Fines for panhandling in the city have received initial approval, with council emphasizing theyB次元官网网址檙e a last resort.

City council passed a street solicitation bylaw in May, without the accompanying fines included. Those have now been added in an amendment to the B次元官网网址榯icket information utilization bylawB次元官网网址� and were given three readings by council on July 8. Final adoption is yet to come.

The fines are $50 per offence.

Infractions listed are:

B次元官网网址� soliciting within 15 metres of the places highlighted in the street solicitation bylaw. They include: the entrance to a bank, credit union or trust company; an automated teller machine; a bus stop or bus shelter; a restaurant with outdoor seating or the entrance to a theatre or art gallery.

B次元官网网址� soliciting a motor vehicle occupant

B次元官网网址� sitting or lying on a street

B次元官网网址� public solicitation.

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Coun. Kevin Flynn pointed out that Penticton, Kelowna and Kamloops have $100 fines, while the provincial Safe Streets Act, which can only be enforced by police, is $89.

Coun. Louise Wallace Richmond said she sees the fine, B次元官网网址渢o be blunt,B次元官网网址� as a housekeeping detail. She noted the street solicitation bylaw was passed in May and the fine amount was a detail still outstanding.

B次元官网网址淭he intention was to not fineB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� she said, a principle that was emphasized in a staff report to council.

B次元官网网址淐ouncil can have every assurance from staff that the intent of the bylaw is well understood and every effort will be made to resolve compliance issues without the use of the Municipal Ticket Information system,B次元官网网址� wrote Maurice Roy, manager of permits and licensing.

The report also outlined what approach will be used for anyone in violation of the street solicitation bylaw.

B次元官网网址淭he primary method of achieving compliance will be education followed by a request for compliance. If the offense continues, the bylaw officer would then escalate to a verbal warning which could be followed by a written demand notification. City staffB次元官网网址檚 last resort would be the issuance of a municipal ticket.B次元官网网址�

Wallace Richmond emphasized the street solicitation bylaw makes reference to the city working with social agencies to develop a compassionate and collaborative framework in working with vulnerable populations.

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Coun. Sylvia Lindgren said she is voting against the fines B次元官网网址渨ith great respect to my fellow councillors.B次元官网网址�

She said she knows other councillors have been involved with the issue for a long time and are doing what they think is right. However, B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 see how fining people living on the street makes sense.B次元官网网址�

Coun. Kevin Flynn said heB次元官网网址檚 heard both sides of the issue. He asked the public works department how many people have been fined under bylaws like the watering or unsightly premises bylaw. Under watering, none, he was told. Unsightly premises, a few.

Wallace Richmond said council doesnB次元官网网址檛 want to criminalize poverty; she expects the fine provision will never be used except in extreme circumstances.

Flynn, Wallace Richmond and Coun. Debbie Cannon voted in favour of amending the ticket information bylaw to include panhandling fines, while Lindgren voted against.

Mayor Alan Harrison and Couns. Tim Lavery and Chad Eliason were absent.

marthawickett@saobserver.net
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