Pavement markings will cost the city $223,425 this year, two-and-half times greater than the $89,600 approved in the 2022 operating budget.
The contract will be awarded to Shoreline Ltd. following approval by council committee earlier this week.
When staff issued a request for bids to paint the city’s road lines and symbols in February, all three bids received were well above the initially budgeted amount, a report stated.
Staff wrote they had discussions with pavement-marking contractors regarding the increased prices, and the inflated contract is a result of material costs rising 40 per cent over the course of 2021.
Increasing costs of fuel for paint application, labour, and the expectation material prices could rise before application also contributed to increased costs, staff wrote.
Over the past five years, the city has purchased thermoplastic pavement markings for a number of road symbols, which deliver a longer lifespan than conventional paint at greater expense.
A second option presented was to defer the purchase of thermoplastic markings, which could have saved the city $50,000, but council committee voted to proceed with the original option.
The additional $133,825 required for the contract will be sourced from the city’s tax rate stabilization reserve.
The decision made by council committee is subject to ratification at the next council meeting (April 25).
