Ogilvie Street property owners from Fourth Avenue to the escarpment are willing to pay for a portion of the upgrades proposed for the artery.

At Monday evening's city council meeting, engineering manager Wayne Tuck brought forward a recommendation that council move forward with second and third readings of a local improvement charge (LIC) bylaw that would see affected property owners pay for the work.

The recommendation comes after first reading of the bylaw in September set into motion the ballot system for the LIC.

An LIC cannot go ahead if there are votes of 50 per cent plus one or more against it.

In this case, six property owners (two commercial and four residential owners) stated their opposition through the ballot process, with 30 (three commercial and 27 residential) stating they are in favour. Another 18 property owners did not respond.

"The results of the vote show that of 54 properties, 11 per cent objected to the LIC bylaw,” Tuck noted in his report to council.

As Coun. John Streicker pointed out, the response indicates a strong desire for the improvements.

"I count that as a good thing,” he said.

At rates to adjacent properties of $600 per metre for residential, $1,195 per metre for commercial and $1,790 per metre for those that are government-owned, it's expected to bring in $465,000 of the $3.8-million cost.

The work is set to include:

• replacing the water, sanitary and storm sewers and connecting dead-end water mains;

• putting in a new recirculation system for frost protection, which will also require work inside buildings and require property owners to purchase a pump for the recirculation system;

• improving street lights;

• restoration to boulevards and existing driveways;

• removing and replacing poor soil below the pavement; and

• new asphalt for the road along with a concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk on the south side of the street.

The project is one of a number of downtown street upgrades the city has been working on over the last few years. Hanson Street and Black Street have also seen major work done as well.

While property owners were able to tell the city what they thought of the LIC through the ballot system, a public hearing was also held in October, though no one spoke publicly.

One written submission opposing the work came in along with two letters submitted with ballots.

Another nine property owners contacted the city by phone or by coming in to speak directly with officials.

Among the comments of varying opinions that came in were statements that the improvements are overdue, questions about whether they are even necessary, and arguments that more traffic lanes are needed.

There were also concerns over parking, and opinions that some changes (such as new sidewalks, bike lanes, curbs and landscaping) are cosmetic and therefore not needed.

Tuck went on in his report to point out that the asphalt surface of the road will eliminate dust, mud and potholes.

He also pointed out that the proposed sidewalks would be safer and more accessible for those who walk or want to walk.

"There are no sidewalks for the entire length of Ogilvie Street west of Fourth Avenue, so safety and accessibility for all is an issue that needs to be corrected,” he said.

He went on to state that the city would be encouraging commercial property owners to provide parking at the rear of their lots to free up space on the street.

"On-street angle parking will be subject to time limits but no parking meters are planned,” Tuck said.

"Engineering is investigating the opportunity of extending the parallel parking areas on the west side of Fourth Avenue from (the) Municipal Services Building to Ogilvie Street to address the poor conditions of boulevards, lanes and lack of sidewalks.”

On landscaping, Tuck acknowledged it may be necessary to move some trees for the work, though some are so large that it's not possible.

"Each property will be different, and our consultant and city staff will take steps to preserve as much as possible, existing and landscaping features, and will restore the disturbed areas with landscaping being done with the co-operation and input from property owners,” he said.

"Property owners will be encouraged to landscape boulevards adjacent to their property and will include the provision of a tree and/or shrubs to improve the look of downtown and the desire to green our streets.”

The selection and placement of the trees and/or shrubs would be done in co-operation with homeowners, Tuck said.

It would not be done if the homeowner doesn't want to participate or look after the trees and shrubs, he added.

"Our aim is to beautify our downtown,” Tuck said.

During council discussion on the proposal, Coun. Betty Irwin wondered about the lighting planned for the new street lights.

She asked whether there had been any discussion with Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd. or the Yukon Energy Corp. about using LED lights.

As she noted, both Dawson City and Mendenahll have LED street lights as part of a pilot project that's been underway for three or four years.

"I see no momentum to make any changes,” she said.

Tuck commented that though conversations have been underway and continue about that possibility for Whitehorse, there is a different lighting standard in the city that must be taken into consideration.

There's also the cost of installation, then looking at how the new lighting could be installed, he noted.

Council will vote on whether to move forward with second and third readings of the LIC next week.