Gun Lake Fire Protection AAP: Gun Lake Fire Protection Contribution Local Service Establishment Bylaw No. 559, 1994, Amendment Bylaw No. 1604-2018
February 22, 2019 UPDATE:
The elector response period for the Gun Lake Fire Protection AAP has now concluded, and elector approval has been obtained. Click here to view the Certification of Results.
The SLRD Board will be considering the adoption of Gun Lake Fire Protection Contribution Local Service Establishment Bylaw No. 559,1994, Amendment Bylaw No. 1604-2018 at the February 27, 2019 Board meeting.
Summary:
The SLRD is looking to increase the maximum annual tax requisition amount for the Gun Lake fire protection financial contribution service from $4,688 to $21,750, the purpose of which is to allow the Gun Lake Fire Protection Society to develop a long-term, sustainable model for the provision of, and improvement to, wildfire suppression and prevention services to the Gun Lake community. An Alternative Approval Process (AAP) is now underway to secure elector approval to proceed with the maximum requisition increase for this service area (please see map of the Service Area below).
Background:
In 1994, the SLRD established a financial contribution service towards fire protection for the community of Gun Lake that is currently serviced by the Gun Lake Fire Protection Society. The Gun Lake Fire Protection Society has requested an increase in their annual funding to $21,570 in order to develop a long-term, sustainable model for the provision of, and improvement to, wildfire suppression and prevention services to the Gun Lake community, including:
- Providing wildfire suppression and fire prevention services that meet or exceed the communities’ expectations.
- Ensuring the Gun Lake Fire Protection Society is both a sustainable and fiscally sound organization.
- Attracting and maintaining well-trained and educated volunteers dedicated to providing service to the Gun Lake Community.
- Developing and maintaining partnerships within the community as a means to educate the public on how to keep the communities safe and receive feedback on the services provided.
Taxation under this service is via parcel tax and is currently at the maximum of $4,688, which equates to $17.19 per parcel (this includes the 5.25% Provincial fee; $16.33 without) for a total of 287 parcels. At the new maximum taxation level ($21,750), the parcel tax would be increased per parcel by $62.57 to $79.76 annually (which includes the 5.25% Provincial fee).
Alternative Approval Process (AAP):
Local governments can use an Alternative Approval Process as a way to obtain electoral approval with respect to certain types of proposed bylaws. An AAP is less expensive than undertaking a referendum, which is a process similar to the election of a local government representative. Learn about the Alternative Approval Process for local government.
Prior to undertaking an AAP, the Inspector of Municipalities (Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs) must first approve the request. The SLRD received approval from the Inspector of Municipalities on December 19, 2018 to undertake an AAP for the following bylaw:
AAP - What's Required
A local government must publish a Notice of Alternative Approval Process for two consecutive weeks in a local newspaper. In the case of this AAP, the SLRD is placing the Notice in the Bridge River Lillooet News and Pique Newsmagazine. The Notice will run the weeks of January 7-11 and January 14-18, 2019.
After the second of two notices is advertised, eligible electors will have 30 days in which to register their formal opposition to the bylaw amendment. The deadline for elector responses for this AAP is 4:30 p.m. on February 19, 2019.
The method by which eligible electors express their opposition to the amendment to the bylaw is by signing and submitting an Electoral Response Form to the SLRD (before 4:30 p.m. on February 19, 2019). Eligible electors must provide their full name and residential address. Eligible non-resident property electors must also provide the address of the property that they own within the Service Area and they are only entitled to sign and submit one elector response form, regardless of how many properties they may own within the Service Area.
If 10% of eligible electors in the SLRD—24 people—oppose the SLRD Board's intention to adopt the aforementioned proposed bylaw (Bylaw No. 1604-2018), the SLRD Board cannot proceed with the bylaw amendment without first holding a referendum.
If the 10% threshold is not attained, then the SLRD Board may proceed with adopting Gun Lake Fire Protection Contribution Local Service Establishment Bylaw No. 559, 1994, Amendment Bylaw No. 1604-2018.
Important Forms & Documents
- Notice of Alternative Approval Process
- Elector Response Form
- Report for Determining the Number of Electors
- Gun Lake Fire Protection Contribution Local Service Establishment Bylaw No. 559, 1994, Amendment Bylaw No. 1604-2018
For more information:
Suzanne Lafrance
Director of Finance
Telephone: (604) 894-6371 ext. 233
Email: slafrance@slrd.bc.ca
Kristen Clark
Director of Legislative and Corporate Services
Telephone: (604) 894-6371 ext. 230
Email: kclark@slrd.bc.ca