The City of Prince George kicked off the alternative approval process for almost $11.4 million in spending on Friday, April 4.
The spending comes in three categories: $5,489,000 to finance the purchase of equipment, $2.62 million for stormwater system renewals and $3.62 million to renew the Civic Centre’s building automation system and chiller.
The equipment purchases includes around $4.2 million for the replacement of mobile equipment, $20,000 for new floor scrubbers, $50,000 for new hoses for fire services, $140,000 for a new hoist system, $400,000 for a new tractor with a flail mower and $701,500 for new arborist equipment.
The stormwater system upgrades include infrastructure like ponds, outfalls, storm mains, culverts, catch basins, manholes and more.
The building automation system for the Civic Centre controls the heating, ventilation and air conditioning for the building.
The equipment loan is over a 15-year term with expected annual debt servicing costs of $604,430. For the stormwater loan, the term is 20 years with annual debt payments of $211,070.
The Civic Centre loan is also over 20 years, with annual debt payments of $262,629.
Under British Columbia’s community charter, local governments can elect to go through the AAP to get their residents’ approval for spending projects that require long-term borrowing.
Under this process, residents who object to the spending must fill out a form and present it to the city.
If at least 10 per cent of eligible electors voice their opposition to a project, the city would then be required to hold a referendum before adopting a bylaw approving borrowing for it.
Last year, the city put tens of millions of dollars worth of upgrades to the Aquatic Centre through the APP. In that case, not enough electors expressed opposition to force a referendum and city council approved borrowing money for the project.
A separate form is required for residents to voice opposition to each project.
Only Prince George residents who are Canadian citizens, are at least 18 years old, have lived in BC for at least six months and are not disqualified from voting under the Local Government Act can participate in the AAP.
Non-resident property owners can also vote if they meet those same criteria and have owned their property within the city for at least 30 days.
Electors can pick up AAP forms in person or online at princegeorge.ca/aap.
Forms can be dropped off in person, emailed to [email protected] or faxed to the city. However, faxed and emailed forms must have a written signature on them.
The response deadline is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20.
