Stephen Vance, Staff
Meaford council has given initial approval to an anti-idling bylaw that will prohibit the idling of automobiles on municipal properties, including street parking spots.
At their August 8 meeting council considered the proposal of three potential measures to help reduce vehicle idling in the municipality, including the development of a corporate policy to ensure that the municipality leads by example, a public education campaign to promote Meaford as an ‘Idle-Free Community’, as well as limited regulation as part of municipal parking enforcement.
The anti-idling bylaw approved by council will apply to areas “where parking is regulated such as municipal property and time limit on-street parking”.
“With it limited to parking, we’re not telling people what to do on their own personal property,” municipal Clerk Rob Tremblay told council.
The plan approved by council will adopt the Owen Sound provisions that allow for a maximum of two consecutive minutes of idling for most vehicles, or five consecutive minutes for diesel engines.
Council was told that the draft policy prepared by municipal staff is based on similar bylaws implemented in other small municipalities, and one of the goals is for the municipality to lead by example in efforts to conserve fuel, decrease vehicle emissions, reduce air and noise pollution, to prevent excessive wear on municipal vehicles, and to help ensure a healthier work environment.
Meaford councillors, who had requested staff develop such a bylaw in July of last year, were supportive of the idling bylaw, and approved the plan in a 7-0 vote.
The report to council indicated that a poster and social media campaign will be undertaken to encourage idling reduction in the community.
“The campaign will promote the municipality as an Idling Free Community. In addition, the program would also support the Smart Fuelling initiative to advise residents of opportunities and best practices to reduce emissions and save money. Examples of idling include keeping the vehicle running when parked for shopping or when waiting for someone,” read the report to council.
Regulatory parking signage will be installed in 2017 subject to budget approval with a public education initiative that will include windshield flyers placed on vehicles.
