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Public Notice

2003 Descanso Bay Emergency Wharf Referendum
NOTICE OF OTHER VOTING
DESCANSO BAY WHARF SERVICE BYLAW

 
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given to electors of Electoral Area 'B' (Gabriola & surrounding Islands) that a vote is to be conducted on Saturday, November 1, 2003 for the purpose of obtaining elector consent to "Descanso Bay Wharf Service Bylaw No. 1357, 2003".

REFERENDUM SUMMARY

Voters will be asked if they are in favour of creating a service for the establishment, construction, operation and maintenance of emergency evacuation wharf facilities at Descanso Bay in Electoral Area 'B' (Gabriola Island).

If the referendum is successful, the annual cost in the first year following the establishment of the service will be the greater of $70,515 or $0.152 per $1,000 of assessed value (or $15.20 for a property assessed at $100,000). In the second and subsequent years the annual cost will be the greater of $7,880 or $0.017 per $1,000 of assessed value (or $1.70 for a property assessed at $100,000). Only those persons who are eligible to vote and who reside or own property within Electoral Area 'B' will be entitled to vote on November 1, 2003. Two advance votes are also scheduled for October 22 and 29, 2003 for those unable to vote on November 1st .

The question to be voted on by the electors within Electoral Area 'B' on November 1st will read as follows:

"Are you in favour of the Regional District of Nanaimo adopting:"
Descanso Bay Wharf Service Bylaw No. 1357, 2003, which would:
  • Create a service for the establishment, construction, operation and maintenance of wharf facilities in Electoral Area 'B' (Gabriola Island); and

  • Impose an annual tax requisition within the Service Area as follows:

    1. in the first year following the establishment of the service, the greater of $70,515 or $15.20 per $100,000 of assessment ($0.152 per $1,000) applied to the net taxable value of land and improvements; and
    2. in the second and subsequent years after adoption of the Bylaw the greater of $7,880 or $1.70 per $100,000 of assessment ($0.017 per $1,000) applied to the net taxable value of land and improvements?"
QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING Resident Electors: Persons residing within Electoral Area 'B' shall be entitled to vote on the referendum question provided that the following criteria is met:
  1. must be 18 or older on general voting day;
  2. must be a Canadian citizen;
  3. must be a resident of BC (as per s.52 of the Local Government Act) for at least 6 months immediately before registration day;
  4. must be a resident of Electoral Area 'B' (as per s.52 of the Local Government Act) for at least 30 days before registration day;
  5. must not be disqualified from voting by the Local Government Act or any other enactment, or otherwise be disqualified by law.
Persons qualifying as "Resident Electors" who will be applying to register at the time of voting must provide at least two documents verifying the elector's identity, with at least one containing the elector's signature, such as a Drivers License. If the voter does not have a second piece of identification, a solemn declaration will be accepted as a second piece of identification. The voter must sign a solemn declaration stating their name and residential address.

Non Resident Electors: Persons owning property and not residing within Electoral Area 'B' shall be entitled to vote on the referendum question provided that the following criteria is met:

  1. must be 18 or older on general voting day;
  2. must be a Canadian citizen;
  3. must be a resident of BC (as per s.52 of the Local Government Act) for at least 6 months immediately before registration day;
  4. must not be entitled to register as a resident elector;
  5. must have been a registered owner of real property in Electoral Area 'B' for at least 30 days immediately before registration day;
  6. must not be disqualified by the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.
A person may register as a non-resident property elector in relation to only one parcel of real property within Electoral Area 'B'.

If more than one individual is the registered owner of the real property, only one of those individuals may register and the person registering must do so with the written consent of the number of those individuals who, together with the person registering, are a majority of registered owners.

Persons qualifying as "Non-Resident Property Electors" who will be applying to register at the time of voting, must complete an application form, must provide at least two documents that provide evidence of the applicant's identity and must provide a copy of land title registration or tax notice which provides proof of ownership. At least one of the documents must contain the applicant's signature, such as a Drivers License. If the voter does not have a second piece of identification, a solemn declaration will be accepted as a second piece of identification. The voter must sign a solemn declaration stating their name and residential address.

In order to obtain a "Non-Resident Property Elector Certificate" in advance of general voting day, a person may apply for the Certificate from the Chief Election Officer or the Deputy Election Officer at the following times:

  1. at any time during regular hours of the Regional District of Nanaimo Administration Office, 6300 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, BC;
  2. during advance voting hours at the Gabriola Island Elementary School Library, 680 North Road, Gabriola Island, BC;
  3. during general voting hours at the Gabriola Island Elementary School, 680 North Road, Gabriola Island, BC.
GENERAL VOTING DAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1st

General voting day will be held between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. to qualified electors of Electoral Area 'B' on Saturday, November 1, 2003 at the location shown below:

Gabriola Island Elementary School 680 North Road
Gabriola Island, BC

ADVANCE VOTING DAYS - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22 & 29

Advance voting opportunities shall also be held between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. to qualified electors of Electoral Area 'B' on October 22, 2003 and October 29, 2003 at the following locations:

Gabriola Island Elementary School 680 North Road
Gabriola Island, BC

In order for persons to vote at an advance voting opportunity, a qualified elector must sign a statement that:

  1. the elector expects to be absent from the Regional District of Nanaimo for which the election is going to be held on General Voting Day (November 1, 2003),
  2. or the elector, for reasons of conscience, will be unable to vote on General Voting Day,
  3. or the elector will be unable to attend a Voting Place on General Voting Day for reasons beyond his/her control,
  4. or the elector has a physical disability or is a person whose mobility is impaired,
  5. or the elector is an Election Official.
The referendum summary is intended to provide, in general terms, the intent of Bylaw 1357; it is not to be understood as an interpretation of Bylaw 1357. A copy of the full bylaw is available for inspection during regular office hours at the Regional District of Nanaimo Administration Office, 6300 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, BC or on the Regional District of Nanaimo website at www.rdn.bc.ca.

For further information on the 2003 Descanso Bay Emergency Wharf Referendum please contact Carol Mason, Chief Election Officer or Maureen Pearse, Deputy Chief Election Officer at 390-4111 or toll free at 1-877-607-4111 (Fax 390-4163) or visit our website at www.rdn.bc.ca.

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