The Town of Osoyoos is beefing up its Bylaw Enforcement team as bylaw complaints have more than doubled since 2021.
In 2022 town staff received over 420 citizen concerns compared with 203 in 2021.
Council has approved an increase in staffing of the two permanent full-time enforcement officers to a four on, three off rotation as well as hiring two seasonal officers to assist in the summer months to support the increase of the population and citizen concerns and inquiries.
In her presentation to council, Brianne Hillson, Director of Corporate Services Administration at the town said the four day on, three day off rotation would allow the two enforcement officers to have one day a week where there would be an overlap to allow them to work on files and projects together.
This, she said, “would provide more efficient and effective services to the residents and visitors to the community.”
The need to hire more staff to deal with the increasing volume of bylaw complaints from Osoyoos residents comes at a cost, pushing the 2023 budget for bylaw enforcement to $230,040, an increase of $64,506 over 2022.
The recruitment of seasonal bylaw officers who work from morning to early evening from May 19 to September 4, kicked off this week with advertisements for the positions.
A Level 1 Bylaw Compliance, Enforcement, and Investigative Skills Certificate, valid British Columbia driver’s license and ability to pass a criminal record check are required.
Hillson also highlighted that there has been a shift in citizen concerns with requests for enforcement on Short-Term Rentals now taking up the lion’s share of enforcement officers’ time.
The two seasonal enforcement officers will help assist in the busy summer months and enable the Town to have a presence in parks and other facilities, and will also help address citizen concerns and potentially expedite resolutions, Hillson said.
“Bylaw enforcement officers are important to the organization and community as they have the authority and ability to educate and enforce the Town’s bylaws.” This includes the authority to issue fines up to a maximum of $1,000 according to town bylaws.
She added that the bylaw enforcement officers are keen to develop and implement public education campaigns on various Town bylaws such as the Good Neighbour Bylaw (noise, unsightly premises, etc.), Animal Control Bylaw and Traffic Bylaw.
The enforcement officers are also responsible for park patrols and enforcement, monitoring the Town’s marina and boat trailer parking for infractions, encouraging good neighbours, addressing water violations (turning on/off water, illegally irrigating lawns) and assisting the Planning and Development Services department with their bylaw enforcement (zoning, sign, business license, and building bylaw).
