Notice of Alternative Approval Process
NORTH COAST REGIONAL DISTRICT
NOTICE OF ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS
North Coast Regional District proposed adoption of Mainland Arts and Culture Contribution Bylaw No. 621, 2018
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Board of the North Coast Regional District (NCRD) proposes to adopt the “Mainland Arts and Culture Contribution Bylaw No. 621, 2018” to establish a service to provide contribution to the cost of providing and operating arts and cultural centres.
Prince Rupert: The proposed maximum requisition ($18,000) for the service represents an amount equivalent to approximately $0.68 for each $100,000 of net taxable value of land and improvements in the entire service area.
Port Edward: The proposed maximum requisition ($18,000) for the service represents an amount equivalent to approximately $13.60 for each $100,000 of net taxable value of land and improvements in the entire service area.
Electoral Area A: The proposed maximum requisition ($5,276) for the service represents an amount equivalent to approximately $5.86 for each $100,000 of net taxable value of land and improvements in the entire service area.
Electoral Area C: The proposed maximum requisition ($3,724) for the service represents an amount equivalent to approximately $8.81 for each $100,000 of net taxable value of land and improvements in the entire service area.
FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Board of the North Coast Regional District may adopt the “Mainland Arts and Culture Contribution Bylaw No. 621, 2018” if, after the deadline, elector response forms are certified by the Corporate Officer as having been signed by less than 10% of the eligible electors in the boundary of each participating area which is the whole of Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Electoral Area “A”, and Electoral Area “C”. If, after the deadline, elector response forms are certified by the Corporate Officer as having been signed by at least 10% of the eligible electors in each of the participating areas (Prince Rupert calculated to be 886, Port Edward calculated to be 39, Electoral Area A calculated to be 47, and Electoral Area C calculated to be 27), the Board may not proceed with the adoption of the “Mainland Arts and Culture Contribution Bylaw No. 621, 2018” and may not proceed with the process unless the matter receives assent of the electors in a voting proceeding.
Elector Response Forms
The response of the electors must be in the form established by the NCRD. Forms are available at the NCRD office (14-342 3rd Avenue West, Prince Rupert). Blank forms can be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed, upon request. An accurate copy of the elector response form may be utilized, provided that it is made of the form prior to any electors signing such form, so that only elector response forms with original signatures are submitted. For an elector response to be accepted it must meet the following conditions:
- only eligible electors of the NCRD are entitled to sign an elector response form;
- the full name of the elector must be stated;
- the residential address of the elector must be stated;
- the elector must sign the elector response form;
- if applicable, the address of the property in relation to which the person is entitled to vote as a non-resident property elector must be stated; and,
- the elector response form must be submitted to the Corporate Officer before the deadline.
Forms may be submitted in person or by mail to be received by the Corporate Officer at the NCRD office located at 14-342 3rd Avenue West, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1L5 NO LATER THAN 4:00 P.M. ON Tuesday, March 31st, 2020. Elector response forms must be in the possession of the Corporate Officer by this time, as postmarks WILL NOT be accepted as date of submission. FORMS MAY NOT BE RETURNED BY FAX.
Eligible Elector
An eligible elector for the purpose of this Alternative Approval Process is a person entitled to be registered as elector and who meets the following criteria:
- is age eighteen or older;
- is a Canadian citizen;
- has been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months;
- has been a resident of Prince Rupert for at least thirty days; and,
- is not disqualified from voting by the Local Government Act or any other act.
A non-resident property elector who meets the following criteria is also an eligible elector:
- is not entitled to register as a resident elector for the Regional District;
- is age eighteen or older;
- is a Canadian citizen;
- has been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months;
- has been a registered owner of the real property within the City of Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Electoral Area A or Electoral Area C for at least thirty days; and,
- is not disqualified from voting by the Local Government Act or any other act.
Note: Corporations or land held in a corporate name are not entitled to vote. In the case of multiple owners of a parcel, only one person (with the consent of the majority of owners) may vote as a non-resident property elector.
What is an Alternative Approval Process?
On January 1st, 2004 the Community Charter came into force and prescribes two methods by which a local government may seek approval of the electors. These are Assent of the Electors (which is approval by voting) or Alternative Approval Process which allows a Board to proceed with an action unless at least 10% of the eligible electors state their opposition within a prescribed period. In this case, the Board has opted for the latter process. If at least 10% of the eligible electors state their opposition to the proposed action, the matter requires the Assent of the Electors if the Board wishes to proceed. The Alternative Approval Process under the Community Charter replaces the Counter Petition Opportunity under the Local Government Act that some may have been familiar with.
More information may be obtained by contacting Daniel Fish, Chief Administrative Officer at the North Coast Regional District office at 14-342 3rd Avenue West, Prince Rupert, BC or by telephone at 250-624-2002.
Daniel Fish, Chief Administrative Officer
