City council has approved several bylaw amendments that affect intensive livestock operations in the city, the zoning of Main Street North, and a code of conduct for residents who serve on committees or boards.
Council gave three unanimous readings to each of the four bylaw amendments during the Dec. 6 regular council meeting. The amendments are now in effect.
Official Community Plan
Council approved an amendment to the Official Community Plan that removes from the plan intensive livestock operations (ILO) that no longer operate in Moose Jaw. It also corrects technical mapping errors.
Furthermore, the amendment simplifies separation distances for one existing ILO by removing distances based on the number of animals an ILO can hold. It also amends the separation distance to 1,600 metres from 4,800 metres for institutional, commercial and multi-unit land use as laid out in the Official Community Plan.
M&T Feedlot at 2750 River Street West is the only ILO business in Moose Jaw and can handle more than 2,000 animals.
Meanwhile, Lister Feedlot at 2855 Brittania Road is no longer operational and will be removed from the OCP. It will also be removed from the M2 district as a prohibited use in the zoning bylaw. Council unanimously approved an amendment to the zoning bylaw to remove the feedlot from M2.
Main Street North
Council approved an amendment to the zoning bylaw that rezones the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Main Street North to R2 medium density residential and R3 high-density residential districts from CS community service/institutional district.
The zoning was changed to accommodate this area’s current and future residential land uses. In particular, existing homeowners have been unable to acquire mortgages from their properties because of how the area is zoned.
City hall provided public notice for the proposed bylaw amendment, a council report said. It received no written responses about the change.
Code of conduct
Council approved a disclosure bylaw and code of conduct for committee and board members. The bylaw establishes and applies a code of conduct and disclosure of land holdings requirement for non-council members appointed to council-created boards and committees. It also establishes a code of ethical behaviour that members must follow.
This standalone bylaw mirrors the City of Moose Jaw’s ethical provisions found in other municipal bylaws and sets out relevant reporting procedures, a council report said.
Meanwhile, city administration is working to create a bylaw amendment to the elected members’ code of ethics bylaw to address four areas:
- Providing greater detail on the nature of ethical behaviours and the types of behaviours that will be monitored
- Expanding the complaints procedures component to address how and when an external investigation may be initiated
- Providing specific leave of absence provisions for a council member wishing to pursue provincial or federal politics
- Giving city administration the leeway to monitor additional matters that it believes council should review
It is not known when city administration plans to bring forward this amendment.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Dec. 13.
