No matter the issue, one point was constant at the Community Livability Engagement event on April 23 in Olds: Bylaws must have teeth.“All the groups certainly said, not just with pets and animals but with all bylaws, that enforcement was critical,” said Doug Wagstaff, director of community services. “That no matter what bylaws or standards or expectations were set, it was important to have enforcement consequence, compliance behind that.”The Community Livability Engagement drew about 44 people to the Olds Sports Complex. It was a chance for residents to weigh in on what should be included in a future community standards bylaw.Debbie Godfrey, the town's legislative clerk, is the team leader for the community standards project. She said Olds has a large assortment of bylaws that set community standards.The goal is to gather public opinion into what is acceptable behaviour and roll it into a single statute.“We're hoping to incorporate a bylaw that will be easy to use, in plain language, people know what the expectations are,” Godfrey said. “It's seeking voluntary compliance but it will also have the enforcement component to regulate and enforce standards for our community.”“And we're hoping to identify standards that the community appreciates and agrees with that are reasonable,” she continued.About a month ago, the town conducted an online community survey. Comments from the survey were taken and grouped into four categories that would be discussed at the event: traffic and parking; public behaviour; property care; pets and animals.Those in attendance at the engagement rotated around four tables where they would talk about one of the four topics, facilitated by town staff members.At the end of the night, the staff summarized what they heard.Wagstaff was overseeing debate on pets and animals. Among the issues brought up, he said residents were adamant that people keep their pets on leashes. Others suggested licensing and registering animals.Kari Idland, the town's municipal planning intern, heard from the public on parking and traffic. Those who stopped by her table had concerns about lowering the speed limit in the uptowne area. She said people were satisfied with the parking structure but wanted limits on the duration.“Some vehicles in town seem to just sit in one spot in the street,” Idland said.Idland said citizens suggested creating more physical reminders for drivers to obey traffic laws.Carrie Keleman, a development officer, heard from residents discussing property care. People at her station talked about snow removal, that it be done within 24 to 48 hours. Others wanted residents to keep vacant lots tidy.Regarding public behaviour, Michelle Honeyman, manager of community development, said there needs to be balance when it comes to managing people's conduct.“We want to make sure that Olds continues to be a welcoming community and that we can get regulated to death and a lot of what should be common sense isn't necessarily,” Honeyman said. “But we still need to set some standards in terms of unsightly premises.”Comments from the evening's discussion would be collected and compiled into a report by the leadership team, Godfrey said.She said other municipalities have community standards bylaws but do not consult the public extensively.“I am really pleased with how things turned out tonight. We had great conversation, great energy,” Godfrey said. “We had a lot of wisdom in the room and a lot of conversation for thought so it's going to do nothing but enhance the entire process and the end result.”[email protected]
