Langley City Council intends to adopt the Property Acquisition Loan Authorization Bylaw 2021, No. 3145. The purpose of the bylaw is to borrow up to $7.5 million for strategic land acquisitions in preparation for the arrival of SkyTrain to the city. This is a key component of the City’s Nexus of Community Vision. Subject to elector approval, the proposed property tax increase to fund the investment over the 15-year repayment period would be 1.93%. For more information about the Nexus of Community Vision click here.
To formally adopt the bylaw, Council must first seek elector approval of the bylaw. Accordingly, Council will be undertaking an Alternative Approval Process as permitted under the Community Charter. This is a common process used by municipalities to seek elector approval of loan authorization bylaws.
How an Alternative Approval Process Works
- If you are in favour of adoption of the bylaw, no action is required.
- If you are an elector of the City of Langley and you are opposed to the adoption of the bylaw without it first receiving assent of the electors by voting, you may sign an Alternative Approval Process Elector Response form.
- The deadline for submission of the elector response form is on or before 4:30 pm on Monday, June 7, 2021. Please read elector eligibility requirements below followed by instructions on the elector response form.
- City Council may proceed with adopting Bylaw No. 3145 unless 10 per cent of electors submit elector response forms by the deadline, 4:30 pm on June 7, 2021.
Elector Eligibility
To sign an elector response form during the process, a person must either be a resident elector or a non-resident property elector.
A resident elector is a person who is:
- 18 years of age or older
- A Canadian citizen
- A resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before the day the response form is signed
- A resident in Langley City for at least 30 days immediately before the day the response form is signed
- Not otherwise disqualified from voting by the Local Government Act or any other law
A non-resident elector is a person who is:
- Not a resident elector of Langley City;
- 18 years of age or older;
- A Canadian citizen;
- A resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before the day the response form is signed; and,
- A property owner in the Langley City for at least 30 days immediately before the day the response form is signed. Not otherwise disqualified from voting by the Local Government Act or any other law.
Note: Only one non-resident property elector may sign an elector response form per property. If the property is owned by more than one individual, written consent from a majority of owners to sign this form on their behalf must be provided. A Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form can be downloaded under the supporting documents section or by contacting the Corporate Officer at kkenney@langleycity.ca. Property owned in whole or in part by a corporation does not qualify under the Non-Resident Property Elector provisions.
AAP Elector Response Form
Download the Word AAP Elector Response Form
Download the PDF AAP Elector Response Form
AAP Elector Response Form can also be picked up at the reception desk of Timms Community Centre during business hours.
Completed Forms must be submitted by 4:30 pm on Monday, June 7, 2021, and can be submitted in any of the following ways:
- In-person: Reception Desk at Langley City Hall / Timms Community Centre
- Mailed to: Corporate Officer, Administration Department, Langley City, 20399 Douglas Crescent, BC, V3A 4B3
- Faxed to: 604-514-2838
- Emailed to: kkenney@langleycity.ca
Note: electronic signatures are not permitted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Alternative Approval Process (AAP)?
Under Section 86 of the Community Charter, approval of the electors may be obtained through an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) whereby electors opposed to the bylaw complete a form to register their opposition. If 10% (2137) of eligible voters in the City of Langley complete and submit the form then Council must either abandon the bylaw or put it to Assent Voting to obtain assent of the electors.
How was the 10% threshold of electors determined?
The 10% threshold of 2137 is based on the Provincial provisional number of registered City of Langley resident voters as of January 26, 2021 (19,995), and the number of non-resident property electors on the 2018 City of Langley non-resident property elector voting list (1379), the total number of electors being 21,374. Accordingly, the 10% threshold of electors is 2137.
What is Assent Voting?
Assent Voting, more commonly known as a referendum, is much like a local election and involves similar organization, time, and cost. The difference is, in a local election, voters choose from a list of candidates, in a referendum, voters choose “yes” or “no” to a specific question.
Why are you using an AAP instead of a referendum to seek assent of the electors
An AAP is less costly and requires fewer resources than a referendum and allows electors to submit responses over a period lasting at least 30 days.
I’m in favour of the proposed Loan Authorization Bylaw; what do I need to do to register my support?
If you are in favour of the adoption of the bylaw, no action is required.
I’m opposed to the proposed Loan Authorization Bylaw; what do I need to do to register my opposition?
If you are an elector of the City of Langley and you are opposed to the adoption of the bylaw without it first receiving assent of the electors by voting (Referendum), you may sign an Alternative Approval Process Elector Response Form and submit it to the City of Langley.
Where can I obtain an elector response form?
Elector response forms are available at the reception counter at City Hall/Timms Community Centre, 20399 Douglas Crescent, Langley, and on this page of the website.
