Sechelt council gave second and third reading to an amended mobile vending on private lands bylaw at its June 1 meeting.
The amended definition of mobile vending in the bylaw states that "mobile vending means the sale of goods (excluding alcoholic beverages) or services from a mobile apparatus (for example a vehicle, trailer, cart)."
The change was in response to a suggestion at the public hearing last month to ensure trailers are allowed to be used for mobile vending.
Municipal tickets
Council gave three readings to a municipal ticketing bylaw June 1.
The bylaw would see most parking offences in Sechelt result in a $50 fine, while injuring trees or flowers in the District would warrant a $100 fine. Under the environmental management and protection bylaw, fines start at $250 for things like cutting down a tree on a slope greater than 30 per cent or damaging a protected tree.
Fines can start at $1,000 when they fall under the Porpoise Bay harbour regulation bylaw.
The $1,000 ticket could be issued for failure to remove a hazardous or derelict vessel or for mooring a vessel deemed to be unseaworthy or hazardous to harbour property.
Soil removal bylaw
Council gave first reading to a new soil removal and deposit bylaw, meant to regulate the placing and removal of fill, topsoil and gravel in the District.
If the bylaw passes four readings it will require contractors to purchase a soil removal permit for a proposed fee of $250, plus a fee of 50 cents per cubic metre of fill, topsoil or gravel being moved.
Applications would also require a security deposit of $5,000 plus $1,000 per hectare as well as a highway damage deposit in the amount of $5 per cubic metre. The security and damage deposits would be refundable if all the conditions of the permit are met and no damage is done to municipal roads.
"I think that this bylaw is a long time coming and I'm looking forward to the feedback from the construction industry," said Coun. Keith Thirkell. "I do think that this is a comprehensive chance to try to control erosion and site degradation in our community."
Mayor Darren Inkster said he would reluctantly support the bylaw.
"In the last couple of months, we've added a number of potential fees to the construction of a home and to the group that builds them. So I'm reluctantly going to support sending it to that group and to a public hearing to see what the public has to say, because I imagine we're going to get an earful," he said.
Electric vehicles
Council has yet to hear from the Sechelt Indian Band (SIB) about whether they are willing to adopt a bylaw to allow electric vehicles on their land. The issue will be raised at an upcoming joint meeting between the District and the SIB June 17.
