At Council-in-Committee on December 8, Council received a report for information on Construction Impact Enforcement. The proposed changes intend to bring clarity and add more regulatory powers to reaffirm the City’s approach to construction violations.  

Proposed amendments are as follows: 

• Construction Impact Mitigation:
  • Strengthen enforcement provisions for Construction Traffic Control Plan and permit compliance (e.g. supporting developer compliance with traffic control and parking plans approved by the City); 
  • Add regulations regarding allowed street uses around development sites in order to support the enforcement of emerging issues at these locations;
  • Add regulations regarding secure fencing or barriers to ensure pedestrian and vehicular safety and prevent hazards from open excavation areas;
  • Align delivery and hauling hours with the City's construction noise hours to prevent early-morning or late-night disruptions;
  • Increase the fine amounts for construction related offences to the maximum allowable under the Ticketing Bylaw. 
• Commercial Vehicles Definitions and Offences:
  • Update provisions related to commercial vehicles (e.g. clarifying weight classifications and vehicle types) to reflect current standards;
  • Add regulations to increase enforcement capabilities at truck checkpoints;
  • Increase fines for commercial vehicle offences (like overweight trucks or unauthorized routes) to be in line with regional norms and to reflect the public safety risk. 
• Use of Streets and Curb Space:
  • Introduce and revise definitions to better regulate the placement of temporary structures on City streets and the use of recreational vehicles or other vehicles as dwellings on public streets;
  • Create clearer rules around how long and under what conditions people or objects can occupy street space to ensure streets are safe and accessible for all users. 
• General Road Safety Compliance Improvements:
  • Increase penalties for a range of high-risk or problematic behaviours, including driving on closed or restricted roads, stopping in prohibited zones, parking near intersections, crosswalks or accessible parking spaces, and similar parking and stopping violations;
  • Increase fine amounts to match inflation and to bring them into alignment with amounts imposed in other municipalities, as appropriate.
• Housekeeping and Legislative Alignment:
  • Repeal or amend duplicate and conflicting provisions within the bylaw to eliminate confusion;
  • Eliminate outdated requirements, such as antiquated insurance display rules that are no longer needed;
  • Align terminology and definitions with recent amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act to ensure consistency with provincial law;
  • Improve clarity of other curbside functions and uses in anticipation of the upcoming Curbside Management Strategy and Pay Parking Modernization.  

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.