Vernon city council to consider seasonal bike patrol

VERNON – A once-defeated Activate Safety Task Force recommendation has a second chance before Vernon city councillors next week.

Originally defeated at the July 23, 2018 public meeting, council will weigh in on a recommendation to add two full-time equivalent bylaw positions dedicated to seasonal bike patrols at the Tuesday, Sept. 3 meeting.

Geoff Gaucher, manager of Protective Services, said bike patrol units strike a balance between mobility and visibility in the community.

"A dedicated bike patrol is more capable for patrolling the alleyways, park paths and wooded areas frequented by street entrenched persons than a vehicle patrol and combines speed and mobility with a stealthy approach. Bike Patrols offer the advantage of responding more quickly and covering a greater area than on foot, but with the same ability to interact with the community as a foot patrol,” said Gaucher in a letter to council.

Gaucher’s proposal suggests that patrols would be conducted five days per week between April 1, 2020 and Oct. 31, 2020. The shift would run from Friday to Tuesday.

While Bylaw has incorporated bicycle patrols in 2019, Gaucher said the two full-time staff were required to dismantle shelters, haul carts and other debris, which ultimately detracted from patrols.

"A dedicated bike patrol would put two additional FT (full-time) officers out in the community on bikes five days per week and provide a valuable service delivery tool,” Gaucher said.

At Tuesday’s meeting, council is recommended to direct administration to include a service level increase in the 2020 operating budget of $111,650, subject to adjustment, to accommodate two full-time bylaw hires. If passed as written, the funding, which would cover wages as well as equipment and uniforms, would be sourced from taxation revenues.

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