Lund Community Centre Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 564, 2020 Assent Vote (Referendum)
The qathet Regional District (qRD) has secured grant funding up to $4,199,082 through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream to construct an addition to the Northside Community Recreation Centre, located at 9656 Larson Road.

 

Based on a feasibility study, the new addition is estimated to cost between $4 million and $5.7 million. The $600,000 estimated balance of the project will be funded through a combination of short term borrowing (up to five years) and reserves that have been set aside for the Northside Recreation Service. The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream runs on a cost share basis with Canada and British Columbia combining to contribute 73.33 per cent of the eligible project cost and the qRD required to contribute the remaining 26.67 per cent, plus any overruns. To proceed with collecting the project funding, the qRD will need to borrow up to $1.1 million from the Municipal Finance Authority. More reports regarding the grant and the elector approval process are available under background information.

 

View the Lund Community Centre Building Condition Assessment Report

View the LCC Feasibility Study

 

How You Can Get Involved

 

Assent Vote (Referendum)

An Assent Vote (referendum) must occur within 80 days after the deadline of the Alternate Approval Process (AAP), which concluded on March 6, 2023. General Voting Day took place on May 6, 2023 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at the locations listed below:

 

  • Northside Community Recreation Centre: 9656 Larson Road, Powell River
  • Northside Fire Hall #1:  8540 Plummer Creek Road, Powell River

One Advanced Voting Opportunity was held on April 26, 2023 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at the location listed below:

 

  • qathet Regional District Office: 202-4675 Marine Avenue, Powell River

To learn more about the Assent Vote process, please visit the Province of BC website. 

 

At the March 22, 2023 Regional Board meeting, the Board directed staff to go to the public within 80 days of the AAP deadline of March 6, 2023 to ask the eligible electors of the Northside Recreation Service Area:

 

“Are you in favour of the qathet Regional District adopting “Lund Community Centre Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 564, 2020″ to borrow up to $1,100,000.00, plus interest, over an amortization period of up to 30 years to construct an addition and renovate the community centre located at 9656 Larson Rd, Lund, BC V0N 2G0 within the Northside Community Recreation Service Area?”

 

 

Apply to be a Scrutineer

Scrutineers for and against the question must be appointed if applications are received from persons who wish to volunteer for the positions. Only persons entitled to vote as electors in this assent voting opportunity are entitled to act as scrutineers.

 

If sufficient applications are received, one scrutineer for and one scrutineer against the question will be appointed for each voting place. One scrutineer for the question and one scrutineer against the question will also be appointed to be present at the determination of the official results and, if necessary, at a judicial recount.

 

 

Alternate Approval Process

The AAP concluded on March 6, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. and was unsuccessful with 109 votes received in opposition to the bylaw.

 

 

Northside Recreation Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 564, 2020

The Northside Recreation Loan Authorization Bylaw, which is required in order to borrow funds for the project from the Municipal Finance Authority, details the loan amounts, payments and term of the loan. The bylaw is currently at third reading and has received provincial statutory approval. Financing debt payments are proposed over a 30 year period to minimize the annual impact on residential tax rates. Elector approval is required to adopt the bylaw, and proceed with borrowing to move forward with the addition project.

 

View the Lund Community Centre Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 564, 2020 Certified to Third Reading

 

Bylaw synopsis: The general intent of this bylaw is to borrow up to $1,100,000.00, plus interest, over an amortization period of up to 30 years to construct an addition and renovate the community centre located at 9656 Larson Rd, Lund, BC V0N 2G0 within the Northside Community Recreation Service Area. The area that is subject to the bylaw is all of Electoral Area A excluding Savary Island.

 

 

Cost Breakdown

Estimated Construction Cost Estimated Project Cost Costs Covered by Provincial and Federal Grant Funding (73.33% of total project) Balance from Reserves and Short-Term Borrowing Remainder Required to be borrowed (26.67% of total project)
Between $4 and $5.7 million Between $4.2 and $5.9 million Up to $4,199,082 $600,000 Up to $1,100,000
Form of Debt
(Long term borrowing from MFA BC)
Total debt amount to be borrowed from MFA BC Annual Payment
(Projected 6% Borrowing)
Residential Tax rate per $100K*
Long Term: 30 years $1,100,000 $96,000 $8.00

*Residential tax rates are based on BC Assessment’s 2023 completed roll values.

