A district official says bylaw enforcement priority is problem “hot spots” like busy trailheads on summer weekends because of limited resources.
Natasha Golbeck, senior director of community services, was responding to a local citizen’s concerns about lack of enforcement on parking violations, specifically in Garibaldi Highlands.
Golbeck said the enforcement policy mandates the district to respond to health and safety issues first.
“We have limited resources so at busy times, parking violations that do not pose an immediate safety risk are not able to be attended to right away,” Golbeck said.
Parking in areas with No Parking signs, parking on bike lanes, and parking on both sides of the residential streets are some of the problems the citizen highlighted in a letter to the district.
“It’s time for our bylaw department start enforcing the bylaws we already have in place,” the citizen wrote to the district.
Golbeck said the district is aware that voluntary compliance relies on effective enforcement, and the district struggles with that.
However, more bylaw officers requires more funding, she added.
“Increasing officer resources would require funding through property taxes, at least party, and council determines community appetite for that against all the other cost pressures they face as we set the annual budget,” she said.
Meanwhile, the citizen says his concern is safety and he would only like the rules and regulation enforced.
“Skyline bike path is an example of a complete an utterly unenforced parking area,” he said.
