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The AAP is now closed. View the 4 projects.
An Alternative Approval Process (AAP) is a legislated process via the Community Charter that gives local governments an alternate option to seek approval of the electors other than through a referendum (or assent vote). It is a tool often used by local governments to seek community approval for certain types of proposed bylaws, agreements, boundary extensions, or other matters. It is most often used in relation to long-term borrowing bylaws, which allow the local government to proceed with debt financing for a capital project.
An AAP reduces the costs, time and resources associated with a referendum and offers increased convenience to electors by providing at least 30 days to submit response forms.
The District of Squamish runs AAPs annually to engage electors in approving borrowing related costs.
Borrowing is a valuable and effective financial tool that is taken on annually to spread the cost of large capital projects over the life of a project, allowing a project to be paid for by current and future taxpayers. Borrowing is used in addition to grants, cash from reserves, Development Cost Charges and property taxes.
Any individual who qualifies as a resident elector or non-resident property elector within the area affected by the subject matter of the AAP (usually it is District-wide, but it is possible that an AAP could be limited to a smaller area) can participate.
Council will direct staff to proceed with obtaining the approval of the electors on a matter via an AAP. Staff will then bring a report forward to Council at an open meeting which will outline the proposed advertising dates for the AAP, the proposed deadline for receipt of responses, the estimated number of electors, and the proposed “elector response form”. Council must approve these by resolution, and following that, the response forms are made available to the electors.
The AAP must then be advertised in the newspaper at least twice, and the deadline for receipt of the response forms must be at least 30 days after the second advertisement. Depending on the subject matter of the AAP, there may be additional newspaper ads and other public communications.
Once the AAP starts, the forms are available from Municipal Hall. They are also made available on the District website. The completed forms must be delivered to the Corporate Officer by the deadline in order to be counted. Accurate copies of the Council approved forms are also acceptable, as long as they are not altered (in other words, someone may obtain one form and photocopy it if needed).
Once they are delivered to the Corporate Officer, the completed AAP elector response forms are date stamped when they are received, and are held in confidence until the AAP deadline has passed.
Once the deadline has passed, the responses are validated, and staff then brings a report forward to Council, advising on the total number of valid responses received. If the total is at least 10% of the estimated number of electors, Council is not permitted to proceed with the matter unless it is approved by the electorate through a referendum.
For more information, please contact the Corporate Officer at 604.815.5023 or 604.815.5006 or by email to corporateofficer@squamish.ca.
WHEREAS the current District of Squamish Wastewater Treatment Plant is reaching full capacity and requires upgrades to meet population growth forecasts and redundancy requirements in accordance with Municipal Wastewater Regulations. The District of Squamish proposes to borrow a sum not exceeding $8,080,808 under authority of “District of Squamish Wastewater Treatment Plant Upsize Future Growth Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2988, 2023” for the following purposes:
| Total Project Costs (including estimated debt reserve fund) |
Required Financing from Bylaw 2988, 2023 | Estimated Debt Reserve Fund | Bylaw 2988, 2023 Total Authorization Request |
Utility Fee Impact (Per residential property utility account per year) |
|
$20,200,000 |
$8,000,000 |
$80,808 |
$8,080,808 |
$5 |
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Sections 86 and 179 of the Community Charter, that the Council of the District of Squamish wishes to borrow up to a maximum amount of eight million, eighty thousand, eight hundred and eight dollars ($8,080,808) in order to expand the wastewater treatment plant.
View Bylaw 2988, 2023
Borrowing for this project spreads the cost of the upgrades over the life of the project so that future taxpayers help pay for the facility, as well as today’s taxpayers.
The wastewater treatment plant provides essential services to Squamish. This upgrade will increase treatment capacity, provide system redundancy, increase seismic and flood resiliency, improve plant performance and effluent quality, decrease biosolids production and associated energy usage, and decrease carbon emissions and handling costs.
District of Squamish Council, on June 6, 2023, gave first three readings to “District of Squamish Wastewater Treatment Plant Upsize Future Growth Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2988, 2023” proposing to borrow a sum not exceeding $8,080,808 repayable not later than thirty (30) years from the date of issue of such borrowing.
