The St. Albert Taxpayers Association is continuing its petition drive against proposed downtown redevelopment, but it is unlikely to force a plebiscite question on the fall ballot.
The association, which opposes the Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan (DARP), is circulating a petition both online and on paper calling for a question about support for the proposal to be presented to voters for the Oct. 18 municipal election.
Lynda Flannery, president of the association, said they are hoping to show council the proposed redevelopment, which would bring higher densities and several public projects, does not have citizen support.
She said the idea of a formal plebiscite was always a fallback plan.
“What we are finding out is that there are people out there who are not happy with this and don’t feel they have been consulted.”
Under provincial legislation, forcing a plebiscite requires signatures from 10 per cent of the city’s population. The petition must be witnessed and include a person’s address and name so it can be verified.
Chris Belke, the city’s chief legislative officer, said legislation also grants time for the city to verify a petition and take other steps that can draw out the process.
“Everything adds up and sort of nickel and dimes its way up to being a fairly lengthy process.”
He said given all the steps and the vast number of signatures needed, it would be nearly impossible to get a question on the Oct. 18 election ballot.
“In terms of getting a valid petition presented in time to get a question on the ballot for this fall’s election, I would be amazed if anybody could pull it off now. It is just too tight.”
He stressed however, if a valid petition wasn’t completed in time for the fall vote, a plebiscite could still go ahead separately at a later date.
Flannery agrees a plebiscite is likely out of reach, but if the association puts enough signatures before council, they are hopeful council will put the issue to a vote.
“I don’t think that will force a plebiscite unless council decides to make one.”
She also said the Municipal Government Act makes it difficult to contest land use planning issues.
The group was at the St. Albert Outdoor Farmers’ Market last weekend and intends to be downtown this weekend looking for signatures. It will also engage in a door-knocking campaign.
Flannery said the chamber of commerce told them to stop trying to get people to sign soon after they arrived.
Chamber president Mike Howes, said the chamber doesn’t have a view on DARP and asked the association to stop because the market is not a political space.
He said candidates for federal, provincial and municipal office have all been told they can’t campaign there before and there were complaints about the association’s attempts to get people to sign the petition.
“It is not supposed to be a political arena,” said Howes.
City council is set to a hold a public hearing on the plan on Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. On Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. the St. Albert Community League is hosting a meeting at the community hall on Perron Street.
