Cambridge eyes new fines and fees
Jan 21st, 2010 | By Debbie Vitez | Section: City Issues, CommunityThis article ran in the KW Record, your comments invited below
CAMBRIDGE — Snap a wedding photo in any Cambridge park or plant vegetables along the sidewalk in front of your house and a bylaw officer could hand you a ticket.
“I think $110 is a little ridiculous for growing a turnip on your boulevard,” said Coun. Pam Wolf.
A more reasonable fine such a minor offence is $15 or $20, she said.
Cambridge council is considering authorizing its bylaw officers and Waterloo Regional Police to hand out more tickets on the spot for city rules controlling derelict cars, cleanliness of city land in front of your house, parkland use and outdoor vending
The new fines are included in the city’s annual “rate review” of some 800 penalties and user fees, which council looks at today in a daylong budget session. Most of the existing fees are recommended to stay the same in 2010, or increase by 2.5 per cent to offset inflation.
Council is looking at trimming a 3.77 per cent tax hike proposed for 2010. That’s $36 more a year on a house with an assessed value of $214,000.
In all, the fee and fine changes should generate $8,602 extra for the draft $91.1-million spending plan, staff say in a report.
One of the bigger jumps is a $1,000 increase — to $4,000 — in the minimum fee to apply for a land-use change. Coun. Rick Cowsill wants the rezoning fee lowered for seniors proposing a “granny flat” in a basement apartment in houses owned by family.
Wolf also questioned a $75 fee when someone bounces a cheque or automated bank-account payment for monthly tax bill instalments. That’s on top of whatever fee a bank charges people for “not sufficient funds.”
“These are rough times,” Wolf said. “I think we’re just helping people to go further down, kicking them when they’re down.”
The city is charged $50 by the bank when a payment bounces, so another $25 is added on to cover an hour of a city staff time to deal with it, said treasurer Steve Fairweather. The penalty has been in place for two years.
About 700 payments are rejected out of about 120,000 the city processes annually. The number has increased slightly in the last year or so, Fairweather said.
There are 91 new bylaw penalties proposed in the 2010 rate review, spelling out ticket fines recently approved by the Ministry of Attorney General. The province sets the fines so they’re similar to penalties in other municipalities. Most of Cambridge new fines are $110, some $150 and two – dealing with outdoor vending without a permit – are $295.
Previously, the city could lay a charge under the bylaws, take the case to court and leave it to a judge to set the penalty. Now, with set fines, tickets can be paid without court, although a trial option remains to fight the charge.
Most of the new ticket fines control activities in parks and public lands, including controlling pets, protecting wildlife and vegetation, and banning sports such as archery, golf and tennis except in designated areas.
Benign activities such as wedding photography and picnics don’t escape strict regulation — but not the way the city officials intended.
By the letter of the law, permits are needed for wedding photography and picnics of more than 15 people in all Cambridge parks.
“It’s just not worded well. We’ll have to take a look at that,” said Hardy Bromberg, who oversees bylaw enforcement.
The picnic rules are intended to control use of tables under picnic pavilions – the daily rental is $21 — not impromptu family gatherings, he said.
Nor does the city chase photographers, Bromberg said. The rules were intended to regulate nuptials at Mill Race Park along the Grand River.
It’s not unusual on Saturdays in the summer to see two or three wedding parties waiting for their turn to exchange vows or pose in the stone factory foundations overlooking the river. The city charges $245 to reserve the space for a wedding and photos, or $40 for photo time only.
Like picnics, the wedding photo rules are intended to ensure people gathered for special events in parks aren’t disturbed, Bromberg said. If someone calls city hall to say, for example, 20 people are planning a picnic in Victoria Park in Hespeler, they’d get a “verbal permit” with no fee charged. That enables another city bylaw that forbids others from disrupting the gathering to be enforced.
Kitchener doesn’t regulate weddings or wedding photography in city parks, nor does it control the size of picnics. There are reservation fees for picnic pavilions, however.
Kitchener doesn’t have a boulevard bylaw banning vegetables or digging up city grass along roadsides, said bylaw manager Shayne Turner. But if you plant corn that grows and blocks the vision of motorists, other city rules apply. The city is investigating a boulevard bylaw, he said.
