After a lengthy process of gathering feedback from residents, Okotoks Council still isn't ready to make a decision on whether to implement an anti-idling bylaw for the town.

During Monday's meeting, Sustainability Coordinator Dawn Smith presented Council with a full report on the feedback, as well as amendments for the second and third reading of the bylaw.

Over the span of about six weeks, the Town received 13 written submissions, and received another 237 comments through the Conservation Educator's summer survey.

Of the 237 comments, 77 per cent were in support of the bylaw, and 23 per cent were against it.

The stipulations of the bylaw are as follows:

3. IDLING
3.1. No person shall cause or permit an occupied vehicle to idle for more than three (3) consecutive minutes within a continuous thirty (30) minute period when the outdoor ambient air temperature is between 5°C and 25°.
3.2. No persons shall cause or permit an unoccupied vehicle to idle for more than three (3) consecutive minutes within a continuous thirty (30) minute period when the outdoor ambient air temperature is above 0°C.
3.3. No persons shall cause or permit an unoccupied vehicle to idle for more than ten (10) consecutive minutes within a continuous thirty (30) minute


4. EXEMPTIONS FROM IDLING PROVISION
4.1. Notwithstanding Section 3.1, vehicles may remain idling:
a) while passengers are embarking or disembarking;
b) while stopped for an emergency or actively assisting in an emergency activity;
c) if experiencing mechanical difficulties;
d) while stopped in traffic;
e) while engaged in a parade, procession or a race authorized by the Town;
f) while engaged in a mechanical test or maintenance procedure for which idling is required;
g) to power a heating or refrigeration system for the preservation of perishable cargo;
h) to power any tools or equipment necessary for or incidental to the provision of services by a municipality, public utility or other;
i) while a vehicle is occupied by a domesticated household animal(s) and the ambient outside temperature is below 0°C or above 10°C.
j) where a vehicle is occupied by a person or domesticated household animal and a medical or veterinary doctor certifies in writing that a person or animal requires that temperature or humidity be maintained within a certain range

4.2. Notwithstanding Sections 3.2 and 3.3, vehicles may remain idling:
a) while stopped for an emergency or actively assisting in an emergency activity;
b) if experiencing mechanical difficulties;
c) while engaged in a mechanical test or maintenance procedure for which idling is required;
d) to power a heating or refrigeration system for the preservation of perishable cargo;
e) to power any tools or equipment necessary for or incidental to the provision of services by a municipality, public utility or other service;
4.2 Notwithstanding Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, the following vehicles are exempt:
a) armoured vehicles involved in the secure delivery or collection of goods; and
b) emergency vehicles as defined in the Province of Alberta Traffic Safety Act (except where idling is for the convenience of the operator of the vehicle).
c) trains or rail vehicles while operating on rails

While going over the stipulations of the bylaw, Councillor Carrie Fischer suggested one of the exemptions (while a vehicle is occupied by a domesticated household animal(s)
and the ambient outside temperature is below 0°C or above 10°C) be changed to include children.

After a lengthy discussion, Councillor Tanya Thorn proposed a decision be postponed until the Sep. 14 meeting.

She says the amendment to include children in the exception could pose a liability for the Town, and she wants to see legal research done on the matter.

"There's tons of research out there that we shouldn't be leaving children unattended in a vehicle for a variety of reasons," she says. "If we've created a bylaw that says it's ok to do that, I don't know what that opens up for the municipality. So, for me to effectively consider that amendment and vote upon it, I need that information back."

Thorn says she didn't expect a decision to be made right away on the bylaw, as there's more than just one concern.

"We still aren't there yet, but the other element is, if we put it in place, how are we going to enforce it," she says. "I'm not a big believer in creating a bunch of rules that we can't also enforce, or that we have to create this complaint-community of the only way we can reinforce it is by complaining about your neighbour, because that doesn't create good neighbours."

The bylaw will be presented once again for second and third readying at Council's next meeting on Sep. 14.