DocumentsStaff ReportFeb 22, 2023Pages 56–58
Staff Report: Trolley Disposition
Report concerning the disposition of a City-owned trolley (surplus asset) with recommended next steps for disposal or transfer.
Key facts
- Agenda listing: Trolley Disposition (item 9.3) starting on page 56
- Purpose: consider declaring the trolley surplus and authorize disposition (sale, transfer or donation) per City procedures
- Decision window: report presents recommended disposition method and required Council authorization
Staff Report: Trolley Disposition
DATE: Tuesday, February 21, 2023
DEPARTMENT: Engineering
SUBJECT: Trolley Disposition
BACKGROUND
The City of Langford currently owns three (3) trolleys. The purpose of this report is to obtain direction from Council to potentially divest the trolleys.
COMMENTARY
From 2007 to 2013, the City purchased three trolleys to augment public transportation provided by BC Transit:
- In 2007, a 1999 Freightliner Community Trolley was purchased for $77,974;
- In 2008, a 2001 Freightliner Community Trolley was purchased for $77,444; and
- In 2013, a 2009 Supreme Community Trolley was purchased for $87,740.
Trolley service was ended June 30, 2017, to coincide with increased service by BC Transit. Since that time, the trolleys have been used only for occasional special events or parades; however, maintenance and insurance costs continue to be incurred. Since 2017, the City has averaged $6,000 in annual maintenance costs and $5,000 in annual insurance costs for all trolleys.
Further, at least one City staff member must have the appropriate driver’s licence to drive the trolleys to be serviced. Depending on the size of the trolley, either a Class 5 or a Class 3 licence is required, right now only one staff member has a Class 3 licence.
Currently only one of the three trolleys is fully operational (Trolley #1). Although none of the Trolleys are properly equipped for accessibility purposes, Trolley #3 could be made operational by repairing the person lift at an estimated cost of $60,000. This repair is not economical based on current value of the trolley. The remaining trolley (Trolley #2) has occasionally been used for spare parts.
Photo 1 and 2: Trolley #1 shown at the City’s Trolley Hall
Photo 3: Trolley decorated for holiday parade
The City has been approached in the past month by one local municipality interested in repurposing the trolley(s).
Staff are recommending that the City divest all of the trolleys “as is where is” through an online bidding process.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Should the City divest the trolleys, the income received would be transferred into the equipment replacement reserve.
All three are stored in the City’s Trolley Hall located at 3213 Happy Valley Road. Two are stored outside in a secure compound and one is stored inside. Staff would bring forward a separate report to Council with options for use or disposal of the trolley hall once it is no longer needed to store the trolleys.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
None noted.
OPTIONS
Option 1
THAT Council direct staff to dispose of the trolleys as is where is to the highest bidder or to the bidder who offers the best value to the City.
OR
Option 2
THAT Council does not divest the trolleys at this time.
SUBMITTED BY: Michelle Mahovlich, P.Eng. P.Geo. Engineering Department
Concurrence:
- Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Business Development and Events
- Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities
- Matthew Baldwin, MCIP, RPP, Director of Planning and Subdivision
- Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng, Director of Engineering and Public Works
- Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance
- Marie Watmough, Deputy Director of Corporate Services
- Braden Hutchins, Director of Corporate Services
- Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer