Councillors and City staff discuss the validity of the first AAP at a meeting in December 2023. The process was cancelled, before a redo was also scrapped due to errors. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

nanaimo operations centre

City of Nanaimo conducting ‘review of internal process’ after second scrapped AAP

Feb 16, 2024 | 5:29 AM

NANAIMO — The City says they’re committed to finding out exactly how ultimately fatal errors occurred in two, recently-run alternative approval processes.

Issues with public notice on a first AAP last fall forced a redo beginning in mid-January, however another error from the City in making available required forms to the public meant a second cancellation.

Dale Lindsay, City chief administrative officer, told NanaimoNewsNOW errors with the AAP, which aimed to finance phase one construction of the Nanaimo Operations Centre, were “unfortunate” and now attention turns to figuring out how they occurred.

“Absolutely, we need to do a review of internal process to make sure that we’re doing everything possible to make sure that we can, if called upon to run another AAP on this project or another project, that we are clear on our internal processes and policies to be able to do that.”

Cancellation of the AAP’s means the City will be unable to immediately secure up to $48.5 million in financing to start the proposed public works facility upgrade on Labieux Rd.

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The project aims to replace aging and undersized infrastructure, which would be insufficient to help Nanaimo handle a major disaster such as an earthquake.

Lindsay said he didn’t want to influence the internal review, but admitted he had some initial thoughts on contributing factors to the errors.

“Initially, what I would highlight is the public notification bylaw. Some of the changes that were done around how public notification occurred, this is changes the province did with respect to notices…I think has led to some confusion, I don’t want to say that’s all of it but that’s one of the many things we’ll be looking at.”

Lindsay said they’ll also investigate why a previous AAP, which wrapped in October and focused on a park dedication on Howard Ave., had no issues, but considerable mistakes hampered efforts just weeks later.

Many public works staff work out of portables or other facilities which are well past their best-before dates. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Mayor Leonard Krog concurred a review was needed.

“The process has not succeeded twice because of challenges within our presentation of it, clearly it’s time to consider what could and should be done. It’s a time to reflect.”

Krog added despite challenges with the AAP, the public works project must proceed in some way.

“Obviously it’s very disappointing for Council, obviously sorry it’s happened and very frustrating. My view and Council’s view has not changed at all in terms of the necessity and the need for this project. The public works yard needs to be upgraded…and it’s in the public’s interest to do so.”

Despite setbacks, Krog stood by AAP’s overall as a way for local government to access financing for major capital projects.

He said the process allows those opposed to a Council direction under these circumstances to register their objection in an easy and accessible manner.

While not providing numbers, Krog said the number of forms submitted during the second AAP were less than the first go around, where around four per cent of eligible residents filed an objection.

However, it’s unclear how many forms were yet to be submitted to the City before the original Feb. 20 deadline.

Council directed staff on Monday, Feb. 12 to return at a later date with options to finance construction of the Nanaimo Operations Centre.

While exact timelines are not set, Lindsay anticipated returning with options “early in the fall” for Council’s consideration.

Should borrowing still be the preferred option by Council, Lindsay said they would aim achieve the required elector consent in time for a spring 2025 financing window through the Municipal Finance Authority.

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