City researching bylaw to recover costs for policing trouble properties

Properties that repeatedly show up on the RCMP's radar can expect more than a wrist-slap from the city in the near future.

A motion by Coun. Brian Skakun received unanimous support, tasking staff to research a bylaw that would give the city authority to recover costs for repeated calls for service.

"What brought this to my attention was the Connaught Inn," said Skakun, who was frustrated by reports of repeated crime that included open drunkenness, fights and more.

Prince George RCMP has said it was called to the business more than 700 times since 2012.

"There were a number of things. It really hit home," Skakun said.

Also, other cities have found ways to force owners to pay-up, said Skakun, referencing Surrey and Nanaimo especially, which he said has a cost recovery bylaw in effect.

The motion won unanimous support from his colleagues.

"It puts pressure on the bad guys to be good guys," said Coun. Albert Koehler.

Skakun said his hope for the bylaw is threefold:

"It's a deterrent, it's a way to make property owners more accountable," and it's cost recovery, he said. "It's not about reinventing the wheel."

But he acknowledged the bylaw would have to be carefully crafted so that it could stand up in the courts.

"I think we have to do it right. I think it has to be a fair process... and I think the community will support it," he said.

While Coun. Garth Frizzell said he was in support of the intent, he cautioned it would be important the bylaw be written in a way that it didn't discourage reporting. And, it wouldn't be fair to target or unfairly punish those with property in high crime areas that weren't doing anything to encourage criminality.

"If it can be attributed to their activities, absolutely," said Frizzell.

Mayor Lyn Hall said it's clear there are some spots in the city that really tax the RCMP's resources.

"It parlays into tens of thousands of dollars," Hall said. Those are numbers that are hard for us to swallow. I think this is a great opportunity for us to attempt to recoup those costs."