Landscape work has begun on Turtle Mountain Boulevard, designed to blend into the natural surroundings of the area and provide a tidy and groomed appearance for all who travel through the area. At its Regular Meeting of November 25, 2019, Council directed Administration to proceed with changes to the boulevard landscape, following a period of consultation with area residents.
“Prior to making a decision on the landscape changes, Administration worked with residents to find a solution that balances a desire for landscaped boulevards and a need to reduce maintenance costs,” said Mayor Victor Cumming. “During the consultation period, there was no single option that was preferred by residents, so staff took all the feedback and put together an alternative option in order to best capture residents’ desires, reduce maintenance costs, and support the maximum number of mature trees. We believe the use of native seed mix and the installation of a drip irrigation system will achieve this outcome.”
Work on Turtle Mountain Boulevard Phase 1 kicked off this week with City crews starting the excavation. A contractor will be completing the remainder of the work. The estimated time frame for completion is June 15.
Background information:
- In 2019, City Administration identified the costs of maintaining the current landscaping in the boulevard were higher than other areas.
- Council requested that Administration explore the creation of a local service area, which would collect the additional maintenance costs directly from the residents of Turtle Mountain.
- Administration requested the input of residents on the creation of a local service area.
- Input indicated that this approach was not supported by the residents.
- Council then directed staff to create landscape options that would reduce the long term maintenance cost of the boulevard.
- Three options were presented to area residents at an open house in September 2019 and through an online survey.
- The open house was well attended and a total of 62 surveys were completed. No single solution was identified as the clear choice by residents.
- Staff reviewed the input and presented a solution to Council that incorporated a blend of xeriscaping, rocks, and the existing trees. This option was designed to balance the ongoing maintenance costs and still provide trees and landscaping in the boulevards.
For more information on boulevard maintenance and construction, please contact opsreception@vernon.ca.