The Concerned Citizens of Revelstoke have created a petition asking that Revelstoke City Council defer the Development Cost Charge Bylaw decisions to the next city council, which will be elected in October.
“The DCC bylaw is an important part of the community of Revelstoke and needs to be looked at in more depth before rushing into a decision with an outgoing council, in the summer months, with many questions and concerns of the general public still not addressed,” reads the description of the petition on change.org.
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Last week, council approved the first reading of the Development Cost Charge Bylaw, with councilor Trevor English opposed.
With that approval came direction to city staff to inform the public of the proposed bylaw and gather feedback, by Aug. 28 at 4:30 p.m.
Does the #DCCBylaw impose new costs to residents?
— City of Revelstoke (@Revelstoke_BC) August 22, 2018
During the development of the DCC Bylaw, the benefit to existing users is estimated for each project and a proportion of the cost of the project will be paid for by tax or rate payers.... https://t.co/2mhe4D8MEg
Development Cost Charges Bylaw allows the city to charge developers and use the money to assist paying capital costs of installing services such as roads, sewer and water infrastructure, instead of that responsibility resting exclusively on existing tax payers.
The proposed Development Cost Charges, were calculated based on a number of factors, such as projected population growth and the cost of upcoming infrastructure projects in the community, as well as something called a Municipal Assist Factor.
This factor is what percentage of the cost of upcoming infrastructure projects that the city will contribute. In turn, it is how much the taxpayers will contribute to the cost of the projects.
In the current bylaw, which was adopted in 2008, the Municipal Assist Factor for all projects related to growth, is one per cent. In the new bylaw, the Development Cost Charges have been calculated based on a Municipal Assist Factor for sewage upgrade projects of 60 per cent.
This would mean a significant increase for tax payers who use the wastewater system in Revelstoke.
The proposed bylaw, based on a study by McElhanney Consulting Services followed by a report done by city staff, as directed by council, has the increase to development cost charges phased in over the next five years.
READ MORE: Cost to Revelstoke taxpayers as well as developers affected by proposed bylaw
A special council meeting has been scheduled for Sept. 5 to continue the process, which began with public information sessions back in May.
To see the petition go to www.change.org/p/revelstoke-mayor-and-council-help-stop-the-current-dcc-bylaw-update-process-at-the-city-of-revelstoke
Revelstoke proposed Development Cost Charge Bylaw Aug.14 by Revelstoke Editor on Scribd
Revelstoke Development Cost Charge Bylaw Background Report by Revelstoke Editor on Scribd
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