Waterloo city doesn’t regulate wedding photography in parks, but it does have rules for picnics and boulevards, said Jim Barry, bylaw director.
Gatherings of 25 or more in any Waterloo park needs city permission, with a penalty of $100. Waterloo also has a boulevard bylaw, but basically says don’t grow anything more than a metre tall. There’s no set fine.
Proposed new on-the-spot Cambridge tickets:
$150
Vending cart or stand within 100 metres of a school
Selling fireworks to someone younger than 18 years
$125
Park an inoperative vehicle for more than 48 hours
$110
Take wedding photos in a city park
Fly a powered model airplane in a city park
Picnic of 15 or more people in a city park
Grow vegetables on boulevard along street
Let grass grow more than 20 cm. tall
link to story
http://news.therecord.com:80/news/local/article/659740
Have your say! Submit your story!
When does it stop? Are they going to hand out brochures at City Hall so you can remember what the hell you’re allowed to do in this city.????
Had thought about moving back to Cambridge but it sounds as bad as where I am living now. This will not encourage people to move to the community. Do the Council members know how bad they look to people from other communities??????
Hello Sherrie! They do not only look bad to the other communities, they look bad to the world, as my writings about the corruption in Cambridge Canada is being published in newspapers around the world. The voters in Cambridge have the opportunity to put out the garbage this year, let’s see if they are intelligent enough to do it. I think they are.
John.. your quote.” let’s see if they are intelligent enough to do it. I think they are.”
John you insult people when you question their intelligence in this way.. and I am sure you don’t mean too, but you get their backs up with your wording..
The people of Cambridge are highly intelligent… I think they’ve just been beaten down from bad politics..
I FIRMLY BELIEVE YOU WILL SEE A MAJOR SHAKE UP THIS YEAR
Linda Whethan and Rick Cowsill are the only two I hope will remain standing when the dust settles.
They appear to be the only two that care about us the citizens of this city.
It’s this council that thinks we’re not intelligent enough to stand against them and I have a good feeling that they are going to be shocked after October..
Time to get the huge egos out..Including Ken Seiling from the Region.. He is another one I would say .. “It’s time to Go”
Debbie, as a real estate rep you have no doubt heard many times that “good fences make good neighbours.” For the same reason good bylaws make good citizens! ….. In my many years I have volunteered and served in lots of organizations, everything from Kinsman to Legion to Unions to Non-profits, and they all have bylaws governing the proper conduct of their members. …… Cities are no different. Councils enact bylaws to govern the actions of residents. I would hazard to say that most bylaws are enacted in response to complaints from those same residents, because certain neighbours are not acting in the interests of all…. You, unfortunately, are leaving the impression that City Council is just sitting around the horseshoe ordering staff to draw up bylaws to peeve off its citizens. I don’t believe it for a moment! Check out the history behind any bylaw and you will probably agree its needed. As for; “When does it stop?” My guess is it never will until we are all looking at the sod from underneath.
Kitchener doesn’t regulate weddings or wedding photography in city parks, nor does it control the size of picnics. There are reservation fees for picnic pavilions, however.
Kitchener doesn’t have a boulevard bylaw banning vegetables or digging up city grass along roadsides, said bylaw manager Shayne Turner. But if you plant corn that grows and blocks the vision of motorists, other city rules apply. The city is investigating a boulevard bylaw, he said.
Waterloo city doesn’t regulate wedding photography in parks, but it does have rules for picnics and boulevards, said Jim Barry, bylaw director.
Gatherings of 25 or more in any Waterloo park needs city permission, with a penalty of $100. Waterloo also has a boulevard bylaw, but basically says don’t grow anything more than a metre tall. There’s no set fine.
Proposed new on-the-spot Cambridge tickets:
Lary..
You’re entitled to your opinion.. But like you say..” It will never stop”.. and if that’s ok with you that’s fine, It’s not ok with me.. I suspect it’s not ok with most of the residents of this city..
Every new bylaw that is created contributes to incremental loss of freedoms and growing big brother control of every aspect of our lives. Some bylaws are indeed necessary for law and order and to keep the peace.
Should we be creating and accepting so many new bylaws that invade upon our freedoms? If 15 people want to have a picnic in the park why should they have to ask the cities permission to do so and why should the city be allowed to fine them $ 110.00 if they don’t?
