POT BYLAW AIMS AT COSTS, SAFETY

A bylaw aimed at recovering police costs and enforcing safety
requirements after marijuana grow operations are busted in Abbotsford
sparked heated debate among Abbotsford councillors Monday.

Against the opposing votes of Coun. Mark Warawa, Moe Gill and John
Redekop, council has given three readings to a "controlled substance
property bylaw."

The move comes as grow-ops continue to take up scarce police time and
resources.

Requirements of the bylaw may only be imposed after police have shut
down a property containing a grow op. A comprehensive inspection, at a
proposed cost of $400, would take place by building, plumbing, fire,
electrical and gas inspectors.

Property owners would also be charged for building permit fees for
restoration work, and extraordinary police costs.

Redekop told the Abbotsford News he opposes the bylaw because it
punishes landlords for "the wrong doings of their tenants."

He said: "Why should a landlord also be a victim if there's a grow-op?
Why slap him with these costs? If he discovers a grow-op, he may not
even phone the police.

"It's unfair in the first instance to sock it to the landlord
financially," added Redekop, who tried unsuccessfully to have the
bylaw go before public hearing.

Acting director of development services W, Grant Acheson, reported to
council that up until the end of August, 64 grow operations were
investigated, resulting in 37 property searches.

In 2000, 233 grow-op investigations resulted in 194 property
searches.

"Grow operations can be found in all neighbourhoods of the city, and
predominately in single family rental houses," reported Acheson.

"This is a very important initiative," said Coun. Simon Gibson, who
voted in support of the bylaw. "The analogy I use is, if I let someone
borrow my car, and I see their condition is not satisfactory to
operate a car, I should be held accountable.

"I wasn't persuaded this initiative would penalize those landlords who
are very vigilant in choosing their tenants," he said.

The fact that staff pointed out both Burnaby and Surrey already have a
similar bylaw on their books likely influenced the mayor and most
councillors in their decision, added Gibson.

Coun. George Peary said the issue is one of time and costs incurred by
police who must store grow op equipment pending court
proceedings.

"They're spending thousands of dollars a year renting storage space,"
he told the Abbotsford News. As well, police have told council some
landlords have been 'willfully blind' in choosing tenants, and have
rented to grow operators more than once, he said.

Fourth and final reading of the is expected at a later date.