This notice is the first of two notices to advise electors in the Town of Ladysmith that Council intends to borrow funds through the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia for the construction of a new City Hall including Institutional/Commercial space. The amount to be borrowed is up to $13.5 million. The estimated yearly payment is $860,520 and the term of the loan will be up to 30 years.
The proposed new City Hall would form the foundational floor of a not-for-profit housing development offering workforce housing for middle income earners. The approximate 90 rental units to be built on the Town-owned properties at 1st Avenue and Buller Street will be a mix of unit configurations based on the Town’s Housing Needs Assessment Report. The housing development would be funded by the non-profit developer and the Province of BC.
A Public Information Package about the New City Hall borrowing is available at City Hall reception, 410 Esplanade, Ladysmith, BC and on the Town’s website at www.ladysmith.ca.
ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS
In accordance with sections 84 and 86 of the Community Charter, Council must seek the approval of the electors through an Alternative Approval Process. The area to which this Alternative Approval Process applies is the Town of Ladysmith as defined by its municipal boundaries.
Council will commit to borrowing the money and apply for funding of up to $13.5 million unless by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at least 10 percent of the electors in the whole municipality sign an Elector Response Form opposing the borrowing. The number of elector responses required to prevent the Town of Ladysmith from proceeding is 741. A report outlining the basis on which this determination was made is included in the Public Information Package.
Elector Response Forms are available during regular business hours (8:30am to 4:00pm) at Ladysmith City Hall, 410 Esplanade, Ladysmith, BC. The form can also be downloaded from the Town of Ladysmith website: www.ladysmith.ca.
Beginning on Friday, May 24, 2024 signed forms can be submitted in person at City Hall or through the mail.
Elector Response Forms must be in the form established by the Town of Ladysmith Council and only eligible electors in the Town of Ladysmith may sign Elector Response Forms.
There are two types of electors – resident and non-resident.
Resident Elector
- Canadian citizen;
- 18 years of age or older;
- Resident of British Columbia for at least the last six months;
- Reside in the Town of Ladysmith; and
- Not disqualified by law from voting in local elections.
Non-Resident Elector
- Canadian citizen;
- 18 years of age or older;
- Resident of British Columbia for at least the last six months;
- Have owned and held registered title to a property in the
- Town of Ladysmith for at least the last 30 days, (and have been designated as the elector in that property); and
- Not disqualified by law from voting in local elections.
Property owned in whole or in part by a corporation does not qualify under the non-resident elector provisions.
Deadline: Signed Elector Response Forms must be received by the Corporate Officer at City Hall, 410 Esplanade, Ladysmith, BC before 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Office hours are 8:30am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday, excluding statutory holidays.
This is the first of two publications of this notice. Dated this 16th day of May, 2024.
Sue Bouma
Corporate Officer
Town of Ladysmith
PO Box 220, 410 Esplanade, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A2
250.245.6400 / / www.ladysmith.ca
