Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD-08-98 --. ,. THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON , , ,~~~ REPORT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE File #--r Of :-e.a Res. # 6PA - 3(o3~1~ Date: Report #: JUNE 8, 1998 File#: By-Law # Subject: FD-8-98 10.12.6 RURAL HOUSE/PROPERTY ADDRESS IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM. Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1.) THAT report FD-8-98 be received; 2.) THAT number signs be installed in front of all rural residences; 3.) THAT the public works department be directed to arrange for the purchase and installation of the signs beginning in the summer of this year; 4.) THAT the established cost of $25.00 per household or approximately $130,000 in total for the signs and installation be funded by invoicing each affected resident for the amount; and 5.) THAT should any invoices not be paid in full, those funds be recovered through the appropriate tax bills to insure cost recovery. 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 At the Council meeting of September 15, 1997, it was requested that a report be prepared reviewing the issue of rural addressing. Report FD-12-97 was prepared and recommended the issue of a rural house/property address identification program and the related costs be reviewed at the 1998 budget deliberations. This recommendation was approved through resolution # GPA-526-97. Continued..... ",',',',':' @ ,',~':~~, 9 0 1 Tl-1ts IS PAINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER .1" FD-8-98 - 2 - 1.2 Report FD-12-97, which was presented at the September 22nd, 1997 G. P. & A. Committee Meeting, noted neighbouring Municipalities handled the issue of rural addressing in various manners. These included installing the signs by the Municipality or having the residents pick the signs up and installing them themselves. There were concerns related to each of the methods such as numbers not being picked up or never being installed. The costs and work load related to having the installation done by the public works department was also a concern. 1 .3 Recovering the costs for the signs and the subsequent installation were also handled by the Municipalities in various manners. These included billing the residents on their taxes, or having the Municipality cover the costs from reserves. This will be a matter for Council to resolve, should the program be approved, given the costs related to the program. 1 .4 The public works department was approached regarding the supply and installation of an appropriate sign. The sample that will be presented to Committee with this report was prepared for the public works department by their supplier. It appears to be of excellent quality and quite adequate to meet the purpose for which it was designed. The estimated cost to have a contractor prepare and install this sign would be approximately $25.00 per property or $130,000 to provide them to the estimated 5150 properties that would be involved in this program. 1 .5 Discussions took place with the treasury department regarding the handling of the costs. The recommendation was to invoice those property owners directly benefitting from the signs. The only time that any costs would be placed on the tax bill would be for those residents who failed to pay the invoice. Consideration may be given to include a penalty for those who fail to pay, to cover the staff time needed to administer this process. 2. REPORT 2.1 It cannot be overstated how the proper installation of consistent signs will assist all emergency services as well as anyone looking for an address in the rural areas. At the time the rural numbering system was put in place it was decided to allow the residents to post their address numbers in a manner they decided was appropriate. Consequently, existing numbering is inconsistent in the manner the numbers are installed, if they are installed at all, which has led to many problems. Continued.... 902 ~ . .. FD-8-98 - 3 - 2.2 Staff has discussed the issue with the police and ambulance service and both agencies are in support of a program to have a proper rural house/property address identification system put in place. All were in agreement that it would aid in location and identifying properties in all situations and especially during emergency responses. 2.3 A question was also raised about those who already have some form of address identification in place such as numbers on mailboxes or houses. It should be noted that, in many cases, this address identification is inadequate or difficult, at best, to identify. It is also recommended that any program of this nature should be consistent to work properly and, therefore, all rural properties should utilize the recommended program. 3. COMMENTS 3.1 Given the need to ensure emergency service personnel are able to locate residences in a quick and efficient manner, and given the need for consistency in the manner in which numbers are installed, it is recommended that the rural house/property address identification program be put in place in 1998. 3.2 It is also recommended that, to ensure consistency, the program provide for installation rather than having the residents install their own sign. The numbers would be installed in a common, recommended location, to be determined by staff, to guarantee proper visibility on approach. The Public Works Director has recommended the preparation of the signs and installation be handled by a contractor, and that this contractor be under the direction of the public works department, so as not to interfere with department operations such as snow removal. 3.3 Deciding how the Municipality will deal with the cost of the program is a key consideration. If the Municipality is to cover the costs the program can proceed without delay. However, if the residents involved in the program are to be responsible for the costs it should be done uniformly and in a manner to insure the funds can be recovered by the Municipality. Staff would recommend that, if the costs are to be recovered, the Municipality consider up fronting these costs in order to get the installation started immediately. Recovery could then be made by invoicing the residents involved. If necessary, unpaid invoices, including any penalty considered to cover the administrative costs associated with this process, could be added to the tax bill. Continued.... 903 " . . . I . . FD-8-98 - 4 - 3.4 To ensure future residents install their numbers as homes are built, a policy should be put in place whereby the new resident or the builder pays a fee for, and receives the address number sign, at the time building permits are issued along with the instructions as to the proper manner and location for installing it. This will, or at least should, ensure that future address numbering remains consistent. The installation can be checked at the time final inspections are done by the building inspectors. 3.5 The Director of Planning, while reviewing the report prior to it's finalization, recommended that should the program be endorsed, public notice be placed in the local newspapers to advise the residents of the Municipality's intent. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 It is respectfully recommended that the Municipality of Clarington immediately implement a rural house/property addressing identification program; 4.2 That the public works department be directed to proceed with the arrangements to have the appropriate signs prepared and installed; 4.3 That the costs for the purchase and installation for these signs be funded through the invoicing of the affected residents; 4.4 Should any invoices not be paid, the funds be recovered through placing the costs on the appropriate tax bills, including an appropriate penalty to cover the costs of administering this process; and 4.5 That a public notice be placed in the appropriate local newspapers advising the residents on the program, of the related costs, and it's intended start date. Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by (* C"' , \ \....... . (" 1, ~,' :.t,- Michael G. Creigh n, AMCT(A), CMM11 Fire Chief. ~ W. H. Stockwell, Chief Administrative Officer MC/sr May 27, 1998 904