Council to once again review option of Alternative Approval Process for Loan requirement for City's RCMP detachment

The Old Jehovah Witness
Hall on Market Place
is the site for the new
RCMP detachment

With City Council looking to move forward with the new RCMP detachment at McBride Street and Third Avenue East, the city's councillors will tonight receive a report from Chief Financial Officer Corinne Bomben that will recommend use of the Alternative Approval Process to gain voter consent for the loan requirement.

The use of the AAP, removes the financial burdens for the of a full referendum on the loan requirement. 

Though this being an election year, there is a window for such an option as a full referendum this October as part of the municipal election. 

However, if their past discussions on the theme are any indication, Council most likely is looking for a faster approach to moving the financial pieces in place for the much discussed new detachment build.

The CFO's report towards the recommendation can be reviewed below:

click to enlarge

If Council approves the AAP option, residents will have until June 27th to indicate by their participation if they assent to the recommended path towards the Loan requirement, 

City Council will be able to adopt the required bylaw unless 10 percent of the electors, listed as 958 residents indicate that the assent can only be granted by a referendum process.

City Council has used the AAP option a number of times during the course of the current council's time in office, most recently as part of the city's financing of the Woodworth Dam and the Ridley Island Landfill site projects.

Tonight's vote is a replay of sorts from a similar discussion from January 24th, when Council first indicated their preference for the AAP option over a full referendum.

Some of the past notes on the RCMP detachment plans can be reviewed from our Major Projects and Infrastructure archive page.

More notes on tonight's City Council session can be explored through our Council Preview page.