Summary#
Montréal city council approved a 24-month framework agreement (an agreement for services ordered as needed) with Paris, Ladouceur et Associés inc. The firm will provide property appraisals for applying bylaw 17-055, which concerns contributions for parks; the goal is to keep this appraisal service available to the boroughs.
- The agreement has a maximum value of $525,723.19, taxes included. It can end earlier if the available funds run out.
- The firm will appraise sites, explain its valuations to the city and property owners when needed, and may provide expert-witness services if a valuation is challenged.
- The city selected the firm through a public call for tenders. Two firms submitted bids; Paris, Ladouceur et Associés received the highest final score, though its bid was higher than the other bid.
- Council also ordered an evaluation of the firm’s performance. Boroughs will charge the agreement’s expenses to their budgets as needs arise.
What it means for you#
- Permit applicants: For permits covered by bylaw 17-055, the applicant must pay the cost of the site appraisal. This decision does not change the existing park-contribution rules or create a new permit requirement.
- Property owners whose valuations are challenged: The firm may explain its valuation and, if a case goes to a tribunal, provide expert-witness services. The city pays for these additional services.
- Boroughs: The 19 boroughs can request appraisals under the agreement. The firm generally has 20 business days to provide a report, or 10 business days for an exceptional urgent request.
- Other residents: The decision does not directly change residents’ taxes, property rights, or access to city services.
Money#
The agreement has a maximum cost of $525,723.19, taxes included; the final amount depends on services ordered.
- Boroughs charge permit applicants for the main appraisal service, and the city recovers that cost.
- The city pays for additional services when a valuation is challenged. Staff estimate that two cases could go to the Tribunal administratif du Québec, involving 50 hours of work, but the cost is not specified.
- The selected bid was $26,444.25 below the city’s estimate, but $31,100.74 above the other bid.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not state how many appraisals the boroughs will order or what the eventual total cost will be.
- The hourly rates for additional services, and the resulting cost of any challenges, are not given.
- The agreement can last up to 24 months, or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first; the exact end date depends on when it begins and how quickly the funds are used.
Case for#
- The agreement gives boroughs access to appraisals needed to apply the existing bylaw and, according to city staff, helps avoid delays to certain permits.
- The chosen firm had the highest final score under the tender’s evaluation system, and its bid was below the city’s estimate.
- Charging applicants for the main appraisal lets the city recover that expense.
Case against#
- The selected firm’s bid was $31,100.74 higher than the other bid. The materials explain that the winner had the highest final score, but do not give the score-weighting details needed to assess the trade-off.
- The city’s costs for extra work on contested valuations are uncertain and are not covered by a stated amount in the materials.