A new bylaw proposes to crack down on everything from weeds to graffiti in Prince Rupert.
Entitled the Good Neighbour Bylaw: A Bylaw to Enhance the Quality of Life for the Citizens of Prince Rupert, it is an expansive undertaking including regulation of vegetation, trash, debris, pets, noise, RVs, other vehicles, conditions of buildings and smoke among many other things that might be deemed a nuisance.
The bylaw also focusses heavily on vacant buildings setting standards for maintaining such properties so as not to be eyesores or hazardous.
City council passed first and second readings of the bylaw with an amendment proposed by Coun. Barry Cunningham.
Cunningham felt the provisions for noise outside of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. weren't stringent enough and wanted all references to 10 p.m. changed to 9 p.m. Council agreed.
The new bylaw also required an amendment to the city's Ticket Information Bylaw, to incorporate the penalties for violating the Good Neighbour Bylaw and fees for maintaining vacant buildings.
Council passed first and second readings of the ticket bylaw without discussion.
Violators of the new bylaw, if adopted at a future meeting, would be subject to a minimum fine of $100 up to a maximum of $10,000. Repeated violators would also be subject to "excessive nuisance abatement fees."
Prince Rupert Director of Corporate Services Rosa Miller anticipates the bylaws will be back before council for third reading and adoption in early April.
