The City of Chestermere is encouraging lake users to review and provide feedback on the draft Lake Safety Bylaw.
Community engagement was completed in 2018, and in 2019 a follow-up pilot program of lake safety initiatives was launched. The city is now seeking residents’ feedback on the Lake Safety Bylaw to formalize lake use safety regulations, before bringing the bylaw to council for first reading.
“The engagement process for the draft Lake Use Bylaw will give the public an opportunity to provide feedback on the entire bylaw or just the sections that are most relevant to the types of activities they engage in on the lake,” said Community Recreation Coordinator, Katelyn Richards.
Public input is essential to ensure the Lake Safety Bylaw has the correct balance between supporting recreational lake use while enabling the city to enforce public safety regulations on the water or lake surface all year round.
“Over the last two years, we received excellent feedback from a variety of user groups, which formed the basis of the Recreation Lake Safety Plan. The city’s enforcement team also introduced a new boating safety decal program. Through these efforts we have learned that a shared understanding of boating etiquette and safety practices for a wide variety of recreational purposes will be beneficial to everyone,” Richards said.
Adding, “The intention behind the bylaw is to help clarify what this proper safety etiquette should be, and what preventative measures need to be in place in order to ultimately support a safer experience on the lake for everyone.”
Resident feedback can be submitted until Dec. 11.
To read the draft Lake Use Bylaw and participate in the discussion, please visit www.chestermereconversations.ca
For more information on the Lake Safety Bylaw, email Richards at krichards@chestermere.ca or call (403) 207-2807.
