FOCA Road Survey 2019 Presentation at the FOCA Fall Seminar, Nov.16, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Presentation at the FOCA Fall Seminar, Nov.16, 2019 Michelle Lewin FOCA Communications FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Special cial Than anks ks to: Mike Hammond (Belmont Lake Association) for interim data analysis that was presented at a Kawarthas- region “Road Summit” event in June 2019 Image: David Cornish, Talpines Property Owners Association FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Survey Statistics 40 151 5,411 54 detailed distinct road Ontario rural questions groups municipalities properties asked included in represented in represented the summary in the the responses statistics summary statistics FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

How many Ontario rural roads are there? One example: County of Frontenac Private Roads (Lanes) Study 2016 117 pages FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

Frontenac Private Roads (2016) Study found approx. 981 private lanes in the County of Frontenac, with a total combined length of 769 km . Altogether, 5,795 seasonal and permanent residential dwelling units, representing 31.3% of the County’s $5.7 billion in municipal assessment > Google it, or ask FOCA for a for tax purposes. digital copy (including permanent, seasonal, or vacant lands. Source: Municipal Property Assessment Corporation data) FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Top Issues facing road groups FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Best Practices for road groups > need a bylaw template for your road association? FOCA can provide that to our member groups! FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Ways to manage liability 3/4 of responding road groups use some form of signage to suggest speed and to mark areas of caution FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Ways to manage liability FOCA notes: be SURE you know what you are (or are not) covered for; speak to your insurance agent or broker! FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Variables: road usage Snow Clearing: How? • “Those who use the road in the winter (even once counts!) pay in to a separate fund for winter plowing.” • “Association pays a contractor, under a fixed seasonal contract.” • “Municipality clears the road.” 2/3 report that SOME FORM of • “Snow clearing is done by snow clearing happens on their road. volunteers.” How that happens varies … a lot. • “The association chipped in a bit for the first time this winter.” FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Variables: # of properties, length of road, culverts & bridges 7.5% 18.5% > some others have lots of them (i.e., more than 20 culverts) but they’re all have a bridge have “large” culverts “small” (under 5 ft diameter) on the road (over 5 ft diameter) FOCA notes: speak to your insurance agent or broker! FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 More Variables: road width, surface, drainage most common road width: 4.5m – 7.5m (62 responses of total n=143; although branch roads tend to be even narrower) most common road surface: 3/8” gravel (92 responses of total n=148) FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Getting everyone to pay “After 18 months: registered letter about small claims court; if no response within a few months, then small claims court paperwork filed” > members: ask FOCA for info about the principle of “unjust enrichment” FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Annual road fees Annual Road Fees charged ranged from: $50 - $1,700 (148 responding Associations of various road lengths) 2/3 of groups charge where “Everyone Pays the same”: everyone the same fee, despite usage Average Annual Fee = $255 (n=106 of 148 responses. Note: half of these are seasonal-only roads) (n=98, excludes the 4 highest & 4 lowest responses) obviously, fees change dramatically by length and condition of the road… FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Annual expenses “$70,000 for replacement of a 50 year old culvert” “$0 maintenance this year: new road. Previously spent $7,000- 10,000” FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Expense trends “Road is in better condition due to ongoing maintenance.” “Full road repair had not been done regularly and several new builds were completed which added extra use of the road.” FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Maintenance: sharing the load “The volunteer is 70+ years. We are at a loss when he stops.” “Not currently, but may explore in future.” FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Municipal agreements & grants 16 Associations reported that they have received one-time municipal grants ranging from $400-$1900 per grant have some municipal limited service arrangements (for grading, gravel…) OR Rideau Lakes ($) Seguin (limited seasonal service) Whitestone ($) Georgian Bay ($/service) Magnetawan ($) Bracebridge (limited service) Highlands East ($) Grey Highlands (some matching $, limited service) South Frontenac ($) City of Kawartha Lakes (gravel, limited service) Algoma ($) Madawaska Valley ($) FOCA Fall Seminar 2019

FOCA Road Survey 2019 Final Report Visit our road webpages – start here: https://foca.on.ca/cottage-roads/ ~ FOCA Member Associations will receive a copy of the full FOCA Road Survey Summary by email to your Association President in December. ~ Thank you! communications@foca.on.ca FOCA Fall Seminar 2019