Council

Alternative Approval Process (AAP)

About Alternative Approval Processes:

Under section 86 of the Community Charter, local governments, like the District of Ucluelet may use an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to directly engage citizens about a proposed bylaw or other matters requiring elector approval. An AAP allows electors to indicate that they are opposed to a local government proposal moving forward for various municipal matters such as boundary extensions, long-term borrowing, changes to municipal classification, and disposal of park land. 

An AAP allows a Council to proceed with an action unless at least ten per cent (10%) of the electors state their opposition within a prescribed period. If more than ten percent (10%) of the electors state their opposition to the proposed action, the Council may not proceed with the action without the matter being made subject to and successfully passing an assent voting (referendum).

To oppose a local government proposal which is subject to an AAP, eligible electors can submit an elector response form. These forms are made available for each individual AAP and are specific to each proposal. 

Eligibility Requirements:

Only electors of the District of Ucluelet are eligible to sign the elector response forms. There are two types of electors – resident electors and non-resident property electors.

A resident elector is an individual who is entitled to sign an elector response form during an AAP by virtue of living within that jurisdiction. When signing an elector response form, a resident elector must:

• be 18 years of age or older;
• be a Canadian citizen;
• have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months;
• be a resident of the jurisdiction;
• live in the area defined for the AAP; and,
• not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from voting in a local election or be otherwise disqualified by law.

A non-resident property elector is an individual that does not live in a jurisdiction and who is entitled to sign an elector response form during an AAP by virtue of owning property in that jurisdiction. When signing an elector response form, a non-resident property elector must:

• be at least 18 years of age;
• be a Canadian citizen;
• have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months;
• be a registered owner of property in the jurisdiction for at least 30 days;
• own property in the area defined for the AAP; and,
• not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from voting in a local election or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Note: Only one non-resident property elector may sign an Elector Response Form per property, regardless of how many people own the property; and, that owner must have the written consent of a majority of the other property owner(s) to sign the response form on their behalf. Property owned in whole or in part by a corporation does not qualify under the non-resident property elector provisions.

To learn more about Alternative Approval Processes visit the Province of British Columbia's website. 

Current Alternative Approval Processes

District of Ucluelet Parkland Disposal Bylaw No. 1334, 2024

Update: District of Ucluelet Parkland Dispoal Bylaw No. 1334, 2024 has received the approval of the electors. View the full results here.

Elector approval for this Bylaw was obtained through an Alternative Approval Process (AAP).  The deadline for submitting elector response forms for this AAP was March 13, 2024 at 4:00 PM.  The Bylaw received elector approval as less than 10% of the electors of the whole District of Ucluelet (173) submitted elector response forms in opposition to Council proceeding with this Bylaw without first obtaining the assent of the electors through an assent voting (referendum).  

Council will consider this Bylaw at a future Council meeting. 

About Bylaw No. 1334, 2024

The purpose of the Bylaw is to authorize the District to close a 0.201 hectare portion of parkland located in the northwest corner of Tugwell Field Park fronting Forbes Road and dispose of this closed park to the Food Bank on the Edge for $1.00.  The parkland to be closed and disposed of is outlined in bold and marked “Park to be Closed Parcel A”, on the map below:

As additional consideration for the disposition of the closed park, the District will be granted:

1. an option to re-purchase the closed Park exercisable by the District if the closed park is not used for the operation of a food bank for a consecutive period of six months, the owner fails to maintain the lands and the buildings on the land in a good state of maintenance and repair, or at any time following the 20th anniversary of registration of the option; and
2. a statutory right of way entitling the District to store equipment and goods on the closed park. 

To review the Bylaw No. 1334, 2024 click here.  

