MISSION MAYOR SAYS MISTAKES WERE MADE

Mayor James Atebe was on the defensive at public hearing Monday as
Mission residents questioned the findings of the Public Safety
Inspection Team (PSIT) property file review.

Under scrutiny were 70 homeowners who were levied fees but did not
pay.

The $115,000 review, which included $78,000 in fee reversals, found
there was insufficient evidence to prove that 15 of those homeowners
previously fined met the "evidentiary test identified" under the
Controlled Substance Bylaw to be marijuana grow operations.

Rick Goos, one of the 15 who had his $5,200 fee overturned, said the
violation of his individual rights for the interest of public safety
wasn't justified.

He asked the mayor how many grow-op related fires there were in
Mission last year. When Atebe said he didn't know, Goos then asked how
many fires were started by Christmas lights.

"So my question to council, is Christmas next?"

Another resident whose property has been declared a controlled
substance property said, "I don't feel like I've had my day in court.
I don't feel like I've been able to offer witnesses and evidence to
defend myself in this matter."

Atebe acknowledged mistakes have been made, both apologizing to
homeowners and asking district staff to draft a letter to homeowners
explaining the need for PSIT and an apology. He also said he would
write an open letter to the community personally.

Coun. Jenny Stevens' motion to review the criteria used to investigate
properties suspected of being grow-ops passed unanimously, adding an
apology to the innocent "is a debt we've owed for five months."

She said the 15 properties whose fees were reversed received
individual communication, and it's only fair similar action would be
taken for the rest.

"We've never publicly exonerated them," she said.

But Coun. Mike Scudder said just because PSIT did not designate a home
a controlled substance property "does not mean there was a total
absence of any kind or innocence was established."

He added one of the false rumours being spread is that residences were
inspected without any evidence.

Coun. Paul Horn said a review of the criteria and an apology are in
keeping with previous council recognition that people need to maintain
their dignity throughout the process.

He said a PSIT probe should have been done after the first year, but
Mission will continue to strive for a balance in community safety issues.

"Houses that house growops instead of families are not building our
community," he said.

The PSIT review head, deputy chief administrative officers Paul Gipps,
said the district has to communicate better with the public, adding
they have to be more accurate in their ability to predict potential
grow-ops. One of the key issues identified in the March report was a
need to have a communications specialist with PSIT when they visit
homes.

There were 499 properties inspected as possible grow-ops between April
2008 when PSIT began and the end of 2010 when the program was put on
indefinite deferral, with 216 homes (43 per cent) found not to be a
"controlled substance property."

At the program's inception, the district expected 85 per cent of
properties would be assessed fees, which would cover the operating
costs. But only 71 per cent of properties were levied fees in 2008; 61
per cent in 2009, and just 49 per cent in 2010.

Mission was charging $4,900 for the inspection with a $300
administration fee, and $250 for additional remediation
inspections.

The report also looked at fees in surrounding municipalities.
Abbotsford, which charges $3,500 with a $1,000 followup and $1,000
refundable security deposit, is currently under review. Langley
charges between $5,000 and $7,000; Chilliwack charges up to $3,650
including re-inspection; Surrey is $3,600; and Port Coquitlam charges
$6,500.

The bylaw triggering a PSIT inspection is based on electricity
consumption of 93 kilowatt hours per day -- three times the normal
usage -- in 70 per cent of the cases. RCMP investigations account for
the remainder.

District staff will now explore the possibility of reviewing the 187
cases in which homeowners paid fees, and prepare a report to council
for July.