Agree with bylaw dispute system?

Question: Do you agree with the idea of the Bylaw Dispute Adjudication System?

Yes

122

No

47

Total Votes: 169

CASTANET SEPT 12:

The District of West Kelowna will join other jurisdictions in the valley in implementing a Bylaw Dispute Adjudication System. The adjudication system replaces the need for the municipality to take its citizens to provincial court when disputes arise over some unpaid bylaw infraction tickets. The Bylaw Dispute Adjudication System would be used for tickets up to $500. Kelowna, Penticton, Summerland, Peachland, Lake Country and the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen are also taking part in the program which will be administered through the City of Kelowna at a cost of $50,000. The Regional District of Central Okanagan is not involved although Director of Development Services Dave Slobodan says talks are on-going with the RDCO. He says they may take part at a later date.

Slobodan told council the adjudication system has been run successfully in three lower mainland municipalities since 2004. "The bylaw court is a court which is outside of the provincial court system," says Slobodan. "There is a one-on-one conversation with an adjudicator. It's more informal but the penalties are still the same." Ultimately, the new system is designed to save time and money. West Kelowna CAO Jason Johnson says disputing a small bylaw infraction can cost a few thousand dollars not including staff time. Bylaw infractions can include signage, animal bylaw as well as noise and parking to name a few. Slobodan says adjudications will take place about once a month. He says the adjudicator hears each case and renders a decision. The adjudicator does not enter into negotiations.