Nuisance bylaw might need two more RCMP members

NEWS/ POLICE — A new bylaw aimed at getting control of nuisance properties could mean the hiring of two more RCMP members.

The bylaw — which would be used to force those responsible for excessive noise and other neighbourhood problems to pay the costs of responding to calls — is under consideration.

That would require more enforcement, and Kamloops may hire two more RCMP members next year, bringing the detachment’s strength to 122 members.

City council will be asked to approve sending a letter to the justice ministry giving notice the City expects it will need to add the two members for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

The new council will meet early next year to review the budget and police staffing levels.

In a report to council, corporate administrator David Duckworth says that because the City’s fiscal year isn’t synchronized with the federal government’s, the City must send a letter approving in principle a policing resource request in advance so the federal government can budget for its share.

The City pays 90 per cent of policing costs and the federal government pays 10 per cent, which would mean the two members would cost the city $304,327, increasing the overall police budget by 1.4 per cent to $21.6 million.

“The city and RCMP administration anticipate that it may require the addition of two members to the detachment strength of 120, bringing the detachment strength to 122,” says the report.

“These additional members would be required to support the proposed nuisance abatement and cost recovery bylaw and other resource requirements.”

If council decides not to adopt the bylaw, the two additional members wouldn’t be needed.