WHY DO WE HAVE LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS?
The local improvement process provides a method for property owners to share the cost of constructing improvements when the owners of at least 60% of benefiting properties support the improvement. The Local Improvement process is not applicable to the renewal of existing structures (sidewalks, street and lane pavements, sewers, watermain, etc.)
INITIATION OF A LOCAL IMPROVEMENT
A Local Improvement may be proposed in two ways:
-
By City Council
-
By a petition signed by registered owners of at least 60% of the total non-City property that is to be benefited by the proposed local improvement. A successfully signed petition (at least 60%) is required by The City of Winnipeg Charter to proceed to the Advertisement process.
- "Petition For" - requires the circulation of a petition by an initiator to obtain signatures from property owners representing at least 60% of the frontage feet for the project.
- Advertisement - a local improvement is advertised in a local newspaper and a notice is also sent to all the affected property owners. If a fronting property owner is opposed to the local improvement, they can obtain a "petition against" from the City and obtain signatures in opposition to the proposed works from the affected property owners. The results of the petition are then forwarded to the local Community Committee for their approval/rejection of a local improvement. Signatures, representing at least 60% of the affected fronting property owners, is considered to be sufficient to defeat a local improvement.
- City owned property is not included in determining the results of petitions for or against local improvements.
WHERE DO I START?
To initiate a local improvement request we require a written letter of request by the interested party.
A written request can be made by letter, e-mail, or fax to the personnel identified below with the type of Local Improvement work requested (see chart following for typical Local Improvements), location of where the construction or installation of this work is proposed and a brief reason why you feel this Local Improvement is needed.
LOCAL IMPROVEMENT CONTACTS
To initiate a local improvement or obtain further information please contact the following:
- Underground installations, i.e. all sewer and watermain works - Services Development Engineer, Engineering Division, Water and Waste at 986-4486.
- Surface Works including new lighting - Capital Estimates Officer, Engineering Division, Public Works at 986-3480 or Technologist II, Engineering Division, Public Works at 986-3225.
- Assessment/Financing concerns in regards to local improvements - Senior Local Improvement Clerk. Assessment and Taxation Department at 986-2539.
- For concerns related to street or lane lighting other than the installation of new block lighting – Lighting Systems Engineer, Transportation Division, Public Works at 986-6227.
RELOCATING STREET/LANE LIGHTING POLES
Relocation of existing street/lane light poles will generally be allowed, but only within 6 feet of their original location and maintaining the existing alignment pattern. Please note that if allowed, the cost of the relocation will be the responsibility of the customer. These costs typically run between $1000 to $3000, but can increase substantially depending on circumstance. For example, relocating wood poles that are also carrying Hydro overhead lines will be more that $3000 and may be substantially more.
Requests to relocate Hydro Poles that have no street/lane lighting attached should be directed to Manitoba Hydro.
WHEN DOES CONSTRUCTION TAKE PLACE IF A LOCAL IMPROVEMENT IS SUCCESSFUL?
Construction of local improvements usually takes place in the year following the year the improvement was initiated.
IF THE LOCAL IMPROVEMENT IS NOT SUCCESSFUL AFTER ADVERTISING, HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT TO INITIATE THE PROJECT AGAIN?
When a local improvement is defeated after advertising, the project may not be advertised for another two (2) years.
DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR CITY PROPERTY FRONTING A LOCAL IMPROVEMENT?
A small portion of all municipal taxes cover the City at large costs for local improvements. These costs include a proportionate amount for benefitting City property.
WILL MY PRESENT TAXES COVER ANY LOCAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGES?
Only to the extent described above. As a benefitting property owner of a local improvement you will be further assessed in accordance with local improvement rates. The City "front ends" the funds required to complete local improvements. In the year following completion of the improvement benefitting property owners receive notices of assessment and the option to pay for their share of the costs as a cash payment or to have the costs added to their municipal taxes over a defined term.
I HAVE A GRAVEL LANE THAT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL GRAVEL AND STREETS MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL REFERRED ME TO THE LOCAL IMPROVEMENT PROCESS, WHY?
Adopted City policy for granular lanes is that maintenance work shall consist of grading only. Grading will level off low areas. Where feasible, the addition of gravel can be done as a Local Improvement with the benefiting properties being assessed. However placing additional gravel in a lane that already has poor surface drainage often results in further drainage problems. Paving of the lane which includes installation of land drainage appurtenances is the best solution for gravel lanes that are prone to deterioration due to poor surface drainage. Read more about gravel/granular lanes here.
WHAT TYPES OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE PRESENTLY AVAILABLE, HOW MUCH DO THEY COST PER FRONT FOOT AND WHAT TIME PERIOD IS ALLOWED TO PAY FOR THEM AFTER CONSTRUCTION?
RATES EFFECTIVE UNTIL January 1, 2011
LOCAL IMPROVEMENT |
ESTIMATED COST PER FRONTAGE FOOT $ |
TERM YEARS |
ESTIMATED RATE/LEVY PER FRONTAGE FOOT PER TERM YEAR |
|
|
|
|
Asphalt Surface Roadways (Rural Areas Only With Ditches) 1 |
200.00 |
10 |
28.48 |
Boulevards – 12.5' to 20.5' wide 1 |
25.00 to 45.00 |
3 |
9.35 to 16.62 |
Concrete Sidewalk 5'x 4" (Depends if one or both sides of the street are subject to frontage levy) 1 |
35.00 to 70.00 |
5 |
8.31 to 16.62 |
Concrete Street Pavement 25'x 6" (including boulevards) 1 |
320.00 |
10 |
45.56 |
Concrete Street Pavement 25'x 6" (only) 1 |
280.00 |
10 |
39.87 |
Concrete Street Pavement 33'x 8" (including boulevards) 1 |
430.00 |
10 |
61.22 |
Concrete Street Pavement 33'x 8" (only) 1 |
400.00 |
10 |
56.95 |
Granular Surface Lanes 1 |
25.00 |
3 |
9.35 |
LDS (Laterals & Trunks) |
95.00 |
20 |
9.14 |
LDS (Laterals) |
40.00 |
20 |
3.85 |
LDS (Trunks) |
55.00 |
20 |
5.29 |
Lane Lighting on Wood Poles |
1.25 |
3 |
0.47 |
Lane Oiling (10' to 12') 1 |
3.50 to 4.00 |
1 |
3.50 to 4.00 |
Lane Pavement – 10'x 6" to 20'x 6" 1 |
110.00 to 215.00 |
20 |
12.51 to 20.69 |
Ornamental Lights – Lane |
10.93 |
3 |
4.09 |
Ornamental Lights – Street |
9.40 |
3 |
3.52 |
Road Oiling 20' - Type II |
8.00 |
1 |
8.00 |
Wastewater Sewers |
100.00 |
20 |
9.62 |
Watermains |
80.00 |
10 |
11.39 |
(1) The rates for these improvements are estimated only. Actual assessments will be based on the average actual costs for similar improvements constructed in the same year. All other rates are fixed by by-law and represent the actual assessable rates.
Example:
What is the estimated cost to construct ornamental street lighting as a Local Improvement for a lot with 50’ of frontage?
50’ X $9.40/ft = $470.00 lump sum payment, or
50' X $3.52/ft = $176.00 per year for 3 years.
Click here for information on the Local Improvement (By-Law 98/72)
Last update: 24.03.2010
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