Upcoming Alternative Approval Process Projects or Bylaws
There are no alternative approval proccesses being conducted at this time.
About the Alternative Approval Process
Under the Community Charter, local governments such as the City of Prince George may use an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to directly engage citizens about a proposed bylaw or other matter requiring elector approval. An AAP can be used for various initiatives such as a proposed bylaw to undertake long-term borrowing, a boundary extension, to establish a new regional district service, or other matter requiring approval of the electorate.
How an AAP Works
A staff report is provided to City Council that describes the plan for conducting the AAP. It includes key information about the proposed elector approval process to ensure elected officials fully understand the implications of using an AAP to obtain approval. The report also provides staff with an opportunity to plan the process to conduct the potential AAP.
At a City Council meeting, Council will direct staff to proceed with obtaining the approval of a bylaw, agreement, or project by the electors through an Alternate Approval Process. Staff will then bring a report forward to City 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.
A notice of an AAP will be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper distributed in the area defined for the process. Eligible electors have at least 30 days from the publication of the second notice to submit elector response forms to the local government corporate officer before the AAP deadline. Forms received after the deadline has passed cannot be counted. When 10 per cent or more of eligible electors sign and submit response forms, local governments cannot proceed with the proposed matter without first holding an assent vote (i.e. referendum).