BURNABY
Burnaby Non-Market Housing Projects
2024-04-29The City of Burnaby has been actively leasing city-owned properties to non-profit housing providers and other government agencies at a nominal rate to increase the supply of non-market housing in the city. This report provides an update on recent non-market housing projects on these city-owned sites, which will result in a total of 1,040 units (plus additional units for the Sunset/Kincaid site) with the city's financial contribution of approximately $172,438,000.
First City RFP Sites (2016)- 3838 Hastings Street: 161 non-market rental units, child care, and commercial space. 60-year nominal lease to S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Affordable Housing Society. City contribution: $31,364,700.
- 7898 18th Avenue - Eunice Oh Residences: 25 units for seniors and families. 60-year nominal lease to New Vista Society. City contribution: $3,548,311.
- Site #1 - 6889 Royal Oak Avenue: 134 non-market rental units and 6 market commercial units. 60-year nominal lease to Catalyst Community Developments Society. City contribution: $22,569,275.
Burnaby Mountain Trail Management Plan
2024-04-29The City of Burnaby is developing a Trail Management Plan for the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, a 578-hectare municipal park with 30 kilometers of trails. The plan aims to balance the protection of the conservation lands and recreational value, as the city faces growing pressure on the park's resources.
Key Findings from Phase 1:- Background and Field Review: The trails vary in condition, with common issues including erosion, pooling water, invasive species, exposed roots, and infrastructure needs.
- Environmental Overview: The plan prioritizes protecting valued components like vegetation, wildlife, and species at risk, with recommendations for maintenance, invasive species management, temporary trail closures, and increased fences/park presence.
- Communication and Community Engagement: The objectives include developing a vision, balancing conservation and recreation, strengthening relationships, and identifying park improvements. Engagement includes a public survey, open house, and targeted stakeholder meetings.
- Financial Considerations: The Trail Management Plan work is fully funded in the 2024-2028 Financial Plan.
- The Burnaby Mountain Trail Management Plan (BMTMP) will be undertaken in 5 phases, with Phase 1 (Key Findings) now completed.
- The project aligns with several existing plans and strategies, including the Management Plan for Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area (2000), Environmental Conditions Assessment (2019), Social Sustainability Strategy (2011), Environmental Sustainability Strategy (2016), Climate Action Framework (2019), and Connecting Burnaby – Burnaby Transportation Plan (2021).
The City of Burnaby's Environment Committee has released the Solid Waste and Recycling 2023 Annual Report, providing an overview of the city's waste management system and its performance. The report highlights key achievements, trends, and future plans to enhance waste reduction and diversion efforts.
2023 Performance and Trends- In 2023, the city collected 66,216 tonnes of total materials, a 1,059 tonne increase from the previous year.
- The overall diversion rate improved to 61%, with increases observed primarily in the recycling and green waste streams.
- Waste generation per household continued to decrease on a year-over-year basis since peaking in 2020.
- Community Engagement: Hosted five City Community Cleanup events, expanded the Adopt-A-Street program with over 100 volunteers, and provided recycling education presentations for new Canadians.
- Operational Improvements: Reduced paper waste by up to 47,000 sheets per year through electronic dispatching, added pole-mounted waste collection receptacles, expanded recycling categories at the Eco-Centre, and replaced 3 diesel collection trucks with compressed natural gas vehicles.
- Waste Diversion: Received program incentive bonuses from Recycle BC, reached highest levels of drop-off volumes, and added a commercial Styrofoam™ drop-off location.
- The city plans to bring forward enhancements to Burnaby's waste reduction programs to further strengthen diversion goals.
- In 2024, the city will put into production the first Battery Electric Collection Vehicle to help reach its climate action goals for carbon neutrality in fleet operations by 2024.
The City of Burnaby received a petition from Edward Pereira requesting an exemption for the Brentwood Park area from the application of Bill 47, a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) legislation. The petition, certified by the Corporate Officer, contained a total of 298 names and was presented to the City Council on April 29, 2024.
