By Thia James

Mayor wants to expand Prince Albert’s quiet time

Nov 19, 2014 | 5:19 AM

The distinct beeping sound of a truck’s back-up indicator is something Prince Albert is looking to keep quiet for a bit longer.

Mayor Greg Dionne is proposing an extension to the City’s ‘quiet period’ in its noise bylaw, which was last updated in 2007. He plan to bring forward a motion at an upcoming meeting to amend the noise bylaw.

Currently, the bylaw bans the operation of machines such as snow-clearing devices, leaf blowers, or construction equipment between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Dionne said there have been complaints about commercial vehicles operating at 6 a.m.

“For example, at South Hill Mall, they’re emptying their garbage at 6:00 in the morning, that beeping is jumping off Hilltop [Tower] Apartments there, waking everybody up, people across the street, same thing in other locations in our city.”

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He points to the noise bylaws in other cities that have their quiet times starting at 10 p.m. Dionne said 6 a.m. is too early to start making noise.

Anyone found guilty of violating the noise bylaw could face a fine of up to $2,000.

The mayor said the City has already contacted the businesses at the heart of the complaints, and he said some of them have corrected themselves.

“But you also have to be in a position where, if it happens again, that you’re in a position to deal with it. But in most cases, most people follow a bylaw. So, that’s why we’re going to amend it.”

The manager of South Hill Mall, Arcturus Realty Corporation, has not been made aware of any complaints. Its regional manager Richard Dillabaugh, said any operations at the mall are within the City’s bylaws.

He said they have not been contacted by the City regarding its plans to amend its noise bylaws. The company has no comment otherwise.

When it comes to the kinds of complaints that residents do lodge, more tend to be about barking dogs and loud parties. According to bylaw manager Suzanne Stubbs, these complaints can be made 24 hours a day.

But the bylaw department receives only a few complaints about ‘domestic” noise before 6 a.m. That is, noise from snow-clearing or construction vehicles. Stubbs said the bylaw officers provide a warning. Some people who violate this part of the bylaw don’t realize what the time is.

There are some exceptions to the quiet time provision of the bylaw.

For special events, such as Relay For Life, the noise bylaw means that the organizers would have to request a special exemption to the noise bylaw. Council would have to grant such an exemption.

The noise bylaw itself is important, according to Dionne, because people have the right to sleep.

“You don’t want your kids woken up, your grandparents. It’s just a normal practice. And it’s unfortunate that we have to have a bylaw for such a thing because you should respect your neighbours.”

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames