Items of Interest from UBCM

Jeff Nagel - BC Local News Published: October 01, 2010

Police bills queried

Major police investigations can be costly and cities are increasingly being hit up by the province to share the burden.  UBCM passed a resolution seeking to reverse the trend and ensure cities don't pay extra if a regional team of officers like the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is called in to deal with a murder.  "Imagine if Port Coquitlam got a bill for the Robert Pickton investigation," Coun. Al Siebring of North Cowichan, the sponsor of the motion. He said civic administrators joke that if a murder happens near the municipal border, the temptation is to drag the body across the line into the regional district, where the city isn't responsible for costs.

PRIME fees up

B.C. cities are also concerned about a doubling in the fees they're charged to cover the costs of police records handling. UBCM wants an accounting of increased spending on the PRIME (Police Records Information Management Environment) system and seats on the agency's board of directors.The province has indicated it will name three local government representatives.Resolutions on the issue were advanced by Metro Vancouver, Richmond, North Cowichan and Midway.

Regulate MMA

Civic reps voted to ask for tighter restrictions on boxing, wrestling and similar pro matches like mixed-martial arts. UBCM will ask the province to ban such events unless they're regulated by an athletic commission. North Cowichan Coun. Al Siebring said the move shouldn't stamp out the popular fight events, but is merely an attempt to "set standards on this vastly growing sport."

Keep on rolling

One of the closest votes at UBCM came when delegates debated whether to press for mandatory helmet use by skateboarders, inline skaters and scooter riders.  But the wheels quickly started to come off the idea when some civic reps questioned whether it might also apply to seniors or the handicapped in electric scooters or children's tricycles.  "This is going to cost people quite a bit of money," Langford Coun. Lillian Szpak said, adding it could deter young people from being outside and active. Powell River Coun. Debbie Dee defended the measure as one that would prevent brain injuries. A Tofino councillor suggested the overwhelmingly non-skateboarding mayors and councillors at UBCM were unreasonably trying to restrict the lifestyle of local youth.  The motion was defeated 198-190.