Repayment of borrowing and related interest expense will be funded by revenue generated from wastewater utility fees and is reflected in the 2023 to 2027 Financial Plan. Based on 2023 wastewater utility fees the annual debt service costs represents $5.00 per residential property owner per year.
Pursuant to Section 86 of the Community Charter, the District of Squamish Council may adopt the Bylaw if, after the deadline, less than 10% of the electors in the District of Squamish have signed and submitted Electoral Response Forms. If, after the deadline of 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2023 at least 1, 809 at least 18,093 electors (10% of 18,093)have signed and submitted Electoral Response Forms, the District of Squamish Council may not adopt the Bylaw unless it receives assent of the electors by voting.
This alternative approval process applies to all residents of the District of Squamish and responses must be given in the form established by Council.
Please review the project information for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion and Improvements.
WHEREAS the Squamish River Dike at Jimmy Jimmy (Judd) Slough does not meet the recommended standard identified in the Integrated Flood Management Hazard Plan. The District of Squamish proposes to borrow a sum not exceeding $1,818,182 under authority of “District of Squamish Jimmy Jimmy (Judd) Slough Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2989, 2023” for the following purposes:
| Total Project Costs (including estimated debt reserve fund) |
Required Financing from Bylaw 2989, 2023 | Estimated Debt Reserve Fund | Bylaw 2989, 2023 Total Authorization Request |
Taxpayer Impact (Cost per $100,000 of assessed property value) |
|
$5,425,000 |
$1,800,000 |
$18,182 |
$1,818,182 |
Resident: $0.68 Business: $1.70 |
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Sections 86 and 179 of the Community Charter, that the Council of the District of Squamish wishes to borrow up to a maximum amount of one million, eight hundred and eighteen thousand, and one hundred and eighty two dollars ($1,818,182) in order to upgrade, through raising and widening, the Squamish River Dike at Jimmy Jimmy (Judd) Slough.
View Bylaw 2989, 2023
Borrowing for this project spreads the cost of the upgrades over the life of the project so that future taxpayers help pay for the facility, as well as today’s taxpayers.
Squamish River Dike at Jimmy Jimmy (Judd) Slough project will raise approximately 900 metres of the Squamish River dike on private land between Wai’wakum Reserve and Aik’wuck’s, widen the dike crest from four metres to six meters, provide rip-rap erosion protection for the raised portion of the dike, add a new vehicle turnout, and upgrade one access ramp.
District of Squamish Council, on June 6, 2023, gave first three readings “District of Squamish Jimmy Jimmy (Judd) Slough Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2989, 2023” proposing to borrow a sum not exceeding $1,818,182 repayable not later than thirty (30) years from the date of issue of such borrowing.
Repayment of borrowing and related interest expense will be funded by revenue generated from property taxation and is reflected in the 2023 to 2027 Financial Plan. Based on 2023 taxation rates, the annual debt service cost represents approximately $0.68 for residential owners and $1.70 for business owners per $100,000 of assessed property value.
Pursuant to Section 86 of the Community Charter, the District of Squamish Council may adopt the Bylaw if, after the deadline, less than 10% of the electors in the District of Squamish have signed and submitted Electoral Response Forms. If, after the deadline of 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2023 at least 1, 809 at least 18,093 electors (10% of 18,093) have signed and submitted Electoral Response Forms, the District of Squamish Council may not adopt the Bylaw unless it receives assent of the electors by voting.
This alternative approval process applies to all residents of the District of Squamish and responses must be given in the form established by Council.
Please review the project information for the Jimmy Jimmy (Judd) Slough Dike Upgrade.
WHEREAS the Oceanfront Development in the District of Squamish requires a main road to be constructed to connect the Oceanfront peninsula to downtown. The District of Squamish proposes to borrow a sum not exceeding $1,633,293 under authority of “District of Squamish R20 Peninsula Main Arterial Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2990, 2023” for the following purposes:
| Total Project Costs (including estimated debt reserve fund) |
Required Financing from Bylaw 2990, 2023 | Estimated Debt Reserve Fund | Bylaw 2990, 2023 Total Authorization Request |
Taxpayer Impact (Cost per $100,000 of assessed property value) |
|
$8,200,000 |
$1,616,960 |
$16,333 |
$1,633,293 |
Resident: $0.61 Business: $1.53 |
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Sections 86 and 179 of the Community Charter, that the Council of the District of Squamish wishes to borrow up to a maximum amount of one million, six hundred and thirty three thousand, and two hundred and ninety three dollars ($1,633,293). In order to fund the construction of the Oceanfront R20 peninsula main arterial road.