Can anyone sign an elector response form?
No. To be eligible to sign an elector response form you must meet the following criteria for either a Resident Elector OR a Non-resident (Property) Elector in the City of Langley:
Resident Electors:
- Must be eighteen (18) years of age or older;
- Must be a Canadian citizen;
- Must have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six (6) months immediately before the day the response form is signed;
- Must have been a resident of the City of Langley for at least 30 days immediately before the day the response form is signed; and
- Must not be disqualified by the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.
Non-Resident Electors:
- Must NOT qualify as a Resident Elector of the City of Langley;
- Must be eighteen (18) years of age or older;
- Must be a Canadian citizen;
- Must have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six (6) months immediately before the day the response form is signed;
- Must have been the registered owner of real property in the City of Langley for at least 30 days immediately before the day the response form is signed;
- Must not be disqualified by the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.
Note: If there is more than one registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may sign the Elector Response Form and only with the written consent of the majority of the owners. A Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form can be obtained under the supporting documents section or by contacting the Corporate Officer at kkenney@langleycity.ca.
If there is more than one person residing in a household in the City of Langley, can each person submit a response form?
Yes. But only if each person meets the requirements of a resident elector:
- Must be eighteen (18) years of age or older;
- Must be a Canadian citizen;
- Must have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six (6) months immediately before the day the response form is signed;
- Must have been a resident of the City of Langley for at least 30 days immediately before the day the response form is signed; and
- Must not be disqualified by the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.
If more than one individual owns real property in the city can all the owners of the property sign the elector response form?
No. If there is more than one registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may sign the Elector Response form and only with the written consent of the majority of the owners. A Non-Resident Property Elector Consent form can be obtained under the supporting documents section or by contacting the Corporate Officer at kkenney@langleycity.ca.
When a corporation owns all or part of a property in the city, can an elector response form be submitted on behalf of the property owner(s) as either resident or non-resident property elector?
No. Eligibility to submit elector response forms for an AAP parallels eligibility to vote in general local elections. There is no business or corporate vote in British Columbia, therefore when a corporation owns all or part of a property, even if it is in the minority or owns that property with an individual who is otherwise eligible to submit an elector response form, no one may submit an elector response form in relation to that property.
When a corporation owns all or part of a property, can an elector response form be submitted on behalf of the property owner(s) as either resident or non-resident property elector?
No. Eligibility to submit elector response forms for an AAP parallels eligibility to vote in general local elections. There is no business or corporate vote in British Columbia, therefore when a corporation owns all or part of a property, even if it is in the minority or owns that property with an individual who is otherwise eligible to submit an elector response form, no one may submit an elector response form in relation to that property.
How do I submit my elector response form?
Completed Alternative Approval Process Elector Response Forms may only be submitted as follows:
- Hand-delivered to the reception desk at Timms Community Centre, 20399 Douglas Crescent, Langley, BC; OR
- Mailed to the attention of the Corporate Officer, Administration Department, 2nd Floor, 20399 Douglas Crescent, Langley, BC V3A 4B3; OR
- Faxed to 604-514-2838; OR
- Emailed to kkenney@langleycity.ca
Note: electronic signatures are not permitted
Can elector response forms be submitted by electronic means?
Yes. Completed elector response forms may be emailed to kkenney@langleycity.ca or faxed to 604-514-2838
Note: electronic signatures are not permitted on forms that are emailed.
Do I need to submit the original form to the City if I have e-mailed or faxed it?
What’s the deadline to submit my elector response form?
Elector response forms must be received before the deadline of 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 7, 2021.
Can I withdraw my elector response form after I’ve submitted it?
Yes. You can ask the Corporate Officer to return your elector response form prior to the AAP deadline of Monday, June 7, 2021. You can no longer withdraw your form after the AAP deadline has passed.
Who can access and/or review the elector response forms during or after the AAP?
Only the Corporate Officer, or their designate, can review and certify elector response forms during an AAP. The Corporate Officer is responsible for the safe-keeping of the elector response forms throughout, and after, the AAP. Local governments must retain elector response forms as per requirements established in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA, Part 3) after the AAP has been completed.
How will the results of the AAP be communicated to the public?
Following certification of the results by the Corporate Officer after the submission deadline of June 7, 2021, the results will be posted to the City’s website and a report to Council will be provided at a Regular Council meeting.
Who can I contact for more information on the AAP?
For more information on the Alternative Approval Process (AAP) contact:
Kelly Kenney, Corporate Officer
Tel: (604) 514-4591 or
Email: kkenney@langleycity.ca
How can I get more information on the Loan Authorization Bylaw and the initiatives for which the borrowing is proposed?
Contacts
For more information on the Alternative Approval Process
For more information on the proposed borrowing
