City council members continued to hear opposition to a proposed local improvement charge (LIC) for property owners in Hillcrest at its meeting Monday night.

A number of residents from the neighbourhood have already made presentations to the city, bringing forward concerns with the charge property owners would be faced with if planned improvements to the neighbourhood go ahead.

Under the city’s LIC policy, benefiting property owners pay for a portion of the surface work planned for an area.

The proposed LIC bylaw for the Hillcrest work provides for a 20-year amortization period.

That makes annual payments as low as $172.86 (condo units) and as high as $17,558.66 (a Yukon government property) based on an estimated interest rate of 6.25 per cent. The interest rate is set when the LIC is put in effect.

When an LIC is proposed, property owners are given the chance to vote on it. If more than 50 per cent vote against the charge, the project doesn’t proceed.

Last night marked the public hearing on the LIC bylaw. Property owners have until 4:30 p.m. today to get their ballots in to the city.

A total of eight property owners addressed the city on the matter, many arguing against the LIC as being a significant financial burden to property owners.

Fay Branigan, who owns the Cliffside Country Store & Greenhouse, told council when she purchased her business property last year, she was informed of the potential LIC.

She was not; however, made aware that the charge for her property would be based on two sides of the property, which front roads that are set to be repaired.

That means the charge for her property amounts to a total of more than $63,000. Based on a 20-year amortization, it amounts to $5,642.18 each year.

The work in the neighbourhood will also mean access to her property is limited during the construction season.

It’s about the same time of year – April to July – that is extremely important to her business.

While Cliffside is open throughout the entire year, Branigan said, she relies on the sales from those busier four months.

If access is limited, she said, “I will fail.”

She went on to note that owners of the steelox duplexes are exempt from having recirculation pumps installed as other homeowners in the neighbourhood will be required to do as part of the improvements.

Branigan asked that this become an option for all property owners who are faced with the LIC.

Those who want the pumps could have them installed when they want and can afford to, she suggested, noting this would help bring the costs down.

Laura Beattie, who is among those steelox owners, noted that though she may have to pay the LIC price, she and other steelox owners will not get the full benefits.

She also argued it feels there’s “some agenda going on” to get Hillcrest to look like other parts of the city.

“I like the feel of Hillcrest,” Beattie said of the current neighbourhood, noting the area is unique compared to other parts of the city.

She also argued there’s been a feeling throughout the process that the city will move ahead with the plans regardless.

Others also spoke to the planning process, noting that when the city was doing consultations with the community, there was no discussion around what kind of costs the property owners would face with the improvements.

Hillcrest Community Association president Shaunagh Stikeman, who made an earlier presentation on the impacts of the LIC to residents, presented council with a written submission from a resident who wasn’t able to make the meeting.

The resident noted that with full-time daycare for two kids and other bills each month, it would be difficult to add the cost of the LIC into their expenses.

The situation may force the family to sell their home, council was told.

“I know we’re not the only ones,” it was stated in the letter.

Former community association president Jim Gilpin didn’t speak out directly against the LIC.

However, he asked that if property owners reject the plan or even if there’s a significant number of property owners who oppose it, council consider pausing for a one-year period.

That way, it could look for ways to change the plans and see if there’s any way to make it more acceptable to residents.

If less than 40 per cent reject the LIC, Gilpin said, it would suggest that the proposal should go ahead.

If that’s the case, he said, council should reflect the view of Hillcrest property owners in their vote and move ahead with it.