FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Paul Ingham, General Manager, Operations

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Mark Ingwersen, Manager, Parks Maintenance

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

November 22nd, 2004

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Pathway Standards Report

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the staff report entitled “Pathway Standards Report”, dated November 22nd, 2004, be received;

 

AND THAT Operations Department staff continue with the current standard and not maintain park pathways during the winter months for the 2004/2005 winter season.

 

AND THAT Operations Department staff work with Development Services to develop a strategy for the Town’s pathway network which will establish specific criteria for pathway paving, lighting, and seasonal maintenance, and report back to Committee and Council in 2005.

 

PURPOSE:

This report has been prepared to provide Committee and Council with information on the status of park pathways including surface conditions and winter maintenance requirements.  This report provides estimates for the costs associated with paving all existing park pathways and the implementation of a Town wide parks pathway winter maintenance program.

 

BACKGROUND:

The pathways in most new parks, with the exception of natural areas and valley lands, are generally paved.  Pathways in older parks are usually constructed of crushed limestone and have only been paved when necessary to eliminate washouts.  The Operations Department does not currently maintain park pathways during the winter months, as the Town provides snow clearing and sanding of sidewalks to provide safe pedestrian routes throughout the Town of Markham. 

 

Over the past several winters, the Operations Department has received occasional requests to plow and sand pathways in parks, particularly when they can be used as a shortcut to access an adjacent school site.  These requests are typically received only after very heavy snowfalls or ice storms.  As the current Town policy on winter maintenance does not allow for plowing and/or sanding of park pathways, these requests are typically denied.

 

 

 

 

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

In order to provide winter maintenance, a pathway must be paved to allow for ploughing.  The Town of Markham has a total of 71,490 lineal meters of pathways through the parks and open space system.  The pathways have been categorized as follows:

 

Type of Park Pathways

Paved Pathways

(lm)

Un-paved Pathways (lm)

Total Lineal Metres

Cost to Pave*

Cost to Plow completed inventory**

Natural Areas/Valley Lands

1,544

8,351

9,895

N/A

N/A

Parks Adjacent to Schools

12,557

7,834

20,391

$752,064

$34,665

Stand Alone Parks

23,235

17,969

41,204

$1,725,024

$70,047

Total Pathways in the Town of Markham

37,336

34,154

 

71,490

$2,477,088

$104,712

*The current cost to pave 1 lineal metre of pathway (1.5 metre width) is approximately $96.00.

** The current contract cost to maintain 1 lineal metre of pathway (sidewalk) is approximately $1.70/season, which includes labour, equipment and materials.

 

 

The following options have been considered.

 

1.   Pave and Plough All Pathways In Parks Across The Town of Markham With The Exception of Natural Areas/Valley Lands

·        The cost to pave all park pathways with the exception of natural areas/valley lands will be approximately $2,477,088.  The cost to plough all of these pathways in subsequent years will be approximately $105,000 annually.

·        Based on the existing 35,792 lineal metre inventory of paved pathways located in both parks that are adjacent to school sites and stand alone Parks, it would cost the Town approximately $61,000 to provide winter maintenance for all of these pathways for the approaching 2004/2005 winter season.

 

2.   Pave and Plough All Pathways In Parks Adjacent To Schools With The Exception of Natural Areas/Valley Lands

·        Based on the existing 12,557 lineal metre inventory of paved pathways located in parks that are adjacent to school sites, it would cost the Town approximately $21,500 to provide winter maintenance for all of these pathways for the approaching 2004/2005 winter season.

·        There are 32 parks located adjacent to school sites and of these parks paving will be required at 20 locations at a cost of approximately $752,064.  The cost to plough these pathways in subsequent years will be approximately $34,665 annually.

 

 

 

3.   Continue As Per Current Standards And Not Maintain Park Pathways in Winter

·        Continue with current standard and not maintain park pathways during the winter months.  Staff will continue to encourage residents to use the public sidewalk system to access schools, etc. when use of park pathways is not appropriate. 

·        Work with Development Services to develop a strategy for the Town’s pathway network which will establish specific criteria for pathway paving, lighting, and seasonal maintenance, and report back to Committee and Council in 2005

 

It is important to note that staff has surveyed both the York Region District School Board and the York Region Catholic District School Board to determine whether or not they would undertake winter maintenance of walkways from board/town property lines to their schools.  Both school boards have indicated that they would not be willing to provide this service.

 

CONCLUSION:

Staff recommends that Council approve Option #3 and that Operations Department staff continue with the current standard and not maintain park pathways during the upcoming 2004/2005 winter season.  Staff acknowledges that any option that includes paving park pathways and implementing a winter maintenance program on a significant inventory of both existing and future park pathways is extremely costly, particularly when a safe public sidewalk system already exists.

 

Operations staff further recommends that a review of the Town’s existing and future pathway systems be undertaken in early 2005 to identify specific sections of the pathway network which may warrant special attention, including full winter maintenance.  The Operations Staff will work with Development Services staff to establish specific criteria based on the functionality of the pathway links to determine where pathway paving, illumination and seasonal maintenance may be required.

 

Both the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board have indicated that they are unable to commit to participation in the winter maintenance of pathways on School Board properties that adjoin the Town’s park pathways.  As we move forward with our review in 2005, the Town may be required to enter into maintenance agreements with either or both of the School Boards in order to implement the recommendations resulting from the review of the Town’s pathway network.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The approval of Option # 3 of this report will have no financial impact on existing Capital and Operating budgets.

 

The Operations Department strategy for the Town’s pathway network, to be brought forward to Committee and Council in 2005, will include financial commitments required to upgrade critical pathway links including paving and illumination (2006 Capital Budget) and winter operations (2005/2006 Operating Budgets).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Ingham,

General Manager, Operations

 

Peter Loukes, P. Eng.

Director, Operations and Asset Management

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim Sales,

Commissioner of Community & Fire Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q:\Commission Share\Operations and Asset Management\Reports\2004\Operations\Pathway Standards Report\Pathway Standards Report.doc