Overhead Utilities Presentation Purpose

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2 Presentation Purpose At the November 4, 2013 general presentation on the conversion of overhead utilities Council passed the following motion That staff explore cash-in-lieu payments for standard single phase wiring costs to be collected and held to advance technology and/or utility funding within the District of Maple Ridge. Follow up report and presentation

3 What is Cash-In-Lieu Cash-In-Lieu is the provision of bonding for the future installation of a service, when that service cannot be feasibly installed with the balance of the projects requirements. Legal counsel advised: Monies received for the provision of a specific service must be used for the intended purpose and cannot be transferred to an alternative objective. Providing cash-in-lieu for underground wiring must be used only to underground wiring at a future date.

4 Overhead System 1. Primary Wires 2. Secondary Wires 3. Aerial Service 4. Dip Service Overhead Utilities Utility Description Underground System 5. Primary Conduit 6. Secondary Conduit 7. Service Conduit Telecommunication Streetlighting

5 Development Process The District of Maple Ridge utilizes the following tools to guide the provision of underground services and conversion of overhead power and telecommunication lines through the development process. Bylaw 4800, Maple Ridge Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw Council Policy , Conversion of Existing Overhead Utility Wiring to Underground Wiring Council would need to make significant changes to these tools to consider cash-in-lieu payments

6 Process Changes To collect additional cash-in-lieu payments changes to the current bylaw and policy would need to be considered. Amend Subdivision Control Bylaw 4800 to remove Schedule D Require conversion of all existing overhead wires in the infill area Not practical with infill development and would require cash-in-lieu payments Rescind Policy 9.05 No longer support variances along major utility corridors No longer support variances along roads with limited development potential Not practical with applications under 250m and would require cash-in-lieu payments

7 Collection Options The report identifies three options for the collection of cash-in-lieu payments: 1. Status Quo 2. Cash-In-Lieu of the estimated conversion costs. 3. Cash-In-Lieu that is a fixed levy charge.

8 Option 1 Status Quo Infill Area Exemption from conversion of all overhead wires Requires underground service connections to all lots No cash-in-lieu required for exemption Growth Areas Requires all developments to underground utilities Variances for major utility corridors Variances for limited OCP development potential Cash-in-lieu for developments with less than 250m of frontage is very rare and has only occurred 3 times since 1996.

9 Challenges with Conversion Design Considerations: The scope of each project is unique and must consider the following issues: The capacity of the overhead lines (Size) The type of materials (Copper or Fiber) Number of pairs or phases Location of dips; and Other service providers. Construction Considerations: Transmission lines not practical to be converted, due to size of vaults and concrete encased conduits Three Phase minimum conversion 5 spans (approximately 250m) Availability of underground corridors Impacts to private land not included in the application Costs can range from $2,500 - $4,000 for typical single and three phase projects

10 Implication of Changes Infill Area Increased costs to small developments and Ma and Pa type applicants Construction impacts to adjacent land not included in the development Growth Area 95% of wiring in growth areas will be underground in the future Major cost implications to developments along major utilities Challenges and construction implications to achieve additional 5%

11 Typical Infill Lot Utility Wiring 1. Overhead 2. Underground Service Connections 3. Overhead 4. Underground 5. Dip

12 Implication of Changes Infill Area Increased costs to small developments and Ma and Pa type applicants Construction impacts to adjacent land not included in the development Growth Area 95% of wiring in growth areas will be underground in the future Major cost implications applicable to developments along major utility corridors Challenges and construction implications to achieve additional 5%

13 Option 2: Estimated Conversion Cost District requires developments to provide full underground conversion, including service connections and underground wiring, when the project is not viable cash-in-lieu is held in trust until the work can be completed. Utility companies provide the estimate value for each development application Bonding is secured and assigned to the specific location Scheduling of projects dependent on development patterns Impact to development costs can vary based upon the project density and frontage Costs range from $2,500 to $4,000 per meter which is consistent with conversion projects across Canada

14 Conversion Case Studies Burnaby - McKay Ave $250, m Conversion $2,272/m Capital Project Supported through Grant Project

15 Conversion Case Studies Fort Langley Glover Road $3,000, m Conversion $5,556/m LAS Project Supported through Grant Project

16 Major Network Conversion (Silver Valley) Major Overhead Network 140m Frontage Estimated Additional Cost $560,000

17 Major Network Conversion (Albion) Major Overhead Network 40m Frontage Estimated Additional Cost $160,000

18 Major Network Conversion (Albion) Major Overhead Network Major Overhead Network 375m Frontage Estimated Additional Cost $1,500,000

19 Single Phase Conversion (Infill) Secondary Network 2 Lot Split - 32m Frontage Estimated Additional Cost $50,000

20 Option 3: Fixed Levy Charge District requires developments to provide underground service connections and a levy payment in lieu of the underground servicing requirement Utility companies estimate the total value of the District conversion program A fixed levy charge is established based upon the benefitting area Projects can be subsidized through alternative funding sources and scheduled as funds permit Impact to development costs are distributed equally

21 Abbotsford Levy Developers are not permitted variances for underground wiring Levy focuses funds on limited number of corridors Levy is subsidized by other funding sources

22 Recommendation To Receive the report and presentation for information

23 Thank You Questions/Comments