With the success of the Lake Recreation Safety Plan implementation this past summer, the Community Recreation Coordinator of Community Operations Katelynn Richards presented the Lake Use Bylaw framework to the Committee of the Whole for information on Dec. 10.
The purpose of the development of the Lake Use Bylaw is to help the city achieve the desired results of improving safety, enhancing user experiences on the lake, and reducing the city’s risk of liability exposure.
“The intention behind this bylaw is to improve safety and not to limit access to the lake,” Richards said.
“We want to ensure everyone who comes to our lake is prepared to be safe on the lake, and everyone knows what they need to be doing on the lake, so everyone is safe,” she said.
Firstly, Richards and the Community Operations team members began with the Lake Recreation Safety Plan, which included implementing a buoy system, safety signage over the bridge, safety brochures, and a boat safety permit.
Richards also worked with Chestermere RCMP and municipal enforcement to increase enforcement on the lake and coordinated with the Rotary Club of Chestermere that provided a life jacket loaning program.
“All were very successful. This is the next step in formalizing how we better ensure the lake is safe, and we’re managing access,” Richards said.
Under the Lake Use Bylaw framework, all people 10-years of age or younger are required to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) while in the water, or on a raft or inflatable.
With the Lake Use Bylaw, the city boat launch registration process will ensure that residents are required to either register for the entire season or pay a daily launching fee whenever they want to go out on the lake.
The seasonal residential permit fee will be allocated per household and will ensure residents have access to the boat launch and parking area for the season.
In order to use the city boat launch, motor-vessel operators are required to provide proof of personal identification, pleasure craft operators card, boating license, registration number, and pass an invasive species survey process before gaining access to the launch.
If a resident cannot provide all of the documents required, they will be refused entry to the city boat launch.
Any residents who use commercial properties to launch their motor-vessels due to size are also required to register with the city before launching their boat.
“It’s really important for us to have that access to that launch for the public,” Richards said.
Adding, “There would be a lot of unhappy people if they couldn’t access that launch.”
All lakefront residents and not-for-profit properties are responsible for maintaining docks or floating structures on their property to a safe standard, and they are solely responsible for the safety of anyone participating in recreation within the property.
Not-for-profit organizations or programs are also required to obtain a program permit issued by the City of Chestermere prior to hosting any recreation programs on the water, in lakefront parks, commercial, or residential properties.
Lakefront residents and not-for-profit property owners also required to ensure boats from their property that have been out of the province are inspected by an authorized provincial check stop before they can enter Chestermere Lake.
Under the Lake Use Bylaw framework, the City of Chestermere is able to close a beach or lakefront park at any time due to safety issues, water quality issues, or forecasted inclement weather.
Municipal enforcement or anyone delegated by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) will have the authority to ask people to exit the beach or park at any time.
Throughout the winter season, off-highway vehicles are only allowed on the lake surface, with the exception of the John Peake parking area to load and unload the vehicle.
The off-highway vehicles are not permitted to be closer than 50 meters from weirs located on the far north and south ends of the lake.
“The ice is definitely weaker, and it’s not as safe to be close. Keeping all users of the lake at a distance is safer,” Richards said.
Richards is hopeful that the bylaw will be fully developed in the new year, with implementation in May.
