FIGHTING SMOKE WITH FIRE(FIGHTERS)

The City of Abbotsford is hoping to get some cash from the provincial
government for a proposed project it hopes will push more weed makers out
of this agricultural city.

The city wants to form a full-time task force, composed of fire inspectors,
building inspectors and city bylaw staff, that would identify grow
operations and inspect premises suspected of posing significant health and
safety risk to the public.

The amount of information needed before going into a house is less than
what police currently need, and the hope is that grow operations and the
potential fire hazards that come with many of them can be dealt with quicker.

As well, police resources can be re-directed to other drug issues, such as
methamphetamine labs, according to the city.

However, police will often be brought in to assist in entering the home and
serving warrants.

UCFV criminology head Darryl Plecas, who was at Wednesday's grow operation
information session, said: "The problem has outpaced the ability of the
system to respond."

That's why, said Mayor Mary Reeves, the community also has to take action.

Abbotsford Police Deputy Chief Rick Lucy said the department is "very
supportive" of the initiative the city has taken on the issue.

The city hopes to start the 90-day pilot project in January, if it can get
$100,000 from the province to start up.

Abbotsford anticipates the task force will then be able to pay for itself
through fees collected in the current controlled substances bylaw. A
similar pilot project is in the works in Surrey, said city manager Gary
Guthrie.

With the 90-day pilot project, water service will be suspended to a home
where a grow operation is found and a notice will be registered on the
property title, giving potential homebuyers a way to identify if a home was
used for a drug operation.

A more stringent controlled substances bylaw, adopted just last week, also
outlines requirements for repair work to be done to homes before they can
be re-occupied. Often, homes suffer mould and electrical damage when they
are used for grow operations.

The bylaw also requires homeowners notify the city within 24 hours of
discovering a grow operation. But one man questioned the mayor about what
incentives were in place to encourage reporting.

She said a homeowner can appeal to council for relief of their fees, which
can reach a maximum of $10,000 per offence.

While Reeves outlined that the meeting was for information only, and not to
debate the merits of marijuana prohibition or share grow operation horror
stories, she was asked why the city didn't encourage grow operations in
more of a legal farm setting, and what provisions were made for those who
used medical marijuana.

To the first question, Reeves noted legalization is not a municipal
jurisdiction, and to the second, said the city had received legal advice.

Wednesday's meeting, which was attended by some 70 people, also included
presentations from individuals - including a firefighter and a real estate
agent - who outlined the challenges grow operations present for them.