Pubdate: Thu, 03 Apr 2008
Source: Mission City Record (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 The Mission City Record
Contact:  http://www.missioncityrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1305
Author: Jason Roessle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

PSIT TO TARGET GROW OPERATIONS

Mission is hiring a new team to add to its arsenal in the fight 
against unsafe buildings, especially grow operations, in the district.

The Public Safety Inspection Team (PSIT) will be comprised of one 
fire inspector, a building inspector, and two RCMP officers, along 
with a manager and administrative clerk, said Dennis Clark, District 
of Mission director of corporate administration.

Several neighbouring communities, such as Abbotsford, Langley and 
Coquitlam, all have PSIT teams, and they have met with considerable success.

One of the main focuses of the team is to rid the community of grow 
operations, said Clark.

Through a special order of the B.C. government, B.C. Hydro records 
are accessible to these teams. They will peruse local records and 
flag properties with significantly higher readings than neighbours; 
about three times higher, Clark added.

The team would then knock on the door, and ask to inspect the home 
for any fire safety hazards, or structural problems. If entry is 
refused, the resident is handed a notice informing them PSIT will 
return 24 hours later to search the residence.

If the homeowner has a valid reason, such as a pottery kiln, or a 
welder, the team leaves. The PSIT will cross-reference flagged homes 
with the district's business licence list to ensure before heading 
out that a legitimate home-based business is not in operation.

We'll do as much checking in advance, noted Clark.

"Initially we're expecting to deal with at least four properties a 
week," said Clark, "but we expect more."

All the other municipalities' teams have reported investigating more 
homes than predicted. Clark admits it's a bit of an assumption, but 
he feels given Mission hadn't had a PSIT team, many of the grow 
operators have left neighbouring communities and set-up shop in this district.

While there are several new positions being created, Clark is aware 
of the optics given the fact a 7.2 per cent tax increase is being proposed.

However, he states, the program is structured to be budget neutral, 
with the exception of $17,000 in start-up costs, which cover a new 
vehicle, among other things. Staff is proposing to council that 
properties requiring an inspection will be charged $4,900, with 
subsequent other fees accrued depending on the number of times PSIT 
must attend the residence.

"The fees are intended to cover the cost," he said.

The PSIT will be based out of fire station one on Seventh Avenue, and 
its operating budget for 2008 is $552,100.

"We expect [PSIT] is going to have a substantial impact on the number 
of grow ops in our community," said Clark.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom