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File #: 19-153    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Staff Report Status: Passed
File created: 3/27/2019 In control: Council
On agenda: 4/1/2019 Final action: 4/1/2019
Title: Amendment to Council Policy No. ADMIN-68 Bylaw Enforcement
Attachments: 1. ADMIN-68 (Bylaw Enforcement Policy) amendment

REQUEST FOR DECISION

 

DATE:                       March 27, 2019                     Report No. CSS-19-007

TO:                       Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer                                           

FROM:                      Blair McDonald, Director of Community Safety Services

SUBJECT:

 

Title

Amendment to Council Policy No. ADMIN-68 Bylaw Enforcement

End

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

Recommendation

That Council approves the amended Council Policy No. ADMIN-68  Bylaw Enforcement as attached to Staff Report CSS-19-007.         

Body

 

RELEVANT POLICY:

 

Council Policy No. ADMIN-68 Bylaw Enforcement   

 

 

STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:

 

Healthy, Livable and Diverse Community

 

BACKGROUND:

 

As a result of a complaint, the Office of the Ombudsperson conducted an investigation into bylaw enforcement and other processes within the Township.  While the outcome of the investigation was mostly positive, a recommendation was made that the Township amend its Bylaw Enforcement Policy to include information relating to notification to complainants regarding the outcome of bylaw investigations. 

 

ISSUES: 

 

1.  Rationale for Selected Option

 

While the recommended actions as identified by the Office of the Ombudsperson are carried out as a matter of practice in most instances, the Office of the Ombudsperson recommended that those actions be formally included in the Bylaw Enforcement Policy. The recommended addition to the Policy encompasses four points:

•                     Acknowledgement of the complaint

•                     Describe any investigative steps taken to assess the complaint

•                     Describe any enforcement action taken or planned, or the reasons for no enforcement action; and

•                     Provide any other relevant information to the complainant.

 

These points are included in the amended Policy as section 3.6.

2.  Organizational Implications

      As previously noted, these actions are usually taken as a matter of course during bylaw investigations; however, adding them to the Policy formalizes the requirement.  Adhering to the requirement will not add significantly to the Bylaw Management Officer’s workload, as in most cases these requirements are currently being met.

 

3.  Financial Implications

 

There are no financial implications.

 

4.  Sustainability & Environmental Implications

 

There are no sustainability or environmental implications.

 

5.  Communication & Engagement 

 

The amended Policy will be published on the Township website.

 

ALTERNATIVES:

 

1.                     That Council approves the amended Council Policy No. ADMIN-68 Bylaw Enforcement as attached to Staff Report CSS-19-007.

 

2.                     That Council direct revisions to the Policy and approve Council Policy No. ADMIN-68 Bylaw Enforcement as amended.

 

3.                     That Council does not approve the amended Council Policy No. ADMIN-68 Bylaw Enforcement.