. S/S Vanness Avenue from Earles Street to L/W of Todd Street

Access to Skytrain

29. E/S Yew Street - L/S 20th Avenue to 21st Avenue

Infill

30. W/S Yew Street - L/S 20th Avenue to 21st Avenue except 19 ft. fronting Lot 11

Infill

31. N/S 38th Avenue - Slocan Street to Chambers Street

Ridgeway Greenway

34. N/S 57th Avenue from Granville Street to Adera Street except 27ft. fronting Lot BB DL 526

Access to Bus Route on Granville Street

III. 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 2 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.

35. E/S Clark Drive - Kingsway to L/S of Kingsway

36. S/S Kingsway - Knight Street west to the WPL of Lot 2 of C&D of 1-2 Block 13, DL 301, Plan 8410

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver