NICOLE CLARK
PENTICTON – The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce and its members strongly supports officially recognizing the City’s Bylaw Enforcement and Community Safety Officers as Peace Officers.
“The City’s Bylaw Enforcement and Community Safety Team has been crucial in making our City safer and cleaner,” states Chamber President Nicole Clark. “And given the thousands of calls they are now responding to each year and the types of issues they are being asked to resolve, it only makes sense that we provide them with the title and legal authority to perform their duties.”
The Chamber also commends the City for outlining the expectations around conduct in public spaces and particularly in front of storefronts which has so far been missing in our municipal bylaws.
“Everyone has the right to access public spaces, and businesses also have the right to ensure that access to their property is not compromised with unwanted activity or obstructions that could create hesitation in- or prevent customers from entering,” commented Michael Magnusson, the Chamber’s Executive Director. “I am glad that our community safety bylaws are being updated to a level that’s commonplace in urban centres.”
Like the City, the Chamber is also advocating for more resources to help those in need, particularly those struggling with addiction, and commends Mayor and Council for taking the first step in bringing the Car 40 program to Penticton, despite Interior Health choosing Kelowna and Kamloops. Discussions also need to take place within the City and with the Province that focus on plans to expand complex care facilities so that first stage housing isn’t the only stage of housing for those wanting to break the cycle they’ve become trapped in.
The Chamber knows that the Safe Public Places Bylaw, as well as the Peace Officer designation, are only the first steps in achieving Council’s strategic priorities in creating a safer and more accessible community while they continue to work with the Provincial Government and Interior Health for additional resources.
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