The CitY of Nanaimo says they have officially begun the second round of the alternative approval process and will provide three public information sessions to educate residents.
According to the city, the three sessions will take place starting on Monday and will continue within the 34-day window, to provide context on why the city needs to borrow $48.5 million for the new public works building.
Director of engineering and public works Bill Sims says the city has a provincial mandate when it comes to borrowing funds for a capital project of this caliber it can be done one of two ways.
“This is a requirement of the community charter or local government act,” he says. “Anytime a municipality wishes to borrow money for over a long term, they need to obtain the consent.”
Sims says this process is generally used for services the city needs, or ‘must have’, like the AAP which was used for Fire Station 1 which was approved in 2018.
According to the city, 10 per cent of eligible voters in Nanaimo would need to be in opposition to the city borrowing the funds before the city would have to find another funding avenue.
Director of legislative services Sheila Gurries says she is aware several residents are opposed to the AAP process, but it is more cost-effective than having a referendum.
“The alternative approval process offers eligible voters a convenient way to express their dissent regarding the proposed borrowing bylaw and is cost-effective,” she says.
Residents of the city say they are not opposed to the building of the facility, but Joe Figel who expressed his concern over the process saying he just wants a fair and democratic process to prevail.
“I just want the process to be fair and just,” he said in an interview on Nov. 20. “If the results show taxpayers are in favor of borrowing the money, he will accept the results.”
City of Nanaimo Oversight Society member Noni Bartlett says she agrees with Figel and adds she is concerned the AAP process isn’t reflective of the population.
“It doesn’t provide a means in which all citizens are aware of the AAP process,” she says. “In a referendum the advertising is vast, and the electoral base knows about it.
“They get a chance to vote yes, or no.”
The last AAP project to be rejected was the municipal boundary extension in 2008.
The first meeting for the public to learn about the new public works building, and how the city intends to fund it, is going to be held at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre on Monday, Jan. 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Residents can schedule their tour of the facility by going to the city’s website.
The AAP will remain open until Feb. 20, and the city says residents can submit their response forms at city hall.
