Members of the community services committee voted Monday to refer back to city council a controversial plan to require residents to buy permits for campfires.
Approved in November during the budget process, the plan was to charge $50 a year for an open air burning permit, $10 for a week, or $25 to renew the annual permit. The move was forecast to bring in $10,000 in new revenue, an amount included in this year's municipal budget.
The report that went to community services offered an update on the process, saying the bylaw governing rules around campfires and other open burning would have to be updated to allow for the fee.
Trevor Bain, the city's chief of fire and paramedic services, said while some cities in Ontario don't require permits, most do and have been charging for them for years. Bain said Greater Sudbury Fire Services receive about 300 backyard fire-related complaints a year.
“Some communities don't allow you to have a fire, period,” Bain said. “It was done because it's a best practice.”
And Bain clarified that, if passed, the new system would give homeowners the option — not requirement — of having their smoke and CO2 detectors inspected.
“We'd be willing to do that,” he said, but “we don't see it as mandatory.”
But most councillors said they opposed charging a fee in principle.
“I am not in favour of the fee aspect of this whatsoever,” said Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier.
But Cormier was glad that the inspection of smoke and CO2 alarms was optional, saying he was “appalled” at the idea of homeowners being forced to submit to the inspection.
“It's a little '1984' in my mind,” he said, referring to the classic dystopian novel by George Orwell.
Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini said the public spoke loud and clear when news of the fee got around.
He received “a large amount of emails and phone calls,” Vagnini said. “I am totally, 100-per-cent not in favour of it.”
Ward 4 Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac said she suspected the issue was really a downtown problem.
“In the outlying areas, (the ability to have a campfire) is very important for families,” Dutrisac said. “We're in Northern Ontario, and people like to make an outdoor fires.
“And I'm getting a lot of calls, too. People are mad.”
Mayor Brian Bigger told the committee the report was for information only, so no motion to reverse the decision was possible.
“It would have to be referred back to finance,” Bigger said.
“So the bylaw remains status quo until council approves any changes to the bylaw. So the fees cannot be imposed.”
The committee voted to refer the matter back to city council, where a motion to repeal the permit fee decision can be heard. It will be heard at the May 31 meeting.
Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann said if council is looking at changes to its open air burning bylaw, she wants them to consider new rules for certain types of furnaces that burn garbage and other waste.
She said it's a real problem in high-density areas where people are forced to close their windows and doors to get away from the smoke.
“We have one in the Flour Mill area – they burn garbage, they burn pallets,” Landry-Altman said. “I would like (them) to be looked at, as well.”