Chilliwack Council expected to spend $300,000 to replace electric bear fence around landfill

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack council will consider spending nearly $300,000 to replace an electric bear fence that surrounds the Bailey Sanitary Landfill during its meeting Tuesday (May 19).

A staff report recommends Mayor and Councillors approve a contract worth $299,286.17 to FenceFast Ltd. for supply and installation of new electric bear fencing at the landfill.

Back in 2010 the original electric fence was installed as a requirement of the landfill’s provincial operational certificate. Over the years since, the staff report says the fence has deteriorated because of aging and vandalism and says a replacement fence is now required.

According to the report, the current fence that surrounds the landfill in 1,650 metres in length. It is constructed of treated wood posts, galvanized wire and several access gates.

Bids to replace the fence were received under the city’s request for proposals process. Those proposals were evaluated by a team that used criteria that included project understanding, fencing quality, maintenance and price.

FenceFast Ltd. received the highest overall score at 88.3 points out of 100 while Riteway Fencing Inc. ranked second more than a half dozen points behind.

While the proposal from Riteway Fencing Inc. was approximately $30 thousand cheaper, staff said the procurement process placed a greater weight on technical performance than on price. The report said the step was taken out of a desire to provide a long-term solution that could withstand vandalism and maintain functionality.

The report also says FenceFast Ltd. specializes in electric bear fencing. It says the proposed system is designed to protect against bears while reducing the impact of vandalism. It will also allow future relocation if an expansion of the landfill is required.