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Pitt Meadows addressing nuisances

New bylaw would carry fines up to $10,000, and no less than $200.
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The City of Pitt Meadows is considering a new nuisance bylaw that carries fines up to $10,000.

The fines would be no less than $200.

The new bylaw would replace the current one, adopted in 1973. But it does not reflect Community Charter enforcement regulations and limited the ability of city staff, RCMP and firefighters to deal with complaints and problematic properties, according to a city report.

Past problems included noise and nuisance behaviors, such as loud music or shouting, illegal fireworks or backyard fires, vehicles sounds, as well as smells and unsightly conditions and heavy traffic.

“The disturbances and elements of alleged criminal activity were investigated, but the current city’s bylaws limited the city’s ability to effectively enforce these complaints,” states the report.

A new bylaw would allow for quicker means of action.

Under the Community Charter, city council may impose costs and recover those for taking action to deal with nuisance complaints, including courts or property taxes.

Costs outlined in the bylaw include more than $80 an hour for a bylaw enforcement officer or building inspector, more than $60 a hour for RCMP and $30 for a firefighter. Cost of a fire truck responding is $300, while administrate costs are pegged at 15 per cent.

 

Improvements for Park Road

Pitt Meadows council could spend $34,000 for a traffic-calming pilot project on Park Road.

Three “traffic cushions” would be installed between Bonson Road and Lougheed Highway, at a cost of $19,500. A flashing LED stop sign would be install at Bonson Rd., at a cost of $14,500.

Both would be implement for a year and reviewed for effectiveness.

The recommendations stem from previous staff communication and a meeting with area residents.

The 2016 capital works budget includes improvements to the crosswalk at Park Rd. and Somerset Drive.

In June, city staff counted traffic on Park Rd.: 3,914 vehicles a day heading east of Somerset; 3,151 a day heading west.

According to ICBC, there were two vehicle crashes along the Park Rd. collector route between 2009 and 2013 resulting in property damage.

The average speed is 40 kilometers an hour.

The speed limit on Park Rd. has been reduced to 30 kilometers and hour from 50 and now requires traffic calming measures, according to staff.