Bylaw enforcement services has gone looking for trouble in Barrie, and found it.
Proactive enforcement, as opposed to complaint-based or reactive measures, has increased by 28.9 per cent related to all regulations managed by enforcement services, resulting in 4,495 additional matters being addressed, says a recent city memo.
A particular focus was on property standards and yard maintenance matters, and bylaw officers achieved 26.9 per cent more proactive enforcement specific to those violations, equalling 496 additional properties being addressed.
“That being said, violations will continue to happen despite our best efforts to both respond and educate the community on the regulations,” said Tammy Banting, manager of enforcement services, the memo’s author. "Changing behaviours does not happen overnight.”
These enforcement numbers apply between May 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024, after the staff were hired and trained.
While violations will still be seen, Banting wrote, staff have put a great deal of effort into addressing those items found while on patrol — in addition to addressing matters that come through daily complaints to the bylaw enforcement office.
“Council had asked staff to take on a proactive approach,” said Deputy Mayor Robert Thomson, “and our goal was to achieve 25 per cent … we’ve hit almost 30 per cent. I’ve had more calls about the enforcement being more proactive than reactive.”
Coun. Sergio Morales, chairman of the community safety committee, which discussed the memo Wednesday, said being proactive is the right approach.
“It’s not going to magically go away, this is the reality,” he said of bylaw infractions. “It’s not perfect … but it is a lot more visible.”
Banting said the change to the response of enforcement services and an overall ability to address concerns more effectively include a seven day a week response to all matters, which has resulted in many noticeable improvements throughout the city.
It also helps to have more staff.
Enforcement services was limited to complaint-based or reactive enforcement only, as staffing levels had not kept up with the increased calls for service.
It was projected that after the hiring of three additional enforcement officers — one in 2021, two in 2022 — plus converting a legislative services position to an enforcement officer, that enforcement services could achieve 25 per cent proactive enforcement city-wide.
Barrie councillors acknowledged that bylaw enforcement is a tough job.
“We never get a call ‘yesterday I got a parking ticket, thank you,'” Thomson said.
City bylaws cover a wide range of topics such as animal control, property maintenance, parking regulations, waste management and noise control.
