Spartan Street Sidewalk project and to consider purchasing additional lighting to finish the project.
Report to Council for a decision:
• To add five (5) additional lamp standards with lights and electrical for an additional $10,000 for completion in 2018, or for
• Staff to include the extra works into the General Capital budget for construction in 2019.
Staff recommend spending $10,000 to provide lighting for neighbourhood and schools for the winter. If Council does decide to find the extra money to finish the lighting off, this will put the original budget of the project over budget because of other necessary extra’s the Town followed through with and were time sensitive.
Council originally approved the project costs of $231,000 (inc. contingency of $10k, Engineering, site supervising & materials testing) over the original anticipated budget of $200,000.
Extra costs on project to date:
• Fence improvements (go to chain link) – additional $1,925,
• Street Light bases (5) – additional $6,400,
• Electrical conduit installation – $5,115,
• FortisBC Power modifications for project – $5,807.
This is a total of $19,247 in extras, adding $9,247 to the overall project costs which makes the total cost of the project approximately $240,000.
Another $10 thousand on lighting brings the project to $250,00 (19 thousand dollars over budget or because the contingency was used $29 thousand).
Staff are looking for direction whether to finish the lighting along the project parking area that would also light up portions of Spartan Street. During the project design, we neglected to think of the replacement of the existing lighting on FortisBC poles which were removed during the project. The Contractor/Engineers put in Light Standard bases, conduit and proper connections to FortisBC infrastructure otherwise it would have been extremely difficult to put in lighting at a later date. Staff originally thought that we could get part of this infrastructure in place and could budget and finish the remainder of the lighting infrastructure in 2019 for the remainder of the work; lamp standards, LED light heads, electrical wiring and FortisBC power service.
There have been concerns about some crime in the area – extra lighting along this street would make some of the residents in the neighbourhood feel safer. The Town is also creating several parking spaces and having these areas lit up in the Fall and Winter months, when it gets darker earlier, may also be a positive aspect of putting the lights in now.
Council Monday suggested that some savings could be made if existing poles could be used rather than expensive new ones. PW Manager Shawn Goodsell indicated he could present further info on that idea, LED lighting and even Solar options. Oliver Town council may convene a special meeting within a week to decide on the issue.