Title
Dust Control Report - Funding Alternatives
Proposed Motions
1. That Dust Control on Range Roads and Township Roads Policy C-PW11, and Dust Control on Multi-parcel Residential Subdivision Roads Policy C-PW20 be rescinded.
2. That Dust Control on County Roads Policy C-PW11 be approved in accordance with dust control Funding Alternative B, as presented.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration supports the proposed motion, as presented.
Purpose
To present a dust control report identifying funding alternatives in accordance with the August 22, 2017 motion of Council.
Summary
Mayor Shaigec presented a motion at the August 22, 2017 Parkland County Council meeting. The motion is as follows:
“That administration be directed to prepare a dust control report that provides funding alternatives to initially apply and rehabilitate dust control projects.” The motion was carried.
Following the motion, administration engaged other counties in a survey on dust control service and funding alternatives.
The survey results indicated three funding alternatives for dust control services:
1. The County pays the full cost for dust control service; or,
2. The County and the applicant(s) share the costs for dust control service; or,
3. The applicant(s) pays the full cost for dust control service.
The funding alternatives are described in this report.
Current Dust Control Service in Parkland County (Status Quo)
Parkland County currently provides dust control service free of charge to residences on Range Roads and Township Roads, and full cost recovery from residences within subdivisions.
Resident’s with dwellings near Range Roads and Township Roads receive dust control service free of charge if the residential dwelling is within 150 metres of the gravel road. In this case:
1. Dust control service is applied on County roads in front of the residence for a minimum of 100 metres.
2. Resident’s requesting more than 100 metres of dust control service, pay for the additional service.
Resident’s in subdivisions receive dust control service for full cost, if the following criteria is met:
3. Completion and submission of the application form, with written agreement from adjacent property owners; and,
4. Approval of the application is provided by Parkland County; and,
5. Dust control service is applied on County roads for a minimum of 100 metres.
Funding Alternatives:
Funding Alternative A - The County continues with the status quo.
With this funding alternative, Parkland County continues with its current dust control policies and procedures and does not charge for dust control service on Range Roads and Township Roads. Parkland County continues to charge full cost for dust control service on subdivision roads.
Funding Alternative B - The County and the applicant(s) share the cost for dust control service on Range Roads, Township Roads and subdivision roads.
This cost sharing funding alternative is the funding method utilized by the majority of respondents to the survey. An application and approval structure will be required to manage the request for service and the payment process.
This funding alternative results in $188,000 annual cost savings to Parkland County.
This funding alternative will impact residents who historically have received dust control service free of charge.
With this funding alternative, the existing dust control policies will be replaced with a dust control policy in accordance with cost sharing, as presented in Attachment 1.
Funding Alternative C - The applicant(s) pay the full cost for dust control service on Range Roads, Township Roads or subdivision roads.
With this funding alternative, an application and approval structure will be required to manage the request for service and the payment process.
This funding alternative results in $380,000 annual cost savings to Parkland County.
This funding alternative will impact residents who historically have received dust control service free of charge.
With this funding alternative, the existing dust control policies will be replaced with a dust control policy in accordance with full cost responsibility placed on the resident, as presented in Attachment 3.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications:
Strategic Plan: Complete Communities
Policies: C-PW11 and C-PW20
Financial Impact:
Cost: The cost savings will be in accordance with Funding Alternative B.
Source of Funding: In accordance with Funding Alternative B, the Source of Funding will be taxation funding and direct fee for service.