The District of Sechelt burning bylaw will go back to staff for more tweaking before council votes on first reading.
The District has heard from the Clean Air Society, which wants a complete ban on all burning, and Sechelt Fire chief Bill Higgs, who wants to see a period of burning for land clearing allowed each year to get rid of underbrush and deadfall that can create a fire hazard.
The District was looking at a complete burning ban for land clearing, so Higgs asked to phase in that decision over two years to properly develop other options like chipping and composting.
Council agreed and made a motion at the June 15 committee of the whole meeting to send the issue back to staff for review with suggested amendments, including a two-year phase in of the decision to ban land clearing burns.
Council also asked that staff consult with the development community about the suggested changes and come up with some costs associated with alternative ways to deal with land clearing debris.
During the two-year phase-in period, council also wants to look at allowing backyard burning during specific weeks that rotate throughout various communities.
A report will come to a future committee of the whole meeting on all the suggested changes.
Leg-hold traps
Council voted to send out a letter to groups that may be in favour of animal trapping regarding the possibility of the District banning the activity.
"I know there is another side to the story, and I think before we make a decision, we should hear both [sides]," said Coun. Ann Kershaw.
Mayor Darren Inkster asked if council should come up with a draft bylaw and then show it to those who may be opposed for their comments.
"Well look what happened when you moved on backyard burning. You had to backtrack. So if you move too fast, then you have egg on your face sometimes. Why don't you hear both sides first before you make a bylaw?" Kershaw said in reference to Inkster's comments.
Council agreed with Kershaw and instructed staff to send out the letter for comment.
Wireless web
Council forwarded for comment the idea of securing a wireless network for Sechelt to the Sechelt Downtown Business Association (SDBA), the Chamber of Commerce, the Coast Community Builders Association, Best Coast Initiatives and Rapid Edge.
"I propose we send it out to them and ask for their feedback as to how we should proceed before we spend a lot of time and money on it," said Kershaw.
A staff report on the wireless network proposal showed "there are considerable technical and logistical barriers that would need to be overcome to ensure successful implementation of a project of this scale."
The report also suggested passing on the project to the SDBA and having the District participate as a customer should the network be established.
