Alternative Approval Process for Public Works Yard Updates

The City of Nanaimo is conducting an alternative approval process (AAP) to seek elector approval to adopt “Public Works Yard Updates Borrowing Bylaw 2024 No. 7386”. If adopted, this bylaw would allow the City to borrow up to $90 million to finance the cost of replacing the fleet maintenance and crew/administration buildings at the public works yard. The loan would be repaid over a period not to exceed twenty (20) years. Information about the Public Works Yard Updates Project can be found on the Public Works Yard Updates Project site.

An AAP is a common process used by municipalities to seek elector approval of loan authorization bylaws. During an AAP, eligible electors have at least 30 days to sign and submit a response form if they are opposed to the proposed initiative. In this instance, the City will run the AAP for the Public Works Yard Updates Borrowing Bylaw for 42 days. This provides an additional 12 days beyond what is legislatively required. 

During this period, if 10 per cent or more of the eligible electors sign and submit response forms, the City would need to hold a referendum (also known as assent voting) to obtain elector approval in order to proceed. If less than 10 percent of eligible electors sign and submit response forms, Council can choose to proceed with the initiative. 

This AAP begins on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. The deadline for submitting completed and signed elector response forms is 4:30 pm on Thursday, October 31, 2024. 

Please review elector eligibility requirements: Alternative Approval Process Elector Eligibility.

How an Alternative Approval Process Works

  • If you support Council adopting the bylaw to borrow money for this project, no action is required.
  • If you are an eligible resident or non-resident property elector of the City of Nanaimo and you are opposed to the adoption of the bylaw you may fill in, sign and submit an elector response form prior to the deadline of 4:30 pm on October 31, 2024.
  • For this AAP, the number of electors in the City of Nanaimo is estimated to be 79,736. City Council may proceed with adopting Bylaw No. 7386 unless 10 per cent of electors (7,974) submit elector response forms by the deadline.

Where to get an Elector Response Form

Once the official notice has been published, which is on September 18, elector response forms will be available in person at City Hall, 455 Wallace Street or online at  www.nanaimo.ca/goto/AAP at 8:30 am. 

Note: a maximum of 10 forms per person as per Council’s Alternative Approval Process Policy COU-242.

How to submit a form 

Completed forms will be accepted by Legislative Services between September 18 at 8:30 am and October 31 at 4:30 pm in any of the following ways:
  • In Person: at the Legislative Services Department, City Hall, 455 Wallace Street, Nanaimo BC (Monday to Friday between 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, excluding statutory holidays)
  • Via Mail: 455 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, B.C.  V9R 5J6
  • Online: upload a scan or photograph of an original hand-written (physically) signed and completed form through the submission page on the City website: https://www.nanaimo.ca/goto/AAP-submissions 
    • Electronic signatures will not be accepted
    • Forms will NOT be accepted via email

In order to be counted, all completed forms must be received by the Corporate Officer by 4:30 pm, Thursday, October 31, 2024. Forms received after this deadline will not be considered.

Supporting Documents & Information

Who to contact

If you have any questions about the AAP process please email Legislative.servicesoffice@nanaimo.ca or call (250)755-4405. 

If you have any questions about the Public Works Yard Updates Project please email EngineeringInfo@nanaimo.ca or call 250-754-4251, ext. 4230. 

Last updated: September 18, 2024

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