Key Highlights:- The petition seeks to prevent the Brentwood Park area from being subjected to the TOD zoning under Bill 47, which could lead to the development of 12 and 8 storey towers in the neighborhood.
- The petition was filed with the Corporate Officer on April 23, 2024 and met all the requirements set out in the Community Charter.
- The Corporate Officer certified that the petition contained 298 names, including 138 names from the petition and 160 names from 58 emails that provided consent and their civic address.
- The City's website provides further details about the petition process under the Meetings & Public Hearings / Petition Process section.
- Recommendation: The petition has been received for information by the City Council.
- The City will now consider the petition and its implications for the Brentwood Park area in relation to the application of Bill 47.
The article discusses a webform submission from a Burnaby resident, Michelle Scarr, who represents the organization Movement - Metro Vancouver Transit Riders. Scarr and Spencer Powell, volunteers for Movement, wish to appear before the Burnaby City Council on March 2, 2024, to express their support for Translink's proposed Rapid bus route that would connect North Vancouver and Metrotown.
Resident and Transit Rider Support for Rapid Transit in Burnaby Heights- Translink is proposing two Rapid bus route options: one along Hastings and Willingdon, and the other on Boundary and 1st/Halifax.
- The delegation is speaking in strong support of the Hastings alignment, as it will relieve congestion, bring people directly to destinations in Burnaby Heights, help businesses, improve access, decrease reliance on vehicles, and improve safety.
- The delegation has a petition in support of the Hastings alignment and hopes the mayor and council will support this alignment.
The City of Burnaby conducted a pilot program in 2023 to allow for the responsible consumption of alcohol in select parks. The program was deemed a success, with limited feedback and no increase in enforcement or complaints. The city now seeks to make the program permanent and expand it to all city parks, with a new bylaw set to take effect in June 2024.
Pilot Program Review- The pilot program ran from June 23 to October 30, 2023, in four parks across the city: Confederation Park, Keswick Park, Central Park, and Edmonds Park.
- The program allowed alcohol consumption throughout the parks, with restrictions within a 10-meter radius of programmed amenities like playgrounds and sports courts.
- A public survey received 45 responses, with the majority of feedback focused on confusion around the 10-meter restriction.
- There was no notable increase in calls, complaints, or garbage/waste issues during the pilot program.
- Recommendation: Expand the program to all city parks as a year-round and permanent initiative.
- The new Burnaby Responsible Consumption of Alcohol in Parks Bylaw 2024 is set to take effect on June 24, 2024.
- The bylaw will include amendments to the Burnaby Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2009 to impose penalties for violations.
The City of Burnaby is moving forward with the Burnaby District Energy Utility (BDEU) project, which aims to provide the city with safe, reliable, sustainable, and cost-competitive thermal energy. The project aligns with various city policies and plans, including the Burnaby District Energy Policy (2023) and the Climate Action Framework (2020).
Project Update- The city has adopted the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) approach for the BDEU project.
- The next phase is the Pre-Validation Phase, which will lay the groundwork for the project's success.
- The project's greenhouse gas emissions reduction will grow and align with the city's sustainability strategy.
- Validation Stage:
- Confirm project alignment
- Complete IPD team selection and onboarding
- Establish Conditions of Satisfaction & Validation
- Design and plan the initial build-out
- Develop the execution strategy
- Update the customer connection schedule
- Evaluate new building loads and investigate providing service to existing buildings
- Create the IPD Framework and Validation Plan
- Validate the business case and finalize agreements with Metro Vancouver
- Prepare an application for a BC Utilities Commission exemption
- Finalize the Validation Report
- $25.5 million of the total estimated capital costs have been included in the 2024-2028 Financial Plan.
- The IPD team will continue developing a comprehensive financial model for the Burnaby District Energy Utility.
Burnaby Civic Building Projects Update
2024-04-15The City of Burnaby has provided an update on the status of several major civic building projects, including the Rosemary Brown Arena, Confederation Park Covered Sports Box, Riverway Covered Sports Box, Fire Hall #4, and Fire Hall #8.
Rosemary Brown Arena- Located in Edmonds Town Centre, the arena features two NHL-sized pads and can accommodate various sports and events.
