By Alessia Proietti

First reading: Community Standards Bylaw

Livestock, shopping carts, vehicle noise: Red Deer city council discusses their regulation

Apr 26, 2022 | 10:39 AM

Regulations regarding livestock on residential properties, shopping carts, and vehicle noise are being considered under the Community Standards Bylaw in Red Deer.

Council gave first reading to the amendments at their regular meeting on Monday with a request for more information to come back for second and third reading.

The proposed amendments include:

• Prohibiting the keeping of livestock on residential sites within the city
• Regulations for shopping carts
• Addressing vehicle noise and noise on private property

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Administration says the amendment involving livestock is intended to fill a gap until a full animal bylaw can be approved, expected by the end of 2022. The City also says there has been an increasing volume of inquiries for residential livestock.

The amendment recommends no livestock, which includes horses, domesticated moose, foxes, cows, turkeys, and more, to be allowed on a residential site. The penalty for doing so would begin at $75 for the first offence, up to $300 for the third.

SHOPPING CARTS

New regulations for shopping carts may prohibit abandoning a cart on the street and removing a cart from a business’ property, with fines beginning at $75 for the first offence and up to $300 for the third. For those who cannot pay, a conviction could be on their record preventing them from using provincial registry services until the fine is paid.

Other regulations would be set on the retail stores to implement preventative measures so customers do not leave with the shopping carts. If a peace officer were to find a shopping cart and have it removed from the street, the retail store may have to pay an impoundment fee to the City and will have 60 days to retrieve the cart.

Councillor Vesna Higham found the regulations unfair to businesses and proposed three amendments.

“I feel so passionately around not further penalizing the victim,” she said.

The amendments included deleting the responsibility placed on retail owners to prevent carts being removed from the property, the removal of the impound fee for retail stores, and the addition of a penalty for a fourth offence to appear before a judge where, perhaps, community service would be assigned.

Councillor Cindy Jeffries also voiced against administration’s suggestions, saying the amendments may just cause a vicious cycle for vulnerable populations who cannot afford to pay the ticket and will then face further consequences from the minor offence.

“I’m not convinced that this helps anyone,” she said. “I’m not convinced the bylaw solves the problem we think we will solve.”

While acknowledging carts are expensive for businesses, she also listed various cases where residents may use the cart such as a senior bringing groceries home, a person facing homelessness transporting their belongings, or kids playing with their friends.

Administration agreed to bring back further information for second and third reading on this item.

VEHICLE NOISE

Regarding vehicle noise, The City says there has been an increase in concern from the community. The RCMP and Municipal Policing Services received over 1,600 complaints, in addition to social media posts and emails.

Vehicle noise is currently only regulated under the provincial Traffic Safety Act.

The proposed bylaw amendment for vehicle noise includes a recommended decibel (dBA) level of 92 dBA for a vehicle while at idle and 96 dBA for a vehicle while at speed greater than idling. Penalties start at $250 for non-compliance.

If approved, the anticipated costs are an investment of $10,000 by Municipal Policing to purchase Sound Level Meters for measuring decibel level.

No change was recommended to property noise regulation.

The Community Standards Bylaw, originally adopted in 2007, regulates certain activities, including noise, nuisances, unsightly premises, and public disturbances. The City claims it has proven successful over the years in improving the aesthetics of the community. The bylaw is used by the Inspections & Licensing and Municipal Policing Services (MPS) departments, as well as the RCMP to enforce behavioural and property related regulations.

The bylaw was revised in April 2021 to include more provisions for vacant buildings and chronic nuisance properties.

The City says the proposed amendments are a result of operational needs, previous direction received from council, and public participation such as the Neighbourhood Life and We are Better Together groups.

Second and third readings of the bylaw amendments related to noise and livestock are scheduled to take place at the May 9 regular council meeting.

Second and third readings of the amendments related to shopping carts are expected back in approximately six to eight weeks.

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