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DN: TR- 57-98
THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ClARINGTON
REPORT
Date:
July 13, 1998
File # -r~7.-r-A
Res. #60.?l -4 S5' ,0;2
Meeting:
Special General Purpose and Administration
Report #:
TR-57-98
FILE #: DEV
By-law #
Subject:
STREET LIGHT BY-LAW
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report TR-57-98 be received for information;
2. THAT Council approve the new method of charging for street light costs as follows:
through the General Mill Rate; and
3. THAT By-Laws 84-20, 92-116 and 95-124 be rescinded.
1. BACKGROUND & COMMENTS
The current street light By-Law permits all properties located within 30 metres of a
streetlight to be charged a special area rate. The amount charged varies per property as it
is calculated by applying a special area mill rate to a property's assessment. There are two
street light rates: one for the urban areas of the municipality serviced by Clarington Hydro,
namely Bowmanville, Orono, Newcastle Village and one for the rural areas serviced by
Ontario Hydro.
This method of charging for street lights has proven to be difficult to administer. The
Public Works Department notifies the Tax Department when subdivisions have been
assumed by the Municipality, thus eligible to be charged for street lights. The Tax
Department then must code the affected accounts with the appropriate urban or rural street
light code from maps attained from the Planning Department. This manual process results
in some properties being missed.
The street light inventory must continually be kept up to date, due to the Municipality's
805
REPORT NO.: TR-57-98
PAGE 2
rate of growth. Since Local Improvement and Special area rates are charged only on the
final tax bill, any subdivisions that are assumed during the year are not charged until the
following year, resulting in lost revenue.
It is also felt the method of charging is not a fair system. All residents, regardless of being
within 30 metres of a light, benefit from the street lights in any part of the Municipality.
Therefore, everyone should pay through the overall tax rate.
The Municipality currently has warrants and criteria for the installation of street lighting
through By-Law 84-21. Although all residents within the municipality will now be
contributing towards street light energy charges, it is not the intention of this By-Law to
expand upon the present criteria for street light installation. The Public Works Department
will continue to review all requests using the existing warrants and criteria.
A survey of the area municipalities was conducted to examine the methods of charging for
street lights. The following are the results:
MUNICIPALITY STREET LIGHT COSTS METHOD OF CHARGING IF
OVERALL GENERAL Mill RATE APPLICABLE
INCLUDED NOT
IN INCLUDED
.t
AJAX
.t -Special area rate for Urban Areas
BROCK -Local Improvement charge / user
fee for areas along beach
.t
OSHAWA
.t
PICKERING
.t
SCUGOG
.t Special area rate on in Town
UXBRIDGE Commercial and Residential
properties
.t
WH ITBY
It should be noted that the taxpayers who benefit from street lights under the current
system support the approximately $300,000 in capital and operating street light costs per
annum. The Development Charge Reserve fund contributes to a portion of the annual
capital cost as provided in the Development Charge Policy Report. Should
806
REPORT NO.: TR-57-98
PAGE 3
Council agree to include this cost in the municipal mill rate, the mill rate will
automatically reflect an increase this year due to its inclusion.
RECOMMENDATION
It is respectfully recommended to Council that street light charges be collected through the
general mill rate in place of the current special area rate method.
Respectfully submitted,
Reviewed by,
./-'")
~~'M'CT.'
Treasurer
~
W.H. Stockwell,
Chief Administrative Officer.
~k~~.,
Director of Public Works.
MM*RS*hjl
07 July 1998
807
THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
BY-LAW 98-
Being a By-Law to repeal By-Law 84-20, 92-116 and 95-124 for the
levying of taxes for street lighting services within the Corporation of the
Municipality of Clarington.
WHEREAS the Council of the Corporation of the' Municipality of Clarington considers it to be expedient to
repeal By-Laws 84-20, 92-116 and 95-124.
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington enacts the following:
1 (a) That all properties shown on the last revised assessment roll of the Municipality of
Clarington shall be taxed for 100% for the capital and annual operating costs of the
Municipal of the street lighting services provided within a street lighting area.
1 (b) repealing the foresaid By-Laws 84-20, 92-116 and 95-124.
By-Law read a first and second time this 13th day of July 1998.
By-Law read a third and finally passed this 13th day of July 1998.
Mayor