CITY RAISES FEES FOR FIREFIGHTING AT GROW OPS

New Westminster Should Be Charging Much More Money for Firefighters
to Attend Incidents Involving Drugs.

On Nov. 6, city council received several reports recommending
increases to user fees and rates.

A report on the city's fire protection amendment bylaw recommended an
increase from $400 per hour to $415 per hour for crews to suppress
fires or do any other task as a result of attending an incident
involved in the illegal use of a controlled substance.

"We are having certain incidents with grow ops and meth labs," said
Carl Nepstad, director of fire and rescue services. "We are going to
be charging the owners."

Some council members feel the proposed $415 per hour rate is too low.

"I am not sure that is enough," said Mayor Wayne Wright. "They are
not the legal things that are happening."

Wright thinks $1,000 is a more appropriate fee. Nepstad said the
police department will also be charging for its attendance at these
grow ops or meth labs.

Gary Holowatiuk, director of finance, said the fees are put in place
to cover the cost of city staff.

"What about a danger factor?" asked Coun. Lorrie Williams about
firefighters going into a place that has been used for drug operations.

Holowatiuk said those costs would be built into a hazardous materials
response, if such a response were needed.

"My concern is this is not enough to cover our people," Wright said
about the $415 rate.

Council gave three readings to the fire protection amendment bylaw
but directed staff to review the rates for response to these sites.

The fire protection bylaw also includes a fee of $200 per hour for
fire department personnel and equipment to attend a special event.

"This is for filming," said Nepstad, noting it doesn't apply to
attendance at special community events.

Council also approved amendment bylaws to the business licence,
commercial vehicle, building, plumbing, development approval
procedures, downtown New Westminster redevelopment, fees and street
traffic bylaws.

"It's not an unusual thing,"said Coun. Cal Donnelly of annual
housekeeping of bylaws. "We do it every year."

Donnelly said the city tries to maintain similar rates to
neighbouring communities.

"It is important we keep in line," he said. "There is nothing I am
aware of that is unfair."

The bylaw amendments will result in a two per cent increase to
business licence fees, commercial vehicle licence fees, and building
and plumbing permit fees in 2007. These increases are considered
equal to the expected Consumer Price Index increase for 2007.

In addition, the city is proposing a two per cent increase of
planning permits in 2007, which is based on comparability with other
municipalities and an effort at cost recovery.

The fees amendment bylaw includes increases from $20 to $25 for
returned cheque charge and statement of taxes. The street traffic
bylaw is proposing the rate for street use permits/meter spaces and
the oversize truck permits by 10 per cent.