STAFF REPORT: Park Area Development by BC Transit

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Town of View Royal accept the offer from BC Transit to complete their optional pricing package included in their early works tender for the Park Area to be held under licence of occupation with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure at a cost not to exceed $55,000.

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To establish authority to contract site development work on an intended park area located near the BC Transit Development site at the corner of Burnside and Watkiss Way.

BACKGROUND:

During a meeting with the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure in late 2019, a proposal was received offering a licence of occupation to the Town of View Royal enabling the use of a parcel of land between the Galloping Goose Trail and Watkiss Way near Burnside Road.

A 10 year licence of occupation was proposed as an instrument establishing View Royal’s occupancy of this land area recognizing that renewal opportunities could be achieved as required when the term expired. This property is also encumbered by the CRD water line and an anode bed associated with the CRD water line. The licence of occupation was approved for execution by Council, March 3, 2020.

In addition to the proposed licence of occupation, the Town of View Royal entered into a Memorandum of understanding including the payment of a community amenity contribution in the amount of $150,000. The Town of View Royal has recently received the full amount of the contribution from BC Transit.

During staff review of the property intended to be occupied by the Town of View Royal, the Town determined that the development of this site would cost an order of magnitude of $250,000.

DISCUSSION:

To assist with the magnitude of these development costs, BC Transit increased the scope of their early works tender to include optional pricing for the proposed View Royal Lease area and were able to obtain very favourable costing. Based on the winning bid, an estimate for $45,000 was received which included clearing & grubbing (to 30 cm depth), rough site grading, topsoil excavation and off-site disposal and imported topsoil (20cm depth).

Due to the thickness of the blackberries, there may be some budget pressure to the quoted price once the ground is cleared and topography is better established. As a result, BC Transit recommended a 25% contingency. If the work is undertaken by BC Transit under the current early works tender on behalf of View Royal, It is anticipated costs will not exceed $55,000.

BC Transit is anticipating awarding the contract mid-November with work to start in December 2021. The timing of this work is to be discussed with the General Contractor once they are on board, as it wasn’t clear in their schedule where this work would occur relative to the Galloping Goose realignment.

BC Transit has recommended the following steps, if the Town would like to proceed:

a. A decision to proceed is required by BC Transit no later than November 15th. b. If the licence of occupation is not yet executed, a work agreement drafted between MOTI and View Royal for work conducted on Ministry land is required. c. Establish invoicing process between BC Transit and View Royal.

Based on the topography of the proposed park land significant budgets will still be required to address the slope of the property. It is expected that some form of soil retention measures will be required to mitigate sloughing or soil migration onto the goose. At the time of writing we have enquired of BC Transit about wall retention and hydro seeding strategies.

BUDGET:

The Town of View Royal has received the $150,000 community amenity contribution from BC Transit. It is intended that a portion of these funds be used as the source of funding for the early works tender option offered by BC Transit.

The Town of View Royal financial plan will be amended to reflect the receipt of these funds and the corresponding expenditures and any future development of the site.

ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATIONS:

Option 1 That the Town of View Royal not enter into the licence of occupation.

Option 2 That the Town of View Royal request additional financial support from the Ministry of Transportation before entering into a licence of occupation.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Town of View Royal accept the offer from BC Transit to complete their optional pricing package included in their early works tender for the property to be held under licence of occupation with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure at a cost not to exceed $55,000.

SUBMITTED BY:

K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer