After more than two years of effort, Airdrie City council gave final reading to the Community Standards Bylaw (CSB), Dec. 17.
The controversial bylaw, which amalgamates a number of regulations into one document, laying out minimum standards for property maintenance, ponding water, noise control, sidewalk clearing and unsightly conditions, was created by City staff from several departments including planning, building inspections, municipal enforcement and legislative services.
“It took a while… but I was glad it got passed,” said Daryl Poburan, manager of municipal enforcement.
The CSB institutes a number of changes for Airdrie residents including changes to the amount of noise allowed within city limits.
Bylaw officers will be permitted to ticket motorcyclists and off-road vehicles emitting noise in excess of 92 decibels.
The City’s sidewalk-clearing standards have changed from 48 hours to 24 hours after a snowstorm.
Poburan said council directed municipal enforcement officers to use discretion when dealing with residents who are away for the weekend, seniors and disabled people who haven’t cleared their sidewalks.
“We aren’t out there to make everyone’s lives difficult, but I know if we don’t do something… people are upset on that end,” said Poburan. “We are trying to balance that.”
The CSB will also allow enforcement officers to clean up messy properties, fences and outdoor structures within about 30 days, far less than the three months it could previously take.
Poburan said the new standard for enforcing the cutting of grass has decreased from about two feet to four inches. Poburan said there is now a $500 fine for ignoring a notice to clean up a property. That fine can be doubled and tripled if properties are not maintained within a certain amount of time.
Other changes include the need for lids on construction bins and changes to the RV storage portion of the bylaw, which states dilapidated (not roadworthy) vehicles can’t be stored on front driveways.
Originally, the CSB included new rules for graffiti removal, construction waste bins and recreational vehicle (RV) parking. Those changes were nixed after residents showed up in force to an Oct. 1 public hearing to contest changes that would have prohibited all RVs from parking at the front residential properties during the winter months.
Poburan added he was disappointed that council turned down approval for two staff members in the budget, approved by council on the same day as the CSB.
“We had asked for a permanent team leader and a bylaw officer and both were nixed,” he said. “I don’t know what affect that will have.”
At a previous council meeting, council directed municipal enforcement to proactively enforce the City’s bylaws. According to Poburan, the department’s previous method of enforcement was by complaint.
“It has been an awkward change for the officers… it’s lots of adjustment for them for sure,” said Poburan, adding that department would work toward following council’s direction.
According to Poburan, many of the fines outlined in the CSB are appealable and he encourages anyone with questions or concerns to contact municipal enforcement at 403-948-8800.
“Bylaw police get such a bad rap, but we are trying to please people the best we can,” said Poburan.
