Won`t You Be My Neighbour?
By 250 News
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 04:00 AM
Prince George, B.C. – City Hall has approved working with the downtown area on a new idea to help clean up the core. It’s called a “Good Neighbour Agreement” and Council has given the green light to try and put one together for the downtown.
Here's how it works:
Downtown businesses and the RCMP sign up to take responsibility and ownership of the issues that contribute to unacceptable social conditions.
The content of Good Neighbour Agreements tends to be similar and usually includes terms and conditions relating to noise and disorder, criminal activity, minors, sale and consumption of alcohol, adult entertainment, on-duty employees, cleanliness and cooperation with City departments, the RCMP and other businesses in the neighbourhood.
Although there is an enforcement clause in the Good Neighbour Agreement which requires City intervention when necessary, those who are part of the agreement recognize the success in reaching the objectives is largely dependent upon each Business’s willingness to make a concerted effort to support and stick to the principles outlined in the agreement.
Social Policy Facilitator Chris Bone says such agreements are already in place in communities such as Whistler, Nanaimo, and Kelowna.
Councilor Glen Scott says he sees how this could be a hardship for business and had plenty of questions about it. "I like the concept and the proposal, but I just want to know if the businesses have been talked to because this reminds me of Partners for a Healthy Downtown, and I just don't see the difference." He also noted the Nanaimo agreement only pertains to drinking establishments.
Bone says the expectation of Administration is that the door will be open to discuss which issues should be addressed. She says the proposal, if approved by Council would clear the way for Administration to start approaching businesses downtown to see how it should be pursued.
Councilor Brian Skakun wanted to know if the needle exchange, and shelters would be responsible for the behaviour of their clients, and Bone says yes, "This is all neighbours, including service providers."
Skakun also wanted to know about enforcement, "Would the City have the ability to deny a business licence if a business did not sign on to the agreement." The answer says Chris Bone, is, yes, but that would be the last stage "This is supposed to be a friendly agreement aimed at building relationships that would lead to a healthy neighbourhood."
City Manager Derek Bates, says there would need to be legal review to see what the implications would be on business licenses issued for a specific area.
Councilor Skakun says the needs of individual businesses be examined"We also have to look at the type of business and the size of the business, because some don't have staff to do all the things this would require, so I hope that when we consult with the businesses we take a one size does not fit all approach."
Downtown Prince George President, Shari Green says this is meant to be one of the tools in the tool box "I understand all the concerns about legalities, but it is meant to build relationships, you know if someone has graffitti on the side of the building should that be allowed to stay there forever, or should the owner be required to remove it?"
How much would such an agreement cost? Leisure Services Manager Tom Madden says it is expected this kind of agreement will have costs attached to it but the dollar figures aren't known at this point "Certainly that will be part of the next phase of this work".
Bone says other communities where such an agreement is already in place indicate the agreement is not "onerous and built positive relationships."
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Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on July 22 2008 6:29 AM