People caught illegally dumping, riding a bicycle in certain places and more will now face a set fine.
The set fees were quietly approved at Tuesday's council meeting.
The addition to the city bylaw sets fines for a number of items, from dumping garbage to riding a bicycle on the sidewalk downtown or busking without approval.
“We’ve all seen the photos on social media,” said Pirie in a news release after the meeting. “There is an issue of illegal dumping in the city and we would be remiss if we didn’t do everything possible to come up with a solution. Increasing the fees is a deterrent, meant to discourage offenders who feel that treating our land and environment with such disrespect is appropriate.”
The offence and set fines included in the bylaw are:
- Deposit a motorized vehicle on lands owned by the City of Timmins, $1,000
- Deposit garbage on lands owned by the city, $1,000
- Deposit a motorized vehicle on privately owned lands, $300
- Deposit garbage on privately owned lands, $300
- Remove material placed out for city refuse collection, $300
- Foul lands owned by the city, $1,000
- Provide a service for a fee from public property without prior authorization, $150
- Provide products at no charge from public property without prior authorization, $150
- Busk on public property without prior authorization, $150
- Block or interfere the passage of a pedestrian on a city sidewalk, $150
- Ride a bicycle over a sidewalk within the Downtown Business Improvement Area, $150
- Ride a bicycle on the property of the Timmins Public Library, $150
- Ride a motorized vehicle in a municipal park, $500
The previous bylaw included a penalty, but not set amounts. People convicted faced a fine not to exceed $100,000.
Adding the set fines stems from a council meeting earlier this month when Coun. Joe Campbell tried to eliminate the new user fee at the Deloro Landfill and Tisdale Transfer Site. People dumping garbage in the bush and the bear problem were some of the reasons for the ask. That motion didn't get support and was defeated.
At that meeting, Pirie asked for a staff report looking at the maximum fee for illegal dumping. Campbell also asked for a report showing the projected amount of money being brought in by raising user fees.
This week, tipping fees are waived at the Deloro Landfill.
Earlier this year, the City of Timmins cancelled the annual spring curbside pickup for the second consecutive year and is instead eliminating the tipping fees for the week.
The landfill is open today until 5:45 p.m. The weekend hours are 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
A bin was also placed at the German Township landfill last weekend.
The bin was filled within hours and users of the site were directed to bring spring cleanup items to the Deloro Landfill, which is about a 40-minute drive away.
Earlier this week, manager of environmental services and public utilities Scott Tam said the bin usually lines up with the Barber's Bay Association cleanup, which has been cancelled. He said the bin will be removed this week.
Do you prefer the city waiving tipping fees or the curbside service? Vote in our poll here.
