SURREY

The City of Surrey has proposed a 2024-2028 Five-Year Financial Plan that includes a 6% property tax increase, a 1% roads and traffic levy increase, and user fee increases up to 3.5%. The plan focuses on public safety, with funding for additional police, fire, and bylaw enforcement positions.

• Policing: The City is currently in a legal dispute with the provincial government over the transition to the Surrey Police Service. Any potential financial support from senior governments will be incorporated into future financial plans.
• Fire Services: The budget includes funding for 20 new firefighter and fire prevention positions to address increased demand in South Surrey.
• Bylaw Services: The plan includes funding for 10 additional bylaw enforcement officers per year, as approved in the 2023-2027 Financial Plan.

• The roads and traffic levy increase of 1% will support ongoing maintenance and capital improvements to the city's transportation infrastructure.
• The secondary suite fee increase of approximately $155 per suite is intended to offset the increased costs of city services due to additional demand from secondary suites.

The City of Surrey is proposing a policy framework and application process for regulating cannabis retail stores in the city. The key elements of the proposal include limiting the number of stores per community, separation distances from sensitive uses, and an application process involving a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI).

• Up to 2 cannabis retail stores per Surrey community (Whalley/City Centre, Guildford, Fleetwood, Newton, South Surrey, Cloverdale)
• Stores permitted only in OCP-designated City Centre, Town Centre, or Commercial areas, on lots zoned C-5, C-8, C-15, C-35, or CHI
• 200m separation distance from public/independent schools, City community/rec centres, and existing cannabis locations

• 60-day application window: Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) process
• Pre-screening for OCP, zoning, separation, ownership/lease, and LCRB application
• Evaluation based on location, separation, operator experience, parking, visibility, and design

Pending Council approval, staff will prepare the RFEOI and open the application window in Q2 2024.

The City of Surrey is proposing to increase its Development Cost Charges (DCCs) by 4.3% in 2024 to address inflationary cost increases for capital construction. The proposed changes will be implemented through the 2024 DCC Bylaw, which is currently under review and awaiting provincial approval.

• The DCC Bylaw will fund the growth component of the 10-Year Servicing Plan for roads, water, sewer, drainage, and parkland acquisition.
• The City is eliminating the West Clayton premium DCC as the City-wide DCC rates are sufficient to fund servicing in that area.
• The DCC Bylaw is being amended to provide exemptions for rental housing developments operated by "public housing bodies" to address housing affordability.
• The proposed DCC exemption is part of the City's Housing Accelerator Fund agreement with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

• February 26, 2024: Council to consider authorizing the City Clerk to bring forward the 2024 DCC Bylaw for First, Second and Third Reading.
• Upon Council approval, the City will submit the DCC Bylaw to the Provincial Inspector of Municipalities for approval.
• After provincial approval, the City Clerk will bring forward the 2024 DCC Bylaw for Final Adoption.

The City of Cloverdale is seeking funding from the 2024 Community Emergency Preparedness Fund - Disaster Risk Reduction – Climate Adaptation (CEPF DRR-CA) program to construct a new drainage pump station near 16060 60 Avenue. The project aims to improve drainage service levels, achieve ARDSA drainage criteria, and reduce flood vulnerability in the Serpentine-Nicomekl floodplain.

• The City applied for a $4.975 million grant in the 2023 CEPF DRR-CA intake, which included upgrades to the Upper Serpentine River dyke, Latimer Creek, and the Fry's Corner Pump Station.
• The 2024 CEPF DRR-CA application includes the construction of a new drainage pump station near 16060 60 Avenue, as identified in the North Cloverdale Functional Plan study.
• The project can be located within the existing road allowance on 60 Avenue, eliminating the need for land acquisition.
• The funding application is due on March 28, 2024, and the City is seeking Council endorsement to submit the application.

• Funding Source: The CEPF DRR-CA program has received $369 million in provincial contributions since 2017, with an additional $180 million announced in early 2023.
• Funding Streams: The program has three distinct categories, each contributing up to 100% of the cost of eligible activities.

• The project will improve drainage service levels, achieve ARDSA drainage criteria, and reduce flood vulnerability of the catchment area.
• Securing the CEPF DRR-CA funding will enable the City to continue supporting the protection of vulnerable farmland against climate change-induced challenges, such as riverine flood hazards.

The City of Surrey is awarding a contract to Lafarge Canada Inc. for $7.5 million to make road improvements on 148 Street between 58 Avenue and 64 Avenue. The project, which is expected to be completed by fall 2024, will add one travel lane in each direction, on-street parking, and cycling and pedestrian facilities. A new signalized intersection will also be introduced at 60 Avenue to improve access and circulation in the neighborhood.

• Contract: No. 1718-040-11
• Contractor: Lafarge Canada Inc.
• Contract Amount: $7,528,710.00 (including GST)
• Expenditure Authorization Limit: $8,280,000.00 (including contingencies and GST)
• Project Timeline: Start in March 2024, completion by fall 2024

• Invitation to Tender: Followed the City's Purchasing Bylaw and was publicly posted
• Tenders Opened: February 1, 2024
• Engineer's Pre-Tender Estimate: $7.9 million (including GST)
• Lowest Bidder: Lafarge Canada Inc.