With 1.2 million gallons of water being used by Pemberton residents per day, council passed a motion to send out notices this week to tell the community to be less wasteful with their sprinklers.
Residents living at even-numbered addresses can use their sprinklers on even-numbered days. Odd-numbered address can use them on odd-numbered days. The restrictions are in place until Sept. 30, 2013.
A warning will be given to first-time offenders and a $100 fine will be issued for every offence after that.
Lonny Miller, the acting manager of public works for the Village of Pemberton, told council that the restriction needed to be brought in as soon as possible.
"The annual community challenge that we issue for sprinkling we don't believe has worked," Miller said. "The lawns are green, but we think that with better water management we can still maintain the aesthetics."
Miller added that he would be preparing a bylaw for this coming fall to formalize the arrangement. He added that they wanted to conduct meter readings weekly in the summer to monitor water use.
One of the biggest issues is depletion of the system when irrigation use increases around 3 a.m., making levels for fighting fires a risk for public safety, Miller told council.
"It is a serious concern," he said.
Notices will be sent out this week.
Council supports renaming airport park in honour of Rozsypalek
Pemberton council received correspondence from Christine Timm, the secretary of the Pemberton Flying Club, requesting that Pemberton Airport Park be renamed in the memory of Rudy Rozsypalek.
Rozsypalek, owner and operator of the Pemberton Soaring Centre, died following a midair collision between the glider he was piloting and a Cessna flying from 100 Mile House on June 29. Three other people and a dog were also killed in the accident.
Council passed a resolution supporting the renaming of the park and directed staff to speak to his family regarding naming options, possible park upgrades, including signage, and the development of a budget for the work to be considered park of the 2014 budget deliberations.
Snakes and lizard love Pemberton
There's a plentiful population of snakes and lizards, according to a recent inventory by Veronica Woodruff of the Stewardship Pemberton Society.
In particular, 10 endangered sharp-tailed snakes were found around the Pemberton Valley, including Nairn Falls, near the Mount Currie community and the Rutherford. The slug-eating snakes are small and in danger of being run over by bikes.
According to the provincial government the snake is found "at only a handful of locations" in British Columbia.
As well, 70 small rubber boa constrictors, the only kind of constrictor in Canada, were found.
Woodruff said none of the snakes in the Pemberton Valley are poisonous.
They also found endangered red-legged frogs in the valley for the first time, expanding their known range by 100km.
She told council that the information can be useful in establishing restrictions for development, where needed, noting that some species have small ranges, no more than 25 sq. metres in their lifetimes.
Tiyata and Sunstone Ridge developments take steps forward
The Tiyata at Pemberton housing project received variance and development permits at the regular council meeting of July 23, subject to constraints regarding flood protection, environmental protection, and also covering form and character, and road standard conditions.
Later that evening, council passed official community plan and zoning amendments at a special council meeting following public hearings on the Tiyata project.
Meanwhile, Sunstone Ridge also received several approvals for their environmental protection development permit and land constraints (Sunstone Ridge wildfire) development permits.
