Metchosin is reevaluating its bylaw enforcement policies to find out whatB次元官网网址檚 working, and what may need an update.

On March 29, council held a virtual public engagement workshop to discuss best practices of bylaw enforcement and investigation policies.

B次元官网网址淲e embarked in this process back in 2019 prior to COVID-19, and the process got stalled due to the pandemic,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Kyara Kahakuawila.

Kahakuawila said council is looking at whether the current bylaws are focused where they would like them to be, and what needs to be looked at in the future.

B次元官网网址淲e want to look at how to move forward in the best way possible for residents,B次元官网网址� said Kahakuawila. B次元官网网址淏ylaws are intended to create the type of Metchosin that we all want to see.B次元官网网址�

Future discussions could look at whether or not to move from a complaint-based strategy, to a more active bylaw strategy.

B次元官网网址淎 complaint-based process is the choice by most municipalities, but is it one that catches every single infraction? Absolutely not. The city deals with things as they become known,B次元官网网址� said Kahakuawila. B次元官网网址淪o we are looking at having more active bylaw enforcement monitoring from staff while out on the road.B次元官网网址�

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As a takeaway from the workshop, Kahakuawila noted that communication is a major piece, and residents would like more information after a complaint is filed, but council is limited on the information it can give out.

B次元官网网址淚 think we can find a better way of doing that, but IB次元官网网址檓 not sure what it would look like yet, so thatB次元官网网址檚 one reason why weB次元官网网址檝e tasked the chief administrative officer to find the best practices,B次元官网网址� Kahakuawila said.

Metchosin resident Jay Shukin said he was disappointed by the delay and lack of progress around the issue since it was first introduced by council in 2019.

B次元官网网址淲hat the public is looking for is a renewal around the commitment to enforce bylaws within the community,B次元官网网址� said Shukin.

Shukin would like to see more sessions where they discuss further issues, such as the use of fines, bylaw administration, and doing a cost benefit analysis of looking at hiring a bylaw officer in Metchosin. Currently, Metchosin contracts them out of the CRD.

Council wants to ensure bylaw enforcement practices are transparent, reasonable and fair, so reviewing how enforcement is delivered in the community will be an ongoing discussion with residents.

B次元官网网址淥ne thing council needs to do through the planning committee is decide what the next steps are,B次元官网网址� said Kahakuawila, noting there will be more opportunities for public engagement and workshop sessions to come.

City staff is compiling information gathered from the meeting to draw up a more refined strategy, and another workshop-style meeting is expected to be held at the end of April.

For more information or to view the full workshop, visit .

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