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CITY OF WILLIAMS LAKE

COUNCIL REPORT

DATE OF REPORT: May 16, 2019

DATE & TYPE OF MEETING: May 21, 2019 Committee of Whole Council Meeting
AUTHOR: Leah Hartley, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT: SIDEWALKS, 4TH AVENUE NORTH
FILE: 2-22-25

SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The purpose of this report is to seek direction from Council relating to a request for sidewalks in the 500
to 700 Block of Fourth Avenue North.

SECTION 2: BACKGROUND
Attached for Council consideration is correspondence from Cathie Froese concerning lack of sidewalks in
the 500, 600 and 700 blocks Fourth Avenue North.

SECTION 3: DISCUSSION
City staff have reviewed the correspondence. Similar requests have been made by other surrounding
property owners and residents over many years.

The original residential subdivision adjacent to hospital and church was laid out without sidewalks. Later
subdivisions in the 800 + blocks and on cross streets were developed to local road standard with
sidewalks on one or both sides of the street.

City staff have identified the area as benefiting from the addition of sidewalks at time of property
redevelopment, and have relayed to the hospital design team the need for a pedestrian network in the
500 block of Fourth Avenue North. The alternative is that the neighbourhood may petition for a
neighbourhood improvement, with the costs of sidewalks attributed to local property owners and repaid
over the course of several years.

Traffic numbers do not identify this as a priority or a hazard at this time. The capital plan contains an
annual budget for sidewalks, which is targeted primarily at small gaps in the system, together with
wheelchair letdowns and pedestrian improvements in the downtown core or adjacent to schools.

SECTION 4: DETAILED ANALYSIS

a. Financial Considerations – Cost and Resource Allocations:
Council may wish to reconsider this and other similar requests in increasing the annual sidewalk capital
budget as part of the 2020 budget process.

b. Legislative Considerations (Applicable Policies and/or Bylaws):

N/A

c. This project most closely supports the following ICSP Priority Areas:
Active and Convenient Transportation
Affordable Housing and Liveable Neighborhoods
Sidewalks, 500 to 700 Block 4th Ave N. Page 2

d. This project potentially conflicts with the following ICSP Priority Areas (also list mitigation
measures)
N/A

e. Environmental Considerations:
N/A

f. Social Considerations:
N/A

g. Economic Considerations:
N/A

SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council receive this report for information, direct staff to respond to the correspondence from
Cathie Froese concerning sidewalks in the 500 to 700 block of Fourth Avenue North.

Respectfully submitted,

Milo Macdonald
Chief Administrative Officer

This report has been prepared in consultation with the following: Initials
Chief Financial Officer VK
Director of Municipal Services GM

ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – Cathie Froese Correspondence dated April 25, 2019