Title
Report on the Enhanced Gravel Enforcement Initiative
Proposed Motion(s)
That the Governance and Priorities Committee recommend Council consider as part of the 2015 budget process approving Administration's recommendations to make the secondment of the two Community Peace Officer 1 (CPO1) positions and the two 1 year term Community Peace Officer 2, (CPO2) positions permanent as of January 1, 2015, allowing continuation of the enhanced gravel enforcement program and maintaining service levels in Bylaw Services.
Body
Administration Recommendation(s)
Administration supports the motion as proposed. If this motion receives support from the Governance and Priorities Committee and budget approval from Council the two seconded CPO1 Officers will continue their work in our Gravel Enforcement Program and the two temporary CPO2 positions covering in Bylaw Services will be extended until the end of 2014. The funding required to cover the additonal expense for the CPO2's can be accommodated in Enforcement Services 2014 Operating Budget, as we have had several staff vacancies over the course of the year resulting in our salary and benefits being underbudget. A recruitment process for the two permanent CPO2's would be carried out over the latter months of 2014 to recruit permanent staff for a January 1, 2015 start.
Purpose
June 25, 2013 Council approved the secondment of two CPO1 Municipal Officer positions from Bylaw for the purposes of enhancing the Gravel Enforcement Program, and to backfill the vacancies left with two one-year term CPO2 Officer positions. Administration is pleased to provide the Governance and Priorities Committee with a report and recommendations regarding this initiative.
Summary
June 25, 2013 Council directed Administration to enhance the Gravel Focus Officer by seconding the two CPO1 Municipal Officers from Bylaw. Council further directed Administration to backfill their vacancies with two 1 year term CPO2 positions (Bylaw Enforcement Officers). Council also directed Administration to enter into an Enhanced Agreement with the RCMP Spruce Grove/Stony Plain Detachment for enhanced gravel enforcement.
There were 236 gravel related complaints in 2013, up from 175 in 2012. As gravel extraction continues to grow in Parkland County, so will the demands on the Gravel Focus Officer. Planning & Development Department advises there are 15 new gravel extraction development permits in various stages of approval. So far this year (August 30, 2014), there have been 148 gravel related complaints. Therefore the Enhanced Gravel Enforcement Initiative is having the desired impact Council was looking for. Enforcement Services was able to be more proactive in traffic enforcement; both commercial vehicle related and general, such as speed, stop signs. There were 3,981 violation tickets issued in 2013 up from 2,981 in 2012. As of August 30, 2014 Enforcement Services is on target is issue about 4,200 violation tickets. The number of proactive truck checks undertaken as a result of this initiative has also increased as well. These increases are a direct result of the secondment strengthening the overall Gravel Enforcement Program.
Under the Enhanced RCMP Gravel Initiative, local RCMP were able to make five patrols in September and one patrol in October. None in 2014 as of July 22, 2014. We are working with one of the local constables to schedule these patrols in August and September.
The focused gravel enforcement and other traffic enforcement are working, as Council had hoped.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications (As Required)
Community - Promote and advance health and wellness opportunities for residents
Governance - Deliver quality services in an efficient and economical manner that enable development & growth
Infrastructure - Preserve, maintain and upgrade existing infrastructure to maximize its life expectancy.
Financial Impact:
Cost: $105,000 (Restricted Surplus Municipal Operations)
$ 50,000 (Impact on Taxation)
Source of Funding: Restricted Surplus Municipal Operations
Tax levy