It’s no longer the wild, wild west for Campbell River street entertainers.
With council adopting a street performer bylaw last week, all buskers will have to abide by a series of rules, some of which will restrict when and how long they can play in one location.
The bylaw prohibits street entertainers from performing within two metres of any entrance or exit to a business or within five metres from the doors of a bank, credit union, trust company or automated teller machine.
City hall has floated the idea of busker bylaw for several years – since a 2007 survey of downtown businesses showed majority support for some sort of policy.
Councillors nearly had to stifle a groan at last week’s Tuesday council meeting when Coun. Claire Moglove said she still wasn’t quite ready to pass the bylaw.
“I’m going to refer this to one of our committees,” Moglove said, before quickly adding, “I’m just kidding.”
Coun. Andy Adams said he was “glad to see it’s finally being done.”
Upland it is
Upland Excavating Ltd. has three million reasons to be thankful.
City council awarded the Downtown Revitalization project for the St.Ann’s block to Upland at a negotiated price of $3.2 million. Upland was the only business to respond to the city’s Request for Proposals bid process and originally quoted the city a price of $3.6 million.
The project involves replacing underground services, moving overhead wires underground and planting more trees, and plants, widening the sidewalks and installing new street lights to make the area more walkable. The city project will complement the new Seymour Pacific building which will be built on the St. Ann’s block.