District of Elkford voters are being asked to take part in Alternative Approval Process (AAP) as a means to determine if the municipality should borrow $333,333 to help fund an energy retrofit of the Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

In almost all situations, local governments must obtain the assent of the electors in order to borrow money. Local governments can use AAP to do so as it is less expensive than a referendum to gauge public opinion.

Some electors favour the AAP over a referendum because they have more time (at least 30 days) to express their opinion instead of the two days (advance poll and voting day) that are available to vote in a referendum. The method by which the electors express their opinion is by signing an Elector Response Form and submitting it to their local government by a given deadline. If less than 10% of electors state their opposition, a council may proceed with its proposed action. More information about the AAP can be found at:

https://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/gov_structure/community_charter/governance/alternative_approval_process.htm or by contacting the District of Elkford at 250-865-4000.
Notice Is Hereby Given That the District of Elkford proposes to borrow a sum not exceeding $333,333 from the Municipal Finance Authority (MFA) in accordance with the District of Elkford Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 736, 2012.

The total project cost is estimated at $1.3 million and includes an energy retrofit between the Elkford Aquatic and Recreation Centres in conjunction with replacement of the ice plant. The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2013. The District of Elkford received approval for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Green Municipal Funding Combined Loan and Grant Agreement for the energy retrofit portion of the project.

The approval is for a grant of $66,667, conditional upon the district taking a loan in the amount of $333,333 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), through the MFA.

If adopted, the bylaw will authorize council to borrow and amortize a loan for up to 10 years. The estimated rate of interest is two per cent. Council approved the first three readings of the Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 736, 2012 at the October 22, regular council meeting. The district has received approval from the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and is now advertising the AAP. Through this process, Elkford electors will be provided the opportunity to represent opposition to the Bylaw, if so desired.

The district may adopt the Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 736, 2012 if, after the deadline, less than 10% of the eligible electors in the district have signed and submitted individual Elector Response Forms. If after the deadline at least 10% of the eligible electors in the district have signed and submitted Elector Response Forms, the council may not adopt the same bylaw, unless it receives assent of the electors in a voting proceeding (referendum) which the District may opt to then undertake.

The number of Elector Response Forms equaling 10% of the eligible electors in the district is 191.

Elector Response Forms
The response of the electors must be in the form established by the District of Elkford. Forms are available at the District Office located at 816 Michel Road, may be printed from the website atwww.elkford.ca or on the District’s Facebook page. For an Elector Response Form to be accepted it must:
• Be submitted only by an eligible elector of the District of Elkford to the District Office;
•  Include the full name of the elector;
• State the residential address of the elector;
• Be signed by the elector;
• If applicable, state the address of the property in relation to which the person is entitled to vote as a non-resident property elector; and
• Be submitted to the Corporate Officer before the deadline.
Deadline
Elector Response Forms will be accepted in person at the District Office NO LATER THAN 4 P.M. LOCAL TIME, ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11.

Eligible Elector
An eligible elector for the purpose of this Alternative Approval Process is a resident who meets the following criteria:
• is age eighteen (18) or older; and
• is a Canadian citizen; and
• has been a resident of British Columbia for at least six (6) months; and
• has been a resident of the District of Elkford for at least thirty (30) days upon the date of form submission; 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 District of Elkford; and
• is age eighteen (18) or older; and
• is a Canadian citizen; and
• has been a resident of British Columbia for at least the past six (6) months; and
• has been a registered named owner of real property in the District of Elkford for at least the past thirty (30) days prior to the date of form submission; and
• is not disqualified from voting by the Local Government Act or any other act.
Corporations are not entitled to vote nor are lands held in a corporate name eligible to vote.

In the case of multiple owners of a parcel, only one person may vote as a non-resident property elector, with the written consent of the majority of the owners.
Questions may be directed to Dorothy Szawlowski, Administrative Assistant 250-865-4005 or by email to[email protected]

District of Elkford

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