On September 9 council agenda there is report recommending expanding the use of the Administrative Monetary Penalty System  (AMPS) to include the following Bylaws:   Clean Yards, Fence, Fireworks, Road Occupancy, Noise, Parks, Property Standards and Sign.  Our first use of AMPS was with parking infractions and in February 2024 we started using it for enforcing the Site Alteration Bylaw. To enable implementation of AMPS it is necessary to establish the penalties for non compliance. Accordingly, in addition to amending the bylaws identified above there is the need to amend the AMPS Bylaw to include the penalties. The report identifies the basis for the magnitude of the penalties; they are based on fines in Provincial Offences Act or are based on a jurisdictional scan of the N6 municipalities.

In the report the positive impact of the latter is summarized including  penalty notices being paid and properties being brought into compliance.  Using AMPS permits the municipality to move matters forward without having to wait for scheduled court times. Not having to wait for court time is of benefit in that compliance can be achieved more quickly and our bylaw officers do not need to spend time in the court system. In addition sometimes a case is never heard as the court dismisses the case because they are so booked.

I am very supportive of this recommendation.  Often citizens are frustrated that we have bylaws and they are not being enforced. From what is in the report I think our enforcement capability is going to be improved significantly. If you wish to make a deputation and/or make comments to Council please register with clerks@king.ca or send an email by noon Sept. 9th.  You can make a post on this blog or contact me directly.

To access all the bylaws being amended to incorporate use of AMPS see the Council agenda and scroll down to item 15.