Oak Bay council is considering an amendment to its municipal boulevard program which would allow residents to opt out of the service.
Currently, nearly a thousand Oak Bay property owners pay between $76 and $415 annually for the service, which sees parks department staff water, fertilize and mow the boulevard grass. The fee is based on the length of the property’s frontage.
The amendment, if approved, would allow property owners to opt out of the program, but only if the municipality receives a petition signed by at least two-thirds of property owners on both sides of a given block. Municipal staff would still care for trees on boulevards, but residents would be responsible for all other upkeep.
Last year Oak Bay generated $163,000 from boulevard maintenance fees.