About the Alternative Approval Process
Under the Community Charter, local governments such as the District of Summerland may use an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to directly engage citizens about a proposed bylaw or other matter requiring elector approval. An AAP can be used for various initiatives to undertake long-term borrowing, a boundary extension, to establish a new regional district service, or other matter requiring approval of the electorate.
How an AAP Works
A staff report is provided to Council that describes the plan for conducting the AAP. It includes key information about the proposed elector approval process to ensure elected officials fully understand the implications of using an AAP to obtain approval. The report also provides staff with an opportunity to plan the process to conduct the potential AAP.
Elector response forms are made available at Municipal Hall and on the District's website. Signed forms received after the deadline has passed cannot be counted. If 10 per cent or more of the total number of eligible electors sign and submit response forms, local governments cannot proceed with the proposed matter without first holding an assent vote (i.e. referendum).
Alternative Approval Process Listings
Alternative Approval Process: Giants Head Road Upgrades
At the January 10th, 2022 regular Council meeting, Council gave first three readings to Loan Authorization (Giants Head Road Upgrade) Bylaw 2022-005. The purpose to of the bylaw is to borrow an amount not to exceed six million four hundred sixty-four thousand five hundred dollars ($6,464,500) to finance the cost of the Giants Head Road Upgrades that will be repaid over a period not to exceed twenty-five (25) years.
Loan Authorization (Giants Head Road Upgrades) Bylaw No. 2022-005Bylaw
The components of the Giants Head Road Upgrades project include:
Roadway Reconstruction & Pathway / Shoulder Bike Lanes:
The District’s Transportation Master Plan identifies Giants Head Road as a collector roadway therefore the travel lanes have been widened to at least 3.7m. Additionally, the District’s Cycling Master Plan recommends the extension of the separated pathway from Harris Road to Gartrell Road and the construction of a secondary bike route (i.e. shoulder bikeways) from Gartrell Road to Hillborn Street.
Drainage Improvements:
The District’s Master Drainage Plan identities several improvements within the Giants Head Catchment Basin that will assist with the increased stormwater anticipated with climate change. Drainage improvements along Giants Head Road will occur at White Street, near Fenner Street and at the intersection of Gartrell Road.
Watermain Replacement:
This component of the project will include the replacement of the existing asbestos cement and cast iron watermains along the corridor, as a majority of the domestic system was installed in the 1930s. New watermains will be installed, abandoning the existing watermain in place. Additionally, upgrading of the existing 100mm diameter mains to at least 150mm diameter will be completed in order to increase capacity to the distribution system.
Water System Separation:
The District’s Water Master Plan identifies that separating the Giants Head Road area will reduce the demand on the WTP by approximately 5ML per day. In order to reduce the amount of water requiring treatment, separating the irrigation system from domestic water system wherever possible is recommended. As part of this project, the appropriate infrastructure will be installed to allow for system separation at a later date.
The estimated cost of roadway construction, pathway / shoulder bike lanes and drainage improvements portion of the project is $3,181,860.00 and is to be recovered through a property tax rate increase. The estimated cost of watermain replacement and water system separation is $3,282,640.00 and is to be recovered through a water rate increase.
The estimated cost of the Giants Head Road Upgrades project to residents will be approximately $73.15 per year. Should the full $6,464,500.00 not be utilized for this project, the estimated cost to taxpayers could decrease.
AAP Schedule
The following schedule is proposed for the conduct of this Alternative Approval Process:
- Thursday, March 10, 2022 - Publication of First Notice in a newspaper.
- Thursday, March 17, 2022 - Publication of Second Notice in a newspaper.
- Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 4:00pm - Deadline for submitting Elector Response form.
- Monday, April 25, 2022 - Corporate Officer report results of Alternative Approval Process at Regular (Afternoon) Council Meeting.
The AAP for Loan Authorization (Giants Head Road Upgrades) Bylaw 2022-005 will begin on March 10, 2022 with the publishing of the first notice in the newspaper. Council may proceed with the adoption of Bylaw 2022-005 unless by 4:00pm on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at least 10% of the electors submit a signed Elector Response Form for Bylaw 2022-005 indicating that Council must obtain assent of the electors by a referendum vote before proceeding with the adoption of Bylaw 2022-005
For the purpose of the Alternative Approval Process, Council has determined there are 9,866 electors in the District of Summerland. The municipal Council may therefore proceed with the adoption of Bylaw 2022-005 on an individual basis unless at least 986 electors (10%) submit a completed copy of an Elector Response Form for the proposed Bylaw to the District of Summerland before the deadline of 4:00pm on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.
Applicable Area & Elector Eligibility
Applicable Area
To participate in the Alternative Approval Process, the Elector must be located in the applicable area and meet the criteria to sign an Elector Response Form as a resident elector or non-resident property elector.
The Alternative Approval Process applies to the entire area of the District of Summerland.
Resident Electors
To sign an Elector Response Form as a resident elector, a person must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a Canadian citizen.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Lived in British Columbia for at least the last six (6) months.
- Lived within the District of Summerland.
- Not be otherwise disqualified from voting by the "Local Government Act" or by other law.
Non-resident Electors
To sign an Elector Response Form as a non-resident property elector, a person must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a Canadian citizen.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Lived in British Columbia for at least the last six (6) months.
- Have been a registered owner of property within the District of Summerland for at least the last 30 days.
- Not be otherwise disqualified from voting by the "Local Government Act" or by other law
Note: If a property is owned by more than one individual, only one of them may sign an Elector Response Form. If a property is owned by more than one individual, then the person signing the Elector Response Form declares that they have received the written consent of the majority of the property owners to sign and submit an Elector Response Form.
A person may not sign more than one Elector Response Form in relation to the Bylaw.
Elector Response Forms
For the Bylaw, the Elector Response Form must be in the form approved by Council of the District of Summerland.
Elector Response Forms will be made available as follows:
Online
Elector Response Form - Loan Authorization (Giants Head Road Upgrades) Bylaw 2022-005
In-person
Visit Municipal Hall (located at Henry Avenue, Summerland, BC), between the hours of 8:30am and 4:00pm, Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
The deadline for submitting an Elector Response Form to the District of Summerland is 4:00pm on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.
Electors may submit a completed Elector Response Form through one of the following methods:
Attention: Corporate Officer
District of Summerland
13211 Henry Avenue
Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0
- Fax: 250-494-1415
- Email: kkinsley@summerland.ca
Note: If submitting an Elector Response Form by facsimile (fax) or by email, please ensure that the transmission was completed. In order for elector response forms to be considered, all two (2) pages of the form package must be submitted
Additional Information
The following documents provide more detailed information on the above bylaw:
November 22, 2021 - Giants Head Road Upgrades Report to Council
December 13, 2021 - Giants Head Road Upgrades Report to Council
January 10, 2022 - Giants Head Road Upgrades Report to Council
Loan Authorization (Giants Head Road Upgrades) Bylaw N0. 2022-005
Newspaper Notice
Province of BC - Alternative Approval Process for Local Government
Giants Head Road AAP Information Sheet
Printed copies of these documents are available at Municipal Hall, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8:30am and 4:00pm, excluding holidays.
For more information, please contact:
Corporate Officer
250-404-4037
kkinsley@summerland.ca