Alternative Approval Process Q and A
Note: The Alternative Approval Process closed on Monday, January 4th. Council was presented with the results of the Alternative Approval Process. 9,872 certified forms were submitted to the City.
Victoria City Council passed a motion at a special meeting instructing staff to gather more information related to both replacement and refurbishment options, and to engage the public in full discussions. The motion also states that Council will put bridge borrowing to a referendum at a later date.
Q: What is the Alternative Approval Process?
A: The Alternative Approval Process under the Community Charter (Part 4, Division 2) is a method to obtain elector assent for certain types of proposed bylaws, agreements, or other matters.
In this case the City of Victoria used the Alternative Approval Process to gauge the approval of electors to adopt a bylaw that authorizes the City to finance, through long-term debt, the $42 million capital construction cost of replacing the Johnson Street Bridge.
Q: Will this have any effect on my taxes?
A: The cost of this borrowing will be contained within existing tax rates. Due to strong fiscal planning and capital reserves, the City is in an excellent borrowing position and can secure an extremely low interest rate to finance the bridge. The cost of the new bridge equates to roughly $63 per household per year for 20 years which is already accounted for within the budget. Further, we are still able to consider other projects such as parks, sewers and recreation facilities.
Q: How does this Alternative Approval Process work?
A: The Alternative Approval Process was initiated by a Council resolution setting the process parameters on November 19, 2009. The City of Victoria then published two notices in a newspaper outlining the purposes of the proposed bylaw. The first of these notices ran on November 21, 2009 and the second on November 28, 2009. Electors had until January 4, 2010 in which to sign an Elector Response Form opposing the bylaw. If more than 10% of the electors submited valid petitions, the City cannot proceed with the proposed bylaw without holding a referendum.
Q: Who was eligible to sign the elector response form?
A: Anybody eligible to vote in a City of Victoria election was eligible to submit an Elector Response Form. That means any Canadian citizen who is 18 yeas of age or more, lived in BC for at least six months and lived in Victoria for at least 30 days was able to fill out the form.
Q: How many people must submit Elector Response Forms in order to prevent Council from adopting the bylaw?
A: The Corporate Administrator will certify the number of valid elector response forms and present to council on January 7th. If the number of valid Elector Response Forms submitted exceeds the 10% threshold (estimated 6,328 people), Council will need to consider whether it still wants to proceed with the proposal. If so, Council must first hold a referendum.
Q: When must the completed forms be submitted?
A: Signed elector response forms must have been received by the City of Victoria, attention Corporate Administrator, at City Hall, 1 Centennial Square, Victoria, BC, V8W 1P6, no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, January 4, 2010.
