The City of Nanaimo is holding an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) starting on Jan. 18 to seek approval from voters for a $48.5 million loan for the first phase of the Nanaimo Operations Centre.
Provincial law requires municipalities that want to take out long-term loans to either seek the consent of voters through a referendum, or through what’s known as an Alternative Approval Process, or AAP.
This is the second time an AAP has been held for the project after a previous attempt was found to be invalid due to improper notice.
If 10 per cent of voters submit an elector response from by Feb. 20, council must either abandon taking out a loan or put it to a referendum vote.
A special governance and priorities committee meeting by city council on the Nanaimo Operations Centre AAP will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.
With files from Joe Pugh.
