Only one week is remaining for Nanaimo residents to have their voices heard on a proposal to borrow $90 million for the construction of a new Public Works building.
The new public works yard will provide a replacement for the fleet maintenance and crew/administration building in the public works yard and most city councilors agree the project needs to be done.
It is the third attempt to borrow the funds for a new facility after the other two failed with the city admitting there were errors in the first round.
In a special council meeting in July councilor Ian Thorpe said the Alternative Approval Process is the best path forward for the project.
“In light of past discussions, I just want to make it clear that I feel this is an appropriate process for moving ahead with this project, and I support it,” Thorpe says.
Council agreed to put out flyers and more of an engagement session to make sure residents were sure what signing on to the AAP meant and how it would affect them in the long term.
Councilor Erin Hemmens said, during the same meeting, having more information to address any concerns is a step forward for the city and the community.
“I very much appreciate the mail-out,” she says. “I think that’s going to address a lot of concerns, so if a flyer is going to every single house, I think that’s a great approach.”
Information on the borrowing process is just one aspect that the CON (City of Nanaimo) Oversight Society is asking for from council, and Noni Bartlett says so far, some residents across Nanaimo still haven’t heard or seen any flyers, as promised, from the city on the AAP.
“A certain percentage of the city was covered by the route of the mailers, but nowhere near the entire electorate, including us,” she says. “We also know other people who have said they’re still waiting as well.”
She says not providing a mailer or more information on the process doesn’t make sense, considering the price difference between a referendum and an AAP.
“It would make economic sense to have the city direct mail to each residence to ensure they receive proper and effective notice,” Bartlett says. “If a referendum costs $300,000, and the AAP costs $30,000 the city should send out the official notice at a cost of $50,000.”
Photo credit: Justin Baumgardner, VistaRadio
Approximately 8,000 signatures are needed, by Oct. 31 at 4:30 for the city to shut down this round of AAP and according to Sandy Bartlett this time around Nanaimo residents are informed and ready to vote accordingly because this time around will count.
“No matter what I say, no matter what I do the city is going to push this AAP through, they’re not going to care what I say,” he says. “So, rather than wasting people’s time and money we’ve focused on getting signatures, and if we’re not there already then we are close.”
Director of legislative services Sheila Gurrie says residents can make sure their forms are sent in multiple different ways, but must be in by 4:30 p.m., on Oct. 31 to be counted.
“All forms are to be submitted to City Hall if residents are opposed to the borrowing bylaw, either in person, by mail or electronically,” she says. “We will present the results of the AAP at the earliest council meeting once the forms are counted, reviewed and certified.”
According to the city, if 10 per cent of more of eligible voters sign and oppose the AAP then the bylaw will be brought back to council to determine another course of action.