Debbie, no one wants to be told what to do; that’s the reason for the bylaws in the first place!
Bev, I accept your point, but there are also bylaws that come off the books because they have outlived their usefullness; i.e. “you cannot leave your horse and wagon unless it securely tied and/or hobbled.” ….. As to “15 people want to have a picnic in the park” without a City permit : the problem occurs when another group also wants to use the same area at the same time. … I am very familiar with this situation as I booked the picnic shelter in Riverside for a family reunion/picnic only to show up at the appointed time to find it occupied by others. If you are one that doesn’t feel City Staff earn their pay, you should have witnessed Park Security attempting to relocate 20-30 people who had already unpacked their meal! The same rational applies to the favourite spots for wedding pictures; there have nearly been fist fights over that one as the parties are all in a rush to get to their receptions and celebrate.
Lary, I am not suggesting there be no by-laws.. But does there have to be so dam many ?? No one knows which end is up anymore..
Why not just organize it with city hall.. why do you have to pay for this privledge? I guess someone has to pay, for the money they continue to pour into Galt.. What’s wrong with the other areas of our city..Make them picture friendly and maybe there would not be fist fights to take a wedding photo..
I suppose we could just go to Kitchener…there doesn’t seem to be fist fights there, but then they have different areas of their city, that could accomadate pictures..
weeds in the city regularly grew over 20 cm. all last summer and after numerous complaints about these weeds, to the city nothing was ever done, and wheres the bylaw for the residents on Grand Ave. south that throw thier garden waste and leaves , over the wall, and onto the city owned trail,(we know who you are, and so does the city bylaw officers) Yet NOTHING gets done about this as the constant excuses of “WE are too busy responding to more serious matters”……come on Cambridge, lets bitch and complain until something does get done in this lovely? Craig and Council run city…OR lets ALL get up and just leave this bullshit once and for all…..
Thank god, thirty six more months and I’ll be out of this city, out of this country, and free from the stupidity of the municipal corruption that exists in this region. This type of control over people’s lives doesn’t even take place in third world countries, so why do you put up with it here in the land of freedom? Canadian people are so passive, and tolerate whatever government throws in their faces, which is why they are taxed into poverty, and can’t let a fart go without buying a permit first. The residents of Cambridge should show a little more testicular courage, and demand more rights and freedoms. The mayor and his councilors blew our last thirty million dollars on a new unwarranted city hall, and now they are trying to come up with ridiculous fines and fees to help recover the money.
again with the testicular courage ! and speaking of letting a fart go . I smell a whole hell of a lot of hot air again . There are many issues in this city , Not all issues lead back to the inlaw suites debate. We show testicular courage when we vote . I am far from passive as well . I would sooner go through the channels first .
Hey Joe Lethbridge - Are you one of Doug Craig’s golfing buddies? There are no words too harsh to discribe the past and present performance of our municipal government. Stats Canada has reported that there are nearly five million senior citizens now living in Canada, with nearly half of them in dire need of affordable accomodation. Although you fail to see the importance of this issue, there is a dire need to create basement apartments or granny suites to accommodate the elderly, and other family members.
God bless Mr. Newton for showing enough courage to expose the negative attitude towards this type of accomodation here in Cambridge. Good luck with going through the dictators channels.
Janet,
Joe Lethbridge has never made any comments, either for or against Mayor Craig..
But I think he is against John’s constant barrage against the people of Cambridge… accusing them of lack of testicular courage … ( he has done this on numerous occasions)..
I have told John in the past that he insults the people of Cambridge with his wording.
( I’m not so sure John reads anyone else’s comments)..
I agree that Cambridge should work with seniors, and any family that needs to set up some form of secondary housing for their adult children attending school, or especially their elderly parents..
I also think City Hall would work with these people…. if you approach them… showing it’s a temporary situation. But to come on here and insult everyone, is only losing him the support of his community. In my personal opinion..
