The city may have found a temporary solution to its road rehab woes.
At tonight's meeting, council will receive a report by operations superintendent Bill Gaal and corporate services director Kathleen Soltis that outlines a potential $1.5 million for additions to this year's paving program.
The money would come from two reserve funds, but using it would push back projects the funds were already earmarked for.
Administration found the current $3.5 million road rehabilitation reserve could be enhanced by up to $250,000 from the Capital Expenditure Reserve by holding off on constructing a picnic shelter and two washrooms in Fort George Park.
The Local Improvement (Local Service Area) Reserve could yield $1.5 million if the city decides not to go ahead with a project called Fourth Avenue Reconstruction. Of that project's $7.5 million cost, $1.5 million would be property owner costs, to be repaid through a Local Area Service tax. Since the city doesn't yet have a funding source for its larger portion, the project is technically unfunded, and the money can be moved into another reserve fund.
City staff were asked to identify these reserve funds at the last council meeting.
If moving money from reserves is approved, four additional projects can be added to the rehabilitation list. These are (in order of priority): Opsika Boulevard from Range Road to Davis Road; Ospika Boulevard from Davis Road Tyner Boulevard; Foothills Boulevard from North Nechako Road to Foothills Bridge; and Tabor Boulevard from First to Fifteenth Avenue.
The $3.5 million road rehab budget for 2012 was the same as what was approved in 2011, but last year $303,000 came from the Capital Expenditure Reserve - which wasn't sustainable, according to the report.
"Taking funds from reserves for ongoing capital needs such as road rehabilitation (a multi-million dollar budget is needed every year) without replenishing those funds causes the reserves to be depleted," the report says.
Gaal and Soltis recommend that if council go this route, they only do so for this year, and find future funding through the core services review and the standing committee on finance and audit.
Fixing the gas tax
Coun. Dave Wilbur is also recommending that council advance a resolution to the Union of B.C. Municipalities that the organization work with the federal and provincial governments to change the eligibility requirements in the federal gas tax program. The 2012 UBCM convention takes place the last week of September in Victoria.
"The Federal Gas Tax Program was established to provide funding in support of sustainable infrastructure. The Program criteria could be modified so that it supports a more sustainable funding model for road infrastructure replacement and rehabilitation," says Wilbur's motion.
The current agreement provides funds for roadwork that develops or improves public transit systems, encourage a reduction in car dependency and other projects that support environmental sustainability.
Wilbur is stating a case for expanding that eligibility to include work that makes roads safer for the travelling public and emergency personnel.
"First responders have as a primary goal to get to the site of an event as quickly as possible in order to save lives and reduce property damage. The delay cause by slowing for and avoiding potholes delays response time," Wilbur said in his motion. "Vehicles frequently are seen 'zig zaging' to avoid potholes. This is a danger to other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians."
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