MUNICIPALITY OWNS GROW-OP PROPERTY

SAANICH - With timing that even Mayor Frank Leonard admits is ironic, the
municipality of Saanich became the first landlord affected by its new
grow-operation bylaw.

Just one week after Saanich council approved a new bylaw with new rules for
property owners whose homes are turned over to crystal meth labs or
marijuana grow ops, Saanich's own rental property near Swan Lake became the
focus of a Saanich police investigation on Jan. 16. A strong smell of pot
led to the bust on Lancaster Road, which was in view of the mayor's office
at the municipal hall.

Police seized $50,000 worth of plants and equipment, including $6,000 worth
of cash and a room full of mature plants about to be harvested for their
bud.

Police arrested the renters, a 38-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman, and
Crown is processing charges for growing, possessing a controlled substance
for the purpose of trafficking.

"The irony is almost delicious," said Mayor Frank Leonard. The bust came
just a week after the council's unanimous approval of the Controlled
Substance Property Bylaw, and just one week before the law was expected to
become official at a council vote on Jan. 24.

Even though the bylaw is not yet passed, Leonard said the municipality
decided to follow the bylaw as though it were already the law.

"Once we got over our initial reaction. The thing to do was take the high
road and say let's make an example - let everyone get past their initial
reaction as well."

Several councillors at the committee of the whole meeting Jan.10 argued that
the purpose of the bylaw was to make sure that landlords brought their
buildings back up to code after illegal operations caused damage.

The bylaw involves up to $3,500 in fees covering inspections to make sure
owners repair and clean the home.

Leonard and Saanich police Insp. John Charlton also argued that the bylaw
might be a deterrent to negligent or complicit landlords, whose properties
are caught more than once with grow-ops in their rental homes.

The bylaw was controversial. Community members argued that property owners
are penalized by the bylaw through no fault of their own. Saanich landlord
Vicki Sanders told council that it could happen to anyone.

"I was rolling on the floor laughing," she said, describing her reaction to
the news that it happened to Saanich.

"See how innocently it can happen?" she added. "This re-enforces my whole
thing that the bylaw penalizes the landlord, not the person doing the
crime."

The Saanich municipal home on Lancaster Road was managed through Saanich's
property management department. Staff inspect the properties regularly, the
mayor said.

But the inspectors did not notice the crawl space under the home where
police found the plants and equipment. The crawl space was not accessible
from inside the home.

"I'm told the living conditions are in excellent condition," Leonard said.

Saanich will not know how much damage is done to the home - or how many fees
apply from its bylaw - until after the tenants move out.

Saanich gave the tenants notice to vacant.