Janet. I assure you I am not one of Mayor Craigs golfing buddies nor am I one of his “henchmen” which council are often referred to. My issue is how John derides almost every issue on here and brings it back to inlaw suites and accuses citizens of lacking courage . Also referring to council and Mayor Craig as gestapo is a bit much if you were to ask any survivors or family of the Hitler regime. . Sure we dont agree on what Mayor Craig and council decide . And Debbie is right ; I have never said if I was for or against Mayor Craig nor have I said anything about my councillor Ben Tucci . I also have never said what colour of socks I wear . It is still a democracy and who we plan on voting for is a personal choice. My voice will be heard on election day here. There has never been an elected official who everyone has been happy with and there never will .
I do see the importance of seniors ;not just in Cambridge but everywhere. I also see many homeless adults and youth on our streets when I walk them everyday . What of them ? There are still children being bullied at school .Children going to school hungry . People who cannot afford their medications. What of them ?
Janet .It is unfair to judge my character without knowing me ;as it is for John to question others asking “where is your testicular courage ?” My courage will show when i vote. And what a vision we are giving people who are thinking of visiting or thinking of moving here. Our image is tarnished ;from all sides .
Janet..because some of us do things differently from the way you would like us to, does not mean that we don’t care. I am one of those who don’t go all crazy over an issue, i deal with it like Joe does, thoughtfully and respectfully. It does work, I can assure you that. My Daughter had an issue with the School board almost exactly like a recent case where the family went around yelling and screaming, but in my daughters case she approached the proper people and the issue was resolved to her satisfaction without the need of name calling and disrespecting other people. And remember what assume means….to make an ass out of you and me.
In Preston area we went through all proper channels, first to the city then to the region then to the health department then to the ministry of enviroment. All of them have turned their backs on the bishop street area. So when the kettle is black you can indeed call it black.
This letter is being sent to everyone “to appologize”. I was of the understanding that the Cambridge Advocate site was a location where people could come and express their views “without sensorship”.
The mistake was mine. I had no idea that this site was more of a social club where a select few come to chat. I was able to contact Mr.Newton through his website email address, and I explained the situation to him. I advised him to not make any more postings. Sorry for any discomfort I have caused your select group here at the Cambridge Advocate.
Janet –it is not a matter of censorship at all . We are a not select group at all . The matter is this; if one disagrees with what another has to say ;we don’t rant and say others lack courage or the mental capacity to stand up . You caused me no discomfort whatsoever . We all have a spot here to say what we feel about the issues. However it is morally wrong to cut people down because we do things a different way or we are of a differing opinion. Thats a democracy too .
If you had have read everything on this site, or just go back a couple of weeks, you would have seen plenty of differing opinions on many issues. I don’t agree with plenty that is said on here, but at the same time i am allowed to spew my ideas and thoughts. And again, the issue was not your opinion at all, but trying to attack someone whom you do not know. And to throw it, you must be able to take it. Sorry, but that is the way i see it.
Hi Janet. why are you apologizing? Our elected officials dont apologize when they waste good hard earned money on wasteful things in this city.But then again no politician ever does.
for one Tracy- Janet knows nothing of me or what I stand for and believe me I stand for alot- I dont have to jump on a soapbox and do it -nor willl i cut anyone down doing so, I am not a politician nor would i want to be. there are so many naysayers on here yet I see very few stepping up to run against those now in council . we alla are the change ! some of us do what we do more quietly behind the scenes . we dont want it to be about us . Sometimes that doesnt work for everyone but for those it does ; we shouldnt be cut down .
I thought this is freedom of speech.sometimes doing things behind the scenes just doesnt work. I believe in accountability and to date there hasnt been very much in this city.
Last Election 2006, 26.3% of eligible voters voted.
In 2003 22% voted. To me that shows most people are either happy or more likely don’t care. Those are the facts as they stand.
James I was just about to post the same . As for freedoms they do come with a cost. Freedom of speech does not include putting down others with not knowing anything about them and rebuttals are a big part of expressing such “freedoms” We are free to vote , yet very few exercise this privelege. Not all countries have that. and that is where calling OUR council “gestapo” “henchmen” and “dictator and his goons” really pisses me off . Cambridge is one level of government . Look at those percentages- close to 75% either are happy or dont care. As for accountability ; its not just government who should be accountable for what they say or do or dont do . We all are ;even in what we choose to say . Comment policy for the Advocate is right at the top of this page .