Supporting Documents 

• Elector Response Form
• District of Ucluelet Parkland Disposal Bylaw No. 1334, 2024
• Report No. 24-08
• Notice of Alternative Approval Process - Published a first time on January 31, 2024
• Notice of Alternative Approval Process - Published a second time February 7, 2024
• Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form

Previous Alternative Approval Processes

Loan Authorization Bylaw 1304, 2022 

Loan Authorization Bylaw 1304, 2022 (the "Bylaw") has received approval of the electors and been adopted. 

To review the certification of results click here. 

For more information about the water treatment project click here. 

For more information regarding the Alternative Approval Process, please contact the District of Ucluelet’s Corporate Services department at 250-726-7744. 

Ucluelet Visitor Parking Program

In order to support the demands of a growing community with a substantial tourist population, aging infrastructure and increasing service level demands, the District is exploring a visitor parking program for the community in order to meet these demands.

Background

As a resort municipality the District has been funding the increased demands on municipal services and infrastructure created by tourism through local tax requisitions. In order to support the continued demands from tourism on municipal infrastructure and services the District is considering a visitor orientated parking program. Although the District receives some funding from the province as a resort municipality those funds are aimed solely at the development of new tourism facing initiatives and does not contemplate the ongoing maintenance and care of tourism facing infrastructure. In order to maintain the high level of care and maintenance of existing and new tourism infrastructure and our community as a world class destination the District is considering the implementation of a parking program with the funds helping to offset the ongoing and future costs tourism has on our community.

Parking Program Overview

The District is contemplating a one-zone parking program that would require all non-resident vehicles to purchase a daily parking pass.

1. Permanent Ucluelet residents exempt from parking fees.
2. Normal cost recovery fee or complimentary parking for all other West Coast permanent residents.
3. Blanket parking program inclusive of all municipally owned parking areas inclusive of primary and secondary streets and parking lots.
4. A flat daily rate for all visitor vehicles.
5. Kiosk and/or digital payment system.

District wide fair zone (streets, parking lots, District properties)

 Flat rate system (day rate) i.e. $5/day

 Local Residents Exemptions

West Coast Residents (Normal Cost Recovery for Administration of parking passes)

Business

General Impact Assessment

If a parking program is to be implemented based on the suggestions within this report the below table provides an overview of the potential anticipated impacts to the various stakeholders that reside or visit the community.

Questions

A: Can a parking program exempt permanent residents?
Yes, through the use of a free parking pass to permanent residents, all permanent residents could be exempt from any parking fees imposed by the municipality.

B: Can the District extend an exemption or reduced fees to permanent residents of other communities?
Yes, an expanded exemption to neighbouring communities or discount for an annual parking pass can be provided.

C: How do we prevent pushing visitors out of parking lots and onto neighbourhood streets?
Parking programs that charge fees for specific parking lots or areas do see changes in parking habits with vehicles being parked blocks away from the core areas in order to avoid paying parking fees. The District is considering a blanket, community wide, parking program, all parking lots, streets, side streets etc. to require a parking permit (no free or time restricted parking areas) this would negate the incentive for visitors to search out ‘free’ parking opportunities.

D: How would the District mitigate visitors leaving cars in private parking lots?
The District has little control over private lands and no way to provide coverage or oversight of private parking areas. The prohibition from aiding a business prevents a municipality from assisting a business in this manner.

E: Can the District implement a program that is specific to existing parking lots?
Yes, there are a variety of options for implementing a parking fee program including charging for specific parking lots, streets, areas etc. If only specific parking areas are designated as fee zones, the District would likely see increased visitor parking in non-fee areas which would undermine the program and have a negative impact on residents.

F: Can the District oversee private parking lots?
No. The District is not permitted to charge for parking on private lands. Local businesses could, at their expense, charge for parking on their lands provided they have adequate space and are permitted within their specific zoning.

G: What would the impact on local businesses be?
Staff would estimate that there would be limited impacts on local businesses. Visitors to the region have travelled specifically to visit Ucluelet, Tofino, and the Pacific Rim National Park. It is unlikely that visitors would avoid Ucluelet due to the need to purchase a parking pass.

