Local Improvement (LI) Process
The upgrade of aging municipal infrastructure is an ongoing process that keeps City Planners and Engineers busy year-round. Upgrades occur through the City’s LI Process, and are important for ensuring that public spaces remain functional and safe.
During an LI Project, subsurface works (meaning water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer services) are brought up to current City standards for performance and efficiency. Upgrades to surface works (meaning roads, sidewalks, and curbs) allow the City to meet safety and universal accessibility goals.
Current LI Projects
Benefits to Property Owners and the City
LI Projects benefit property owners, residents, and the City in many ways.
Property owners and residents are able to enjoy reduced potential for water and sewer service interruption, and streets designed to meet improved safety and universal accessibility standards.
The City benefits by upgrading infrastructure at the neighbourhood-level, before problems occur. This approach helps to ensure consistency in services, reduces operation and maintenance costs, and reduces water consumption through improved system design.
Costs
LI Projects are implemented through cost-sharing arrangements between the City and property owners.
For subsurface works, the City pays for water and sewer upgrades located in the rights-of-way (which include roads, boulevards, and lanes). Where bleeder systems are in place, the City pays for the replacement of water services on private property leading up to the home. The replacement of plumbing inside the home is at the expense of the property owner.
The opportunity exists for sewer lines on private property to also be replaced at the time of upgrade, in order to take advantage of the trench-work carried out and paid for by the City. The replacement of sewer lines on private property is at the expense of the property owner.
For surface works, the improvements made to roads, sidewalks, and curbs are cost-shared in accordance with the City’s Local Improvement Charge Policy. Residential property owners are charged 33.33% of construction costs. A unit price is applied to a property's frontage on a per-meter basis. The charge can be paid up-front or over a 15 year period, as part of the municipal tax bill.
Click here to view LI Policy.
Click here to view LI Charges Bylaw.
Property Owner Vote
When the scope and costs of an LI Project can be determined, a ballot is sent to the affected property owners and vote is held over a 30 day period. In accordance with the Yukon Municipal Act, if more than 50% of the benefitting property owners object to a proposed LI Project in writing, then the City shall not proceed with the project in that year. LI Projects are either approved or cancelled at the neighbourhood-level (not on a street-by-street basis).