Alternative Approval Process

About an Alternative Approval Process

The Community Charter allows local governments to use an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) as one means of directly engaging residents and seeking elector approval to proceed with the adoption of a bylaw, agreement or other matter in question that requires elector approval.

Read more about the Province of British Columbia’s Alternative Approval Process for local governments

An AAP is an alternative to Assent Voting (referendum), which is costlier to taxpayers and involves a lengthier process. The AAP allows electors 30 days to submit an Elector Response Form only if they are in opposition to the local government's proposal. If an elector is not opposed, there is nothing they need to do. If 10 per cent or more of eligible electors submit forms indicating their opposition to the proposal, then elector assent is not obtained and the AAP fails.

Past AAP Projects

Official results indicate public support for long-term borrowing to partially fund the Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project

Official results from the statutory Alternative Approval Process (AAP), which began Feb. 20, indicated that 68 eligible Elector Response Forms were received at City Hall prior to the 4:30 p.m. March 21 deadline. Read the full news release.

No New Tax Increases with Long-Term Borrowing to Partially fund the Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project

The City of West Kelowna is launching an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) for long-term borrowing up to $8 million to partially fund the Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project. As a requirement under the Community Charter, this process ensures the community has an opportunity to submit an elector response form should an individual oppose long-term borrowing.

No New Tax Increases for this Project

Council has directed staff to ensure that no new tax increases to the community will result from the project, including for long-term borrowing. The funds currently being transferred into reserves for this project will pay the annual payments on the borrowing.

Through a facility assessment completed in 2012, the City of West Kelowna identified that Fire Hall #32 is reaching the end of its functional operating life. The building was constructed in 1971.

Fire Hall #32 responds within an 8-kilometre circumference to our community including response to Westbank First Nation properties in addition to back up for Fire Hall #31 coverage areas.

Through a series of mapping exercises, it was determined that the new location for Fire Hall #32 should be as close as practical to its present location to ensure coverage for our community and our service partners (Westbank First Nation) without affecting our Fire Underwriters ratings and individual properties insurance rates.

In June 2023, it was announced that the Anders Road site had been selected as the preferred location for the Fire Hall #32 replacement. In addition to the fire hall replacement, there is an added community component that will benefit the Lakeview Heights neighbourhood.

The project would include, but not be limited to, the following:

Removing the existing Lakeview Heights Community Centre, sport court, playground, and pickleball facilities
Construction of a new fire hall and community centre building
Installation of new pickleball courts
Installation of a new playground area
Parking area for Public and Fire Hall
Public green space and general landscaping

The new fire hall is estimated to cost $14.3 million, which includes design, permitting, construction, and contingency.

Learn more about the Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project:

Review the Fire #32 Replacement Project display boards
Watch our Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project video
Read the February 2024 Questions and Answers document
Check out the Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project renderings
Watching the Feb. 13, 2024 Council Meeting Webcast
Review the Feb. 16, 2024 Public Notice
Read the January 2024 Information Handout

Read Bylaw No. 0313 - Fire Hall #32 Loan Authorization.

See below for the following project updates:

February 20, 2024: AAP Launch PSA
January 24, 2024: News Release
January 23, 2024: Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project Renderings
January 23, 2024: Council Meeting
January 2024: Display Boards
January 2024: Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project video
November 28, 2023: Council Report
June 13, 2023: Council Meeting
June 2023: Fire Hall Update Guide
June 2023: FAQs
March 8, 2022: Council Report
March 2022: Fire Hall Update Guide

AAP Questions and Answers

Learn more

How does an AAP work?

A report is provided to Council that describes the proposal seeking Council's approval for the AAP. Following approval and all other legislative requirements being met, staff bring back an additional report outlining the following:

Advertising dates
Deadline for receipt of responses
Estimated number of electors
Elector Response Form

After Council's approval, Elector Response Forms are made available at Municipal Hall and online. Signed forms received after the deadline has passed cannot be counted. If, by the deadline, 10 per cent or more of the total number of estimated eligible electors sign and submit response forms, local governments cannot proceed with the proposed matter without first holding an assent vote (i.e. referendum).

Who is eligible to participate in an AAP?

Resident Electors

A Resident Property Elector is an individual who is qualified to vote in a jurisdiction by virtue of living (residing) in the City of West Kelowna.

When signing an elector response form during an AAP, a resident elector must:

• Be 18 years of age or older

• Be a Canadian citizen

• Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months

• Be a resident of the jurisdiction (e.g., municipality or electoral area) where the AAP is being conducted

• Live in the area defined for the AAP

• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from voting in a local election or be otherwise disqualified by law. [CC, section 86(2)(e)(iii) and section 86(5); LGA, section 65]

Non-Resident Property Electors

A Non-Resident Property Elector is an individual who does not live (does not reside) in the City of West Kelowna but is entitled to vote by virtue of owning a real property in the City of West Kelowna.

When signing an elector response form during an AAP, a non-resident property elector must:

• Be 18 years of age or older

• Be a Canadian citizen

• Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months

• Have owned property in the jurisdiction (e.g., municipality or electoral area) for at least 30 days

• Own property in the area defined for the AAP

Only one owner can sign the elector response form when a property is owned by more than one registered owner. That owner must have the written consent of a majority of the other property owners to sign the response form.

Where a property is owned in whole or in part by a corporation, no one is eligible to sign an elector response form in relation to that property. [LGA, section 66]

I'm in favour of the proposed bylaw; what do I need to do?

If you are in favour of the adoption of the bylaw, no action is required.

I'm opposed to the proposed bylaw; what do I need to do?

If you are opposed to the adoption of the bylaw, complete and submit the Elector Response Form and return to the Corporate Officer within the 30-day period.

Where can I obtain an AAP Elector Response Form?

AAP Elector Response Forms are available during an active AAP at City Hall, 3731 Old Okanagan Highway, West Kelowna, during regular business hours 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays or online (see above).

If there is more than one person residing in a household, can each person submit an Elector Response Form?

Yes. But only if each person meets the requirements to participate in an AAP (see details above).

How do I submit my Elector Response Form?

Completed forms must be received by the Corporate Officer on or before the deadline, and can be submitted in any of the following ways:

Mail or hand delivery to City of West Kelowna City Hall, 3731 Old Okanagan Highway, West Kelowna, BC, V4T 0G7
Fax to 778-797-1001
Email to legislative.services@westkelownacity.ca

Are resident notified?

The AAP must be advertised in accordance to Section 94.2 of the Community Charter. Notices will be placed on the public notice board at Municipal Hall, advertised in the local community newspaper(s) and posted on the Public Notices page.

Depending on the subject matter of the AAP, there may be additional newspaper ads, public open houses, press releases and other public communications.

What happens with my Elector Response Form?

Once the completed AAP Elector Response Forms are delivered to Municipal Hall and received by the Corporate Officer, they are date stamped and held in a locked cabinet while the process is ongoing. The number of responses received is not made public during the process.

Once the deadline has passed, the responses are validated and the Corporate Officer forwards a "Certificate of Sufficiency" report to Council, in which the total number of valid responses received is given. If the total is at least 10 per cent 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.