A number of bylaws passed in three readings unanimously at the July 22 council meeting in North Battleford.
The first bylaw to pass was the amendments to the Maintenance and Occupancy of Property and Nuisance Abatement Bylaw.
The amendments were brought in because of confusion under the old bylaw where classic cars and similar vehicles ended up being classified as "junked vehicles." To avoid that, new definitions and rules have been brought in. The bylaw changes include replacing the word "junked" and replacing it with the word "derelict."
As part of the bylaw provisions, the maximum number of unregistered vehicles allowed to be parked or stored is set at four, and of that total, a maximum of two derelict vehicles may be parked or stored on any one registered land parcel provided each vehicle is fitted with an approved vehicle cover, or within a structure. There are also some other provisions.
The bylaw passed unanimously in three readings.
Also passing unanimously in three readings was the amendment to the Fire Prevention and Emergency Services bylaw. The changes include adding "fire response fees - indemnification technology" under fees for service, as well as the deletion of the phrase "North Battleford Fire and Emergency Services Department," to be replaced by the term "North Battleford Fire Department."
The last bylaw, and the one that prompted the most discussion from council on Monday, was a local improvement on 19th Avenue for a pavement overlay from 93rd Street to Walker Drive.
The bylaw was contentious because of opposition expressed by several of those on the street. A petition with signatures from 12 of the 15 property owners on the street was returned to City Hall. However, the petition was deemed invalid as their assessed costs amounted to only 38 per cent.
The three property owners that did not sign the petition had a larger percentage of the assessed value of land at 62 per cent.
There was discussion by councillors about whether spot maintenance could be done instead of a pavement overlay, in response to a suggestion from one of the petitioners.
While sympathetic to the concerns of the petitioners, Councillor Ryan Bater noted the bigger, long-term goal of the City was to resurface all of 19th Avenue. "Doing spot work doesn't fit with the overall objective of 19th Avenue," said Bater.
In the end, the 19th Avenue local improvement bylaw passed unanimously.