H: When is the District considering implanting the parking program,
The District is actively engaging with companies that provide this service and are looking to implement the parking program in 2024.

I: Will the parking pass be valid for the Pacific Rim National Park?
No, parking passes only will only apply within the District of Ucluelet.

J: How will the parking revenues be used?
Parking revenues will be used to help fund programs and services within the District.

K: Will the parking program be active seasonally?
No, the District is contemplating a annual program.

 Feedback

The District is undertaking an initial community survey in February of 2024 and welcomes comments, suggestions and concerns from the community. Residents are welcome to provide their comments to info@ucluelet.ca.

Public Hearings

Under Section 464 of the Local Government Act, public hearings are generally required prior to adoption of an official community plan bylaw, a zoning bylaw, a bylaw under Section 548 or an amendment to any of these bylaws. Public hearings are scheduled to occur during Council meetings or as stand alone events. Members of the public may participate in public hearings in-person, through written submissions, by phone, and by Zoom Webinar. 

Provincial legislation now prohibits Council from holding public hearings on proposed zoning bylaws when there is an official community plan in place for the affected area, the proposed bylaw is consistent with this plan, the sole purpose of the bylaw is to permit residential development, and the residential component of the development accounts for at least half of the gross floor area of all building and other structures proposed as part of the development. Public hearings on zoning bylaws proposed for the sole purpose of complying with section 481.3 of the Local Government Act are also now prohibited.

Review related materials - The application, bylaw, and other relevant materials may be inspected at the District of Ucluelet office at 200 Main Street from the date of public notice until the Public Hearing or Council Meeting, during regular office hours (Mon. – Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. excluding holidays).

Write a submission - Drop it off at District Office at 200 Main Street, Ucluelet, BC, mail to District of Ucluelet or send it via email to communityinput@ucluelet.ca. Any submissions dropped-off or mailed to the District office, must be received before the meeting, if the hearing is scheduled to occur during a Council meeting, and before the public hearing, if the hearing is scheduled as a stand-alone event. Submissions sent by email or dropped-off at a public hearing or Council meeting may be submitted until the hearing is closed. Written submissions must contain the writer's name and address, and are considered part of the public record pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 

Participate in-person -  Public hearings and Council meetings take place at the Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet BC.

Participate through Zoom Webinar by Telephone -  Dial in on your phone using the phone number provided below under "Zoom Details". You will need to enter the meeting ID in order to join the meeting. Note that a participant ID is NOT required. If you would like to speak, press *9 to raise your hand. Staff will unmute you when it is your turn to speak. Press *6 to unmute yourself.  Please state your name and address.

Participate through Zoom Webinar by URL - Use your Zoom compatible tablet, smart phone or computer to join the hearing or meeting by the entering the URL provided under "Zoom Details" into your browser. If you would like to speak, click the "raise your hand" icon. Staff will unmute you when it's your turn. You may also have to unmute yourself. Please state your name and address. 

More information about using Zoom is available on Zoom's website. You can also test Zoom before the meeting here.    

If you are disconnected during the meeting, please join again using the phone number or link provided. 

Public hearings are streamed live and recorded. They can be viewed on the District of Ucluelet's YouTube channel. Please note that there is up to a 60 second lag.

Upcoming Public Hearings:

Privacy

Public Hearings are webcast live and a recording is available on the District’s YouTube channel. Correspondence you submit, including name and address, will form part of the public record, and will be published on the District’s website or read into the record. The District considers your name and address relevant to this matter and will disclose this personal information as it informs Council’s consideration of your opinion in relation to the subject property. However, your phone number and email address will not be disclosed.

Personal information is collected by the District under the authority of s. 26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of administering the Public Hearing. Please direct any questions about personal information to District’s Privacy Officer by telephone: (250) 726-7744, email: jrotenberg@ucluelet.ca, or mail: P.O. Box 999, Ucluelet, BC, V0R 3A0.