Forest Lawn clean-up
Saw this on the news this morning. Think it will actually help? Apparently Bylaw will have the yard cleaned up free of charge but if the homeowner refuses, they are issued a warning and if the junk is still present after 7 days you get slapped with a $1000 fine.
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CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
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CALGARY POLICE SERVICE NEWS RELEASE
In its ongoing strategy to address crime and social issues in
the community of Forest Lawn, the Calgary Police Service has
enlisted the support of the City of Calgary's Animal & Bylaw
Services and Waste & Recycling Services to focus on physical
and environmental problems within the community.
Throughout the month of November, Calgary Police Service
District 4 officers and Bylaw Services officers will be
working cooperatively to identify Forest Lawn residential
properties that are not in compliance with City bylaws.
The initiative will see Bylaw officers conducting inspections
of every residential property in the community during the
month. Property owners not in compliance with City bylaws
will be issued warning notices to correct the infractions.
Normally, property owners have 14 days to comply with a
warning notice before being served a summons. However, as a
part of this initiative, residents receiving a warning notice
will have seven days to contact Bylaw Services, which will
then arrange for an independent contractor to clean up the
offending property at no cost to the homeowner.
This offer is made possible through the Community Standards
Fund.
Residents failing to contact Bylaw Services within the seven
-day period still have an additional seven days to comply
with the warning notice (14 days total) before a summons is
issued. However, the clean up service will not be provided
for free if Bylaw Services has not been contacted during the
first seven days following the issuing of a warning notice.
"The purpose of this initiative is multi-faceted," said
District 4 Inspector Dean Young. "Crime and social issues can
be addressed in any number of ways. Addressing the physical
aspects that contribute to social disorder is important
because it helps to build common pride and shared values
within a community, and this ultimately helps to decrease the
likelihood of criminal activity."
Bill Bruce, Director of Animal & Bylaw Services says,
"Residents are the major stakeholders in their communities
and stand to benefit the most from a clean, safe
neighbourhood. We believe this joint initiative will be a
real benefit to some area residents and to the community as a
whole."
Following completion of the Forest Lawn initiative, the
program will be expanded to other communities in District 4.
Quote
on taking a proactive step in improving the lower income areas by giving the option of free clean up. Mind you owners should step in and make sure that it stays clean after the helping hand.
