Mountain View County council has considered several proposed amendments to the Public Events bylaw, including its community consultation provisions.
The move came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
“The governance review committee reviewed the public events bylaw and has recommended changes to clarify the definition of public place and to address mandatory public consultation requirements amongst other minor additions and amendments,” said Chris Atchison, director of legislative services.
One change relates to the definition for public place. The updated section reads: “Public place means any place to which the public has access as a right or by invitation, express or implied, and without restricting the foregoing to constitute a public place it is not necessary that all segments of the public have a right of access thereto and includes privately owned lands.”
A change to public events permit exemptions section reads: “The following organizations, clubs, groups or societies may not require a public event permit to hold a public event unless the event is expected to attract greater than 150 people or in the opinion of approving authority, if the nature and scale of the event is such that a permit is required.”
Organizations listed in the bylaw include schools, school boards, religious/church organizations, and 4-H clubs.
An addition to the permit requirements section reads: “The applicant shall be required to undertake community consultation within one mile of the subject property where the event is being held. Confirmation of adjacent landowner consultation shall be submitted with the public event application form.”
Another addition states: “Dust control may be required in front of residences at the sole expense of the applicant along roads impacted with the event.”
Councillors gave first and second reading to the amending bylaw. The bylaw could come back to council on Nov. 27 for possible third reading, with possible amendments.
Meanwhile, council passed a repealing bylaw to rescind three out-of-date bylaws.
The bylaws were recently examined by the governance review committee, which recommended their removal from the books. They are:
- Bylaw No. 141 Local Authorities Pension Plan is no longer required as the Municipal Government Act no longer requires for municipalities to enter into agreements.
- Bylaw No. 13/00 Penalties for Unpaid Taxes is redundant, as Bylaw No. 15/18, Property Tax Administration is currently in place and covers penalties and unpaid taxes.
- Bylaw No. 55/04 Short Term Borrowing is to be terminated, as the bylaw was only in effect for the calendar year.