 

Should the bylaw be approved, $115,000 received in donation pledges, along with any additional donations received, will reduce the amount required to borrow for this project.

 

Area to which the bylaw applies

Northside Recreation Service Area which includes a portion of Electoral Area ‘A’. A map of the service area is available for viewing by visiting the Regional District office at the address listed below:

 

 

Voter Eligibility

An eligible resident elector for the purpose of this Alternative Approval Process is a resident who meets all of the following criteria:
• is age 18 or older;
• is a Canadian citizen;
• has been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months;
• is a resident of the Northside Community Recreation Service Area and,
• is not disqualified from voting by the Local Government Act or any other act.

 

A non-resident property elector who meets all of the following criteria is also an eligible elector:
• is not a resident of the Northside Community Recreation Service Area;
• is age 18 or older;
• is a Canadian citizen;
• has been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months;
• has been a registered owner of real property within the Northside Community Recreation Service Area for at least 30 days;
and,
• is not disqualified from voting by the Local Government Act or any other act.

 

NOTE: In the case of multiple owners of a parcel, only one of the owners may vote as the non-resident property elector for that parcel with the authorization of a majority of the remaining owners. Properties owned in full or in part by corporations are not entitled to vote.

 

Mail Ballot Voting

If you wish to vote by mail, you must submit the following information in writing to the qathet Regional District office in person or by mail to 202-4675 Marine Avenue, Powell River, BC, V8A 2L2, or by email to vote@qathet.ca:

 

1. Full name;

2. Residential address;

3. Address of the property in relation to which you are voting (for non-resident property electors);

4. Method of delivery of your mail ballot package:

 

(a) pick up at qathet Regional District office;

(b) regular letter mail through Canada Post to residential address; OR

(c) regular letter mail through Canada Post to an alternate address provided when requesting the mail ballot package; and

 

5. To ensure you receive the correct registration application form in your package, you must indicate whether you are going to be registering as a resident or non-resident property elector.

6. Provide an email address or phone number to contact you at, should there be an issue with your submission.

 

Once your application to vote by mail ballot is approved the mail ballot package with instructions will be issued to you.

 

Please note: for applications received after Friday, April 21, 2023, time will not permit issuing the ballot package via mail, and the voter must arrange to pick up a package from the qRD.

 

Voters are responsible for returning the completed package to the qathet Regional District. To be counted, your mail ballot must be received by the Chief Election Officer no later than 8:00 pm on Saturday, May 6, 2023. It is your responsibility to deliver or post the mail ballot in sufficient time for delivery to the qathet Regional District, at 202-4675 Marine Avenue, Powell River, BC. V8A 2L2.

 

 

Drop Us a Line

Questions or concerns regarding this project can be directed to Michelle Jones, Corporate Officer, via email at vote@qathet.ca or by calling 604-485-2260.

 

 

 

Background information

Media Releases
March 16, 2023 – Additional donations pledged to support Lund Community Centre addition
February 23, 2023 – Anonymous donation pledged to support Lund Community Centre addition
Reports and Background Information
Results of the Alternate Approval Process for Lund Community Centre Loan Authorization and Consideration of Assent Vote
Powell River Peak Statutory AAP Notice 
Infrastructure Planning Grant Lund Community Centre Report
Lund Community Centre Addition Mail Out
Story Boards from the February 7, 2023 Public Information Session
Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream Funding Application for the Lund Community Centre Upgrade Project
Determination of Eligible Electors Report
Lund Community Centre Loan Authorization Elector Approval and Budget Change – June 2022
Application for Community, Culture and Recreation Grant / Lund Community Centre Upgrade – August 13, 2020