New bylaw to tackle aggressive panhandlers

Bylaw must find balance between deterrence and not infringing on panhandlers’ rights

A new beat system for bylaw officers had led to operational efficiencies and enhanced enforcement of city regulations, Kelowna councillors heard Monday.

Since last fall, the city has been divided into north, south and east zones, with the same officers patrolling each sector.

“The officers have become more familiar with the faces in their neighbourhoods,” bylaw manager David Gazley said. “This leads to more informed and efficient enforcement.”

As well as allowing bylaw officers to become more acquainted with the location and nature of problem properties, the new zone system reduces the amount of driving they have to do. Their total mileage dropped 14 per cent in the first month.

“I like the idea of having folks be area experts, and being able to recognize problems a little more quickly,” said Coun. Gail Given.

“I think we’re going to see a lot of positive effects from that,” agreed Coun. Maxine De Hart. “The bylaw officers will think, ‘This is my territory. I want to make it good.’”

More than 13,000 complaints were received by the city’s bylaw division in 2017, more than double the level of 15 years ago. The department has 11 full-time frontline officers, four seasonal officers, two supervisors and a manager.

Much of council’s discussion about bylaws concerned a pending update of the city’s bylaw against aggressive panhandling.

DeHart suggested there was a need to further crack down on people who try to cadge money from motorists stopped at traffic lights, despite the installation of signage at intersections specifically prohibiting the practice.

Recently, De Hart said, some panhandlers have been stepping off sidewalks and medians to try solicit change directly from drivers at their windows, while others have been “dancing” in front of stopped cars until given some money to get out of the way. “They’re getting a bit more aggressive,” De Hart said. Details of the proposed panhandling bylaw will be brought forward at a future council meeting. It’s expected to clearly prohibit panhandling near banks and ATMs, among other locations.

“We want to prevent the ‘We know you just got money from the bank’ kind of thing,” Gazley told council.

On the other hand, he said, panhandlers “have a right to make a living.”

On a lighter note, Gazley told council what he says when approached by panhandlers: “I tell them, ‘I have kids. They get all my money.’”