Poor Debbie, she is probably reading all this and cursing us. Boy am i ever getting miserable in my older day’s. I do need to go back to work.
I leave you guys alone for a few hours and look at the trouble you get into.. lol
Janet.
First let me say there is no censorship here. That part is true. I have posted all of Johns postings.. I have sided with him on some of his issues..
The part you’re missing here is this…John has come here on more then one ( or two occasions) and insulted people for not agreeing with all his issues..
He has made some pretty strong suggestions about the people in this city..and they took issue with his comments.and name calling..
I know John is passionate about the granny suite issue..
We all get that..
But I’ve told him a few times… that he is not gaining support by name calling.
So when Joe Lethbridge stepped in taking issue with the testicular comment..
( as it was not the first or second time John had made those comments).. Joe was upset and rightfully so. You do not know Joe Lethbridge.. he is a sweet sensitive man and for him to comment on Johns insults.. is unusual for Joe.. but he had heard enough..
John is welcome to comment here, as are you..
All comments are still here… none have been edited or taken down.. We all have opinions, we just don’t like being insulted for not taking a stand..
God knows I rant here more then anyone. But I do not expect everyone to agree with me..( most don’t …and that’s fine.)
Mr. Newton, a local senior citizen, has gone through a very traumatic time in dealing with this granny suite issue and he is a very brave man for speaking up about his experience.
I, for one, was not offended by his statement “the people of Cambridge should show a little more testicular courage”. We all need encouragement to stand up for ourselves and we all also need support when we do.
I will say this about Johns rant.. when he used words like Regime and Dictator to describe Craig..
I thought it sure feels like it too me…
The way he runs “our” city… without one ounce of regard for the people living in it.
No other Mayor that I can think of , has had me feeling this way..
So Mr Newton is onto too something when he talks about (most of) Craig’s council..
Bev.
You are so right when you say John Newton has gone thru hell..
and I personally believe it’s because he dared to take a stand against what he refers too as
” the regime that is our City Hall.”
They have gone into his home and are now insisting he remove a stairwell to his attic, ( they say it’s not up to code)
They insist he replace it with a ladder, which in my opinion is less safe..
These are senior citizens by the way.. ( I have seen plenty of homes with these types of stairwells.)
So I do believe he is a victim… because he took a stand against his worship!!
The people of Cambridge have to step up and vote for a council and Mayor that puts the residents first.
Not this ego based person who does nothing good for the people of this city.
I see James posted the voting stats..
That is something we have to change.. People might not have cared in the past
People didn’t get too read in local press just how bad things have gotten..
But all that has changed with this Advocate..
WE need to get the people of Cambridge to stop accepting this status quo..
and Get him out of office..
Wow l love this web site. l thought l was alone. You people on here have a lot of guts. My first week here l’ve had therapy for my political frustration, l’ve not been censored, l’ve not been lied to,and l’ve actually found people that give a damn about Cambridge. Why is this site so hidden from the rest of Cambridge? l’m dead serious. l cann’t believe l’ve got people on my wavelength. l cann’t tell you people everything l know on this site ’cause l’d go missing, but one day ………………….YOUR PAL TOMMY VANN OLE!
Tommy Vann, you have to tell more people about the site.. Word of mouth is the secret.. How did you find us? And you can bet your ass{ets} ..City hall knows all about this site.. They keep sending the KW record after me. Trying to shut us down…But I am not going away and nor are the readers of this site..
I drive them crazy with my political bashing, but they know I’m right.. heehee.. ( Admit it Lary, even you can’t possibly believe things are right in this town.. You’re a wise man from what I read here.. But you got to know deep inside… what your buddy DC is doing .. ain’t right..lol
After perusing this website, Several key issues should be reviewed.
Joe Lethbridge, February 11th 3rd paragraph. Seniors, bullies, homeless, children going hungry.
Tracy hipel, February 11th. Lack of accountability.
Bev McDowell, February 12th. Encouragement to stand up for ourselves
Tom Vann, february 12. Why is this site so hidden.
When is next meeting of City Council? Let’s make our physical presence known, a civilized mob.
Form a Civilian oversight commitee. (Taxpayers oversight commitee)
Spend our taxpayer money where the citizens believe it should be spent.