Well Tuesday May 4th, in Council chambers we held a public hearing on the community standards bylaw. Probably somewhere between 50-60 people showed up.
First of all our good Mayor gave those in opposition the opportunity and encouragement to speak (I lost count but at one point I was up to 18 times that he requested those folks to come forth).
The issues that I heard from those opposed to this bylaw (16 people spoke in opposition), were one that people would not be able to do their own mechanical repairs on their property, two that seniors on fixed income would be forced to perform costly renovations and three that I have a god given right to do whatever I want on my own property.
On the positive side were eight people that spoke about the need to clean up the community, that 95% of the residents comply with the standards, and that to attract both residents and businesses we need to make the community as appealing as possible.
Response after the meeting almost everybody I have spoke to, is in favour of the bylaw.
Next step May 11 at our committee meeting the floor is open for any councilor to bring forth amendments. I plan on doing that to address the concerns raised above.
8 comments:
Dean, I was at the Public Forum on May 4, and what a gong show it was. I've never heard so many lame reasons why someone should be allowed to let their property look like a dump, and why it was necessary to keep a bunch of derelict vehicles in one's yard. As loud and boistrous as that group was, I am convinced they are a small minority in the Pass. Everyone I've talked to is in favour of the new bylaw. So, keep up the good work, and get this thing passed.
How many of those people would have spoke if the Mayor had not given them so much encouragement?
Dean very good job writing the bylaw keep plugging away most of the community supports you.
All the credit is not mine, a lot of people have put in there time and effort to develop this bylaw, I only played a small party, it is also not just myself pushing this bylaw, the majority of council in line with the majority of the taxpayers are also in support of this bylaw.
Why can't people do work on a vehicle in their own garage? What is the reasoning behind this? Alot of people like to tinker on cars or motorcycles as a hobby. And it's good for the Pass economy as they're buying parts, tools etc to do this.
Too many years in the making (because of one man) but it finally looks like we will soon have something that will go a long ways in both beautifying our area and encouraging investment in it as well.
Back in 1998 Mayor Utley gave us the Unsightly Premises Bylaw only to have Irwin/Sygutek get elected that year and make a mockery of it to this day. Hopefully, history in this case will not repeat itself?
In any event, Kudo's to you Dean, your fellow councillors who supported this Bylaw, and to those who tirelessly worked on it to make it what it is. We salute you all and thank you!
John, Thanks for your comments, this fall we all have to work very hard to ensure that history does not repeat itself.
OMG looks like our good mayor has collected more junk...has anyone ever checked to see if everything he has is insured?
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