Copyright: 2004 The Vancouver Sun
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Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
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COUNCIL GIVE CITY STAFF MORE POWER TO DEAL WITH DRUG OPERATIONS

COQUITLAM -- City staff will soon have more power to recover costs
associated with cleaning up drug operations.

Council has given three readings to a new bylaw that deals with the
destruction caused by marijuana grow-operations and methamphetamine labs
set up in local houses. Mayor Jon Kingsbury said the bylaw gives city staff
the authority to enter a property to conduct inspections to determine
whether a hazardous situation exists and whether remediation is required
before anyone can live in the house again.

If the property owner or occupant fails to clean up the problem, city staff
may charge the person for clean-up and policing costs.

"We want to make it expensive for them," Kingsbury said. "It will keep
honest people honest while not protecting the bad actors. It will make
people more responsible."