The Regional District of Nanaimo will use an alternate approval process to try to cover costs for new charge stations in rural areas.
The RDN, at a meeting last month, is establishing an electric vehicle charging station service bylaw as well as a reserve fund bylaw. Each was read three times at the RDN board meeting on Oct. 27.
The RDN last September received a grant to install four Level 2 EV charging stations. They will be located at facilities in the regional district at Electoral Areas B, E, G and H, including Gabriola Island and Nanoose Bay. The stations are expected to be installed in 2021.
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However, electors from all four areas will first be asked to submit a form to indicate opposition to the proposed service bylaws via an alternative approval process.
The new bylaws will require ratepayers via taxation to cover the ongoing operations ($8,278), the annual electricity costs ($5,240) and capital and maintenance reserve ($6,718) for a total annual cost of $20,236. The allocation of the $20,236 within the participating electoral areas based on 2020 assessments are Area B ($3,870), Area E ($6,699), Area G ($5,888) and Area H ($3,779).
The four areas total 19,947 electors and the alternative approve process requires the RDN to receive fewer than 1,994 responses (less than 10 per cent of the number of electors) to allow the board to proceed to adopt Bylaws No. 1796 and 1797. The deadline to receive responses will be Feb. 15.
The new services needs to be in place no later than March 2021 to be included in the 2021 RDN financial plan.