RICHMOND IS CONSIDERING BILLING HOMEOWNERS FOR GROW-OPS

City staff are penning a bylaw that could put homeowners on the hook for
police costs if marijuana grow operations are busted on their properties.

Early last year, council asked staff to examine bylaws in Surrey and
Chilliwack, which require owners of properties used as grow-ops to pay for
costs of enforcement.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said there is a huge cost involved in
shutting a grow-op down.

"The problem is becoming more and more prevalent and it's going to become
bigger and bigger and more and more expensive," Brodie said. "The feeling
was if the law allowed us to charge those responsible for some of the
administrative and related costs of the enforcement, then we should do it."

Richmond council has yet to debate the topic, but city staff said Monday a
bylaw will be ready for consideration in about a month.

On Monday Richmond council also approved hiking a range of RCMP service
fees to bring them in line with other Lower Mainland municipalities.

According to a staff report, policing costs have "escalated significantly"
in recent years, and it's important to ensure that services that are cost
recoverable fairly reflect their actual costs of delivery.

Fees in Richmond for criminal record checks were so low that residents from
other cities came to the Richmond RCMP detachment for the service, says the
staff report.

The fee increases will bring in an extra $100,000 to $150,000 in revenue.

Criminal record checks, police certificates, pardon applications and name
change applications will increase from $30 to $50.

Criminal record checks for local volunteers will continue to be free.