Alternative Approval Process (AAP) - Howe Sound East Fire Protection Service

Electoral Area D

Howe Sound East Fire Protection Service Alternative Approval Process

Summary

Via Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Howe Sound East Fire Protection Service Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1716-2021 (the “Borrowing Bylaw”), the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is proposing to borrow funds of up to $1,200,000 over a term of 25 years for the purpose of acquiring a replacement fire truck for the use and benefit of electors in the service area as noted below in the map.

An Alternative Approval Process is now underway to obtain electoral approval to proceed with the borrowing for the service area (see map of service area below).

Background:

The Borrowing Bylaw applies to the service that was established by Howe Sound East Fire Protection Service Establishment Bylaw No. 1032-2006 (“Howe Sound East Fire Protection Service”). 

The Howe Sound Fire Protection Service provides structural fire suppression, vehicle fire response and interface fire assistance to a service area that consists of a portion of Electoral Area D, generally located within the communities of Britannia Beach and Furry Creek and as shown on the map above (the "Service Area").

The Howe Sound East Fire Protection Service requires a replacement fire truck, specifically a Quint, for the Britannia Beach Fire Hall (located at 360 Copper Drive in Britannia Beach).  This is intended to replace the existing 1995 Spartan Quint, that is now beyond the extended 25-year, Provincially mandated, end of life date.

A Quint is designed to provide tools for firefighters to carry out tactical firefighting functions, including:

  • Supply fire streams (pump and hoses);
  • Provide initial and continuing water supply (pump, water tank and hoses);
  • Provide personnel with access to elevated areas (ground ladder complement and aerial device); and,
  • Provide elevated master fire stream (pump, hose and aerial device).

Borrowing Bylaw:

The purpose of the Borrowing Bylaw is to authorize the SLRD to borrow funds of up to $1,200,000 (the “Loan”) over a term of 25 years for the purpose of acquiring a replacement fire truck for the use and benefit of electors in the Service Area. Repayment of the Loan is to be spread out over a 25-year term, the cost of which is to be borne by the taxable properties within the Service Area. If the full amount of the Loan is issued, the tax rate per $1,000 of assessed net taxable value of land and improvements attributable to the Loan is estimated to be $0.094 using the most recent BC Assessment roll, resulting in estimated annual tax amounts as follows:

Estimated Annual Taxation Increase

Average Value of Residential PropertyRate Per $1000Estimated Annual Taxation due to Borrowing
$100,000$0.094$9.40
$500,000$0.094$47.00
$800,000$0.094$75.20
$1,000,000$0.094$94.00
$1,500,000$0.094$141.00

The SLRD Board is seeking participating area approval of the electors by way of Alternative Approval Process for the Service Area. The number of eligible electors has been determined at 506 and the number of elector responses required to prevent the SLRD Board from proceeding without the further assent of electors has been determined to be 50. The deadline for elector responses in relation to this Alternative Approval Process is 4:30 p.m. on December 29, 2021.

The SLRD Board may proceed with the Bylaw unless, by the stated deadline, at least 10% (50) of the electors of the Service Area indicate that the SLRD Board must obtain approval by assent vote.

Elector responses must be given in the form established by the SLRD Board, and this form is available below and at the SLRD office (1350 Aster Street in Pemberton). The only persons entitled to sign the forms are the electors of the area to which the Alternative Approval Process applies, being the Service Area. More information about Resident Elector and Non-Resident Property Elector qualifications, is below.

Public inspection of the Borrowing Bylaw can be made by viewing the Borrowing Bylaw below or in person from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (M-F, except holidays) at the SLRD office (1350 Aster St., Pemberton, BC).

Alternative Approval Process (AAP):

Local governments can use an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) as a way to obtain electoral approval with respect to certain types of proposed bylaws. Learn about the Alternative Approval Process for local governments.

Prior to undertaking an AAP, the Inspector of Municipalities (Ministry of Municipal Affairs) must first approve the request. The SLRD received approval from the Inspector of Municipalities on November 5, 2021 to undertake an AAP for the Borrowing 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 Squamish Chief. The Notice will run the weeks of November 18, 2021 and November 25, 2021.

Eligible electors have to register their formal opposition to the Borrowing Bylaw by submitting a completed Electoral Response Form by the deadline date of 4:30 p.m. on December 29, 2021. Details about how to submit a complete Elector Response Form are as follows:

  • In person at 1350 Aster Street, Pemberton BC (Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, excluding holidays); or
  • Via mail to: Box 219, Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0; or
  • Via fax: 604-894-6526; or
  • Via email attachment to: info@slrd.bc.ca with the subject heading "Howe Sound East Fire Protection Service Area Elector Response"

The number of eligible electors has been determined at 506 and the number of elector responses required to prevent the SLRD Board from proceeding without the further assent of electors has been determined to be 50. The method by which eligible electors express their opposition to the Borrowing Bylaw is by signing and submitting an Electoral Response Form.

The report respecting the basis upon which the determination was made of the total number of electors of the service area is available at the link below.  (A hard copy is also available at the SLRD Administration Office at 1350 Aster Street, Pemberton, BC.)

The SLRD Board may proceed with the Borrowing Bylaw unless, by the deadline stated above, at least 10% (being 50) of the electors of the service area indicate that the SLRD Board must obtain approval by assent vote (i.e. referendum).

The only persons entitled to sign the forms are the electors of the Service Area.

The electors of the Service Area are the persons who would meet the qualifications referred to in section 172 of the Local Government Act. In order to sign an elector response form, the person must be either a:

(i) Resident Elector

  • 18 years of age or older,
  • a Canadian citizen,
  • a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before signing the elector response form,
  • a resident of the Service Area for at least 30 days immediately before signing the elector response form, and
  • must not be disqualified from voting under the Local Government Act or any other enactment or not be otherwise disqualified by law from voting; or

(ii) Non-Resident Property Elector

  • 18 years of age or older,
  • a Canadian citizen,
  • a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before signing the elector response form,
  • not entitled to register to vote as a resident elector,
  • a registered owner of real property within the Service Area for at least 30 days immediately before signing the elector response form,
  • cannot vote more than once within a voting jurisdiction regardless of the number of properties owned,
  • where more than one non-resident person owns the property, the person wishing to submit an electoral response form for that property must provide, at the time of registration, written consent from a majority of the property owners,
  • must not hold the real property in trust for a corporation or another trust, and
  • must not be disqualified from voting under the Local Government Act or any other enactment or not be otherwise disqualified by law from voting.

A person must not sign more than one elector response form in relation to this Alternative Approval Process and a person who is not an elector of the Service Area must not sign an elector response form.

The Borrowing Bylaw is available at the link below.  (A hard copy is also available at the SLRD Administration Office at 1350 Aster Street, Pemberton, BC from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on business days.

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.

Important Forms and Documents: 

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