By Lexi McFarlane, Times Chronicle
A unique approach will be taken to allowing dogs at Rotary Beach, which the Town of Oliver hopes will serve multiple purposes.
Presented to Council at the Regular Council Meeting on April 7 was a proposed set of amendments to the Animal Control Bylaw, with the main proposed amendment being the permitting of dogs at Rotary Beach during certain hours.
Under the current Animal Control Bylaw, Rotary Beach is designated as a dog-free area, which means during the period of May 1 to September 30, dogs are prohibited on the beach. From October 1 to April 30, they are allowed as long as they remain on a leash.
The amendment would allow dogs off-leash at Rotary Beach from dawn (until) 9 a.m. year-round. This would offer multiple benefits, the attached report notes; not only would dog owners be able to access Rotary Beach with their pets, outside of busier hours of the day, but the early-morning canine presence could be effective in reducing “the presence of geese and the associated mess they leave behind”.
With the prospect of public unease around having dogs on the beach during busier hours still very much a consideration, the second proposed amendment specifies that dogs would continue to be prohibited from 9 a.m. until the next dawn, between June 1 and Labour Day in September.
The report states that this would be the best way to maintain a “safe and positive” Rotary Beach visit for residents and visitors.
Amendment number three is geared towards animal-involved noise complaints, and follows a recommendation offered by the Town’s Bylaw Enforcement Supervisor. Following reviews of current processes, the Supervisor suggested that revised and more clearly definitive criteria would help enforcement become more consistent and balanced.
The amended criteria would set “minimum duration standards” that would help differentiate between common animal noisiness, and a nuisance animal. Multiple complaints from different properties would also be required for action to be taken, which would remove potential bias and “interpersonal disputes” from the equation when determining if an animal is causing a true disturbance.
The other significant amendment would be to Section 24 of the bylaw, and this stems from discussion taking place at the March 16 Regular meeting. Questions emerged about whether or not the section did well enough to establish authority for an animal control officer to enter private property. The conclusion reached then, is that the text could be updated to more clearly establish that authority.
In accordance with Section 16 of the Community Charter, which sets out high standards for an officer to be permitted entry into a private dwelling, the amendment bylaw updates Section 24 of the Animal Control Bylaw to allow animal control officer entry “with reasonable notice”, if compliance with the bylaw needs to be ensured and/or animals need to be seized.
Coordination with RCMP would remain mandatory, and best practices would continue to be followed.
As well, the proposed amendments include removing a redundant provision that overlaps with Section 72 of the Motor Vehicle Act, concerning the transportation of animals in vehicles.
With no further discussion from Council, the amendment bylaw was approved by unanimous vote.
