Listen Live
HomeNewsResidents aren’t paying for new downtown safety office

Residents aren’t paying for new downtown safety office

CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C- After months of planning and years of petitioning, the new safety office has opened downtown – and residents aren’t paying for it.   

The office, located at 1302 Shoppers Row, is part of The Safer Downtown Initiative, which is funded by proceeds from lottery and casino revenue rather than from property taxation. 

The office is a checkpoint for RCMP, Citizens on Patrol and a base for the city’s downtown security and parking patrol officers- all aimed and reducing crime and promoting safety. 

Heather Gordon Murphy, co-chair of the Business Improvement Association, said the group has been telling the city about problems downtown for a long time.

“We have been bringing this issue to the city for about two years, though we felt listened to, we never really saw any action.”

But action came after the BIA started a petition, both online and on paper, for a stronger police presence in the downtown core.   

RELATED: Petition for stronger police presence moving foward

Murphy said she wouldn’t change or improve a thing about how the city has responded.

“The office is beyond what we thought would happen, they are doing a really great job. Even before it opened, for the last four months or so, there has been a big difference down here.”

Campbell River director of planning, Peter Wipper, urged residents to visit the office. 

“The city would really welcome people to come down and drop in, and if they’re downtown and notice incidents or things of concern, we want to hear about it,” said Wipper.

“Come on by, say hello to our staff, we’d like to hear from you.”

Costs for 2018 cover are anticipated to be $176,000, which pays for an additional bylaw enforcement officer, office space lease and one-time workstation and security installations as well as working group set-up. Costs for 2019 and 2020 are estimated at $129,000.   

- Advertisement -
- Advertisment -
- Advertisment -
- Advertisement -