- Provisional occupancy was granted in late December, with full occupancy expected once outstanding items on the roof-top patio are complete.
- Recreation staff have moved in and are setting up for programming to begin in April.
- The project replaces the existing outdoor lacrosse courts with a new covered multi-sport box.
- The project has achieved substantial completion, with remaining deficiencies being addressed.
- Recreation staff are developing schedules and allocation of space for future uses, including lacrosse, ball hockey, pickleball, and more.
- The project involves covering the existing multi-sport court at the Riverway Sports Complex and providing covered spectator seating.
- Construction is nearing completion and is expected to be finalized in Q1 2024.
- Remaining works include BC Hydro meter installation, commissioning, and final inspection for occupancy.
- The replacement of the existing Fire Hall #4 on Duthie Avenue was identified as a priority project.
- Construction is nearing completion, with works expected to be finalized in Q1 2024.
- Ongoing activities include completion of electrical distribution, BC Hydro connection, gym flooring, interior glazing, and millwork.
Municipal Gaming Revenue and Reserves
2024-04-08The City of Burnaby received $19,269,827 in gaming revenue in 2023, with $2,972,138 used for operating expenses and $16,297,689 for capital projects. The Gaming Reserve had a balance of $11,318,425 at the end of 2023, and the Gaming Interest Reserve had a balance of $4,624,175 after earning $718,378 in interest and funding $4,146,692 in operating expenses.
Gaming Reserve and Gaming Interest Reserve
The City receives 10% of the net Provincial proceeds from the Grand Villa (Gateway Casino) through a Host Financial Assistance Agreement with the Province of BC.
The Gaming Reserve and Gaming Interest Reserve are used for Council-approved initiatives.
The Gaming Reserve had a balance of $11,318,425 at the end of 2023, after $19,269,827 in expenditures.
The Gaming Interest Reserve had a balance of $4,624,175 at the end of 2023, after earning $718,378 in interest and funding $4,146,692 in operating expenses.
Reporting and Financial Considerations
The information is reported to the Province annually by March 15.
The Gaming Reserve and Gaming Interest Reserve have sufficient funding for capital and operating initiatives approved in the 2024 Financial Plan.
The City of Burnaby is providing an update on the status of major active 2024 capital Information Technology (IT) projects, including the 911 Phone System Upgrade, Development Approval & Permitting Solution Modernization, and the Customer Service Centre project.
911 Phone System Upgrade (NG911)- The project replaces the existing 911 phone dispatch system with newer technology that supports digital Next Generation 911 (NG911), as mandated by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to be completed by March 2025.
- The Statement of Work with Netagen is in progress, and the primary sites are on schedule to be ready for Netagen to commence the NG911 system installation in April 2024.
- The NG911 system is scheduled to be installed and tested by September 2024, with a forecasted completion date of November 2024.
- The GVRD (Metro Vancouver) will be signing the LGA Agreement with TELUS for NG911 Emergency Services on behalf of all municipalities.
- The project aims to modernize the City's permitting, application, and approvals system to improve the internal and external user experience.
- In January 2024, privacy improvements were made to the My Permits Portal, and new permit types were added, including Active Patio Permits and Engineering Residential Pre-Application approvals.
- In March 2024, the City of Burnaby will be onboarded with the newly developed building permitting hub tool, aligning with the City's efforts to streamline and standardize building permit processes.
- In April 2024, the project team expects to complete the upgrade of EnerGov to the latest version, which will lead to enhanced product features and functionality, including Tyler Identity Client capability for single sign-on.
- The project aims to centralize the intake, management, and tracking of all service requests, inquiries, and feedback from City customers to improve external customer service and operational efficiency.
- In 2023, the project team successfully completed division onboardings for Community Safety, Parking, Bylaw, and Animal Control, and streamlined case entry back to Engineering Transportation.
- In Q2 2024, the team plans to onboard divisions related to Crime Prevention and Anti-Graffiti, and make substantial progress in fulfilling the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) requirements for an in-house Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.