City council is moving forward with modernizing its infrastructure reconstruction and local improvement policy.

The renewed policy would change how local improvements are funded.

Currently, residential property owners contribute to improvements of public infrastructure such as roadways by paying a local improvement charge attached to their taxes.

The city covers the cost of upgrades to water and sewer services on private properties as they conduct the construction work.

Under the new policy, the city will use public funds for all upgrades on public property. Individual residents will be responsible for costs of upgrading services on their private property.

The proposed policy contemplates the city issuing loans to property owners to assist with the cost.

In much the same way property owners currently pay back local improvements charges over 15 years, the loans would be paid back in a similar fashion.

The city is hosting a public engagement forum later today to explain the policy and hear from interested residents.

The deadline for public input is June 14.

“The policy will be reviewed and any changes resulting from the public engagement process will be incorporated before the policy comes back to council,” says the administrative report to council.