View Bylaw 2990, 2023
Borrowing for this project spreads the cost of the upgrades over the life of the project so that future taxpayers help pay for the road, as well as today’s taxpayers.
The R20 Peninsula Main Arterial Road is being constructed in phases with the initial phases raising the road and providing an interim paved surface for vehicular and active transportation traffic. The interim paved surface will be in place until parcels of land fronting onto the main road develop, at which point, the road will be completed with infrastructure such as parking lanes, curbs, sidewalks, and street trees.
District of Squamish Council, on June 6, 2023, gave first three readings to of “District of Squamish R20 Peninsula Main Arterial Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2990, 2023” proposing to borrow a sum not exceeding $1,633,293 repayable not later than thirty (30) years from the date of issue of such borrowing.
Repayment of borrowing and related interest expense will be funded by revenue generated from property taxation. Based on 2023 taxation rates, the annual debt service cost represents approximately $0.61 for residential owners and $1.53 for business owners per $100,000 of assessed property value.
Pursuant to Section 86 of the Community Charter, the District of Squamish Council may adopt the Bylaw if, after the deadline, less than 10% of the electors in the District of Squamish have signed and submitted Electoral Response Forms. If, after the deadline of 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2023 at least 1, 809 at least 18,093 electors (10% of 18,093) have signed and submitted Electoral Response Forms, the District of Squamish Council may not adopt the Bylaw unless it receives assent of the electors by voting.
This alternative approval process applies to all residents of the District of Squamish and responses must be given in the form established by Council.
Please review the project information for the Oceanfront Peninsula Main Road.
| Total Project Costs (including estimated debt reserve fund) |
Required Financing from Bylaw 2991, 2023 | Estimated Debt Reserve Fund | Bylaw 2991, 2023 Total Authorization Request |
Taxpayer Impact (Cost per $100,000 of assessed property value) |
|
$15,850,000 |
$5,150,000 |
$52,020 |
$5,202,020 |
Resident: $1.94 Business: $4.86 |
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Sections 86 and 179 of the Community Charter, that the Council of the District of Squamish wishes to borrow up to a maximum amount of five million, two hundred and two thousand and twenty dollars ($5,202,020). In order to build a new Firehall No. 2.
Borrowing for this project spreads the cost of the upgrades over the life of the project so that future taxpayers help pay for the facility, as well as today’s taxpayers.
Fire Hall No. 2 provides essential emergency response services to the District of Squamish. Information regarding the Fire Hall No. 2 facility, the Real Estate and Facilities Master Plan, and the Five Year Financial Plan is available on the District of Squamish website
District of Squamish Council, on June 6, 2023, gave first three readings to of “District of Squamish New Firehall No. 2 Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2991, 2023” proposing to borrow a sum not exceeding $5,202,020 repayable not later than thirty (30) years from the date of issue of such borrowing.
View Bylaw 2991, 2023
Repayment of borrowing and related interest expense will be funded by revenue generated from property taxation and is reflected in the 2023 to 2027 Financial Plan. Based on 2023 taxation rates, the annual debt service cost represents approximately $1.94 for residential owners and $4.86 for business owners per $100,000 of assessed property value.
Pursuant to Section 86 of the Community Charter, the District of Squamish Council may adopt the Bylaw if, after the deadline, less than 10% of the electors in the District of Squamish have signed and submitted Electoral Response Forms. If, after the deadline of 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2023 at least 1, 809 at least 18,093 electors (10% of 18,093) have signed and submitted Electoral Response Forms, the District of Squamish Council may not adopt the Bylaw unless it receives assent of the electors by voting.
This alternative approval process applies to all residents of the District of Squamish and responses must be given in the form established by Council.
Please review the project information for Fire Hall No 2.
Project information for: Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion and Improvements
Project information for: Jimmy Jimmy (Judd) Slough Dike Upgrade
Project information for: Oceanfront Peninsula Main Road
Project information for: Fire Hall No 2
The deadline for submitting a response form to oppose these bylaws was Monday, October 23, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.