Traffic, animal control, clean yards, noise and nuisance complaints were top concerns in Bradford during the first half of 2023.
The town’s bylaw enforcement division saw calls for service decrease 17 per cent between Jan. 1 and June 30, with 1,415 calls in the first half of 2023 compared to 1,712 calls in the first half of 2022, according to a report from Robert Belsey, manager of enforcement, included in the agenda for the regular meeting of council in the Don Harrison Auditorium at the Bradford and District Memorial Community Centre at 125 Simcoe Road, on Tuesday evening, Oct. 3.
Compared to the first half of 2022, for the first half of 2023, the report listed the most frequent calls as:
- 674 about traffic (4.3 per cent decrease)
- 187 about animal control (unknown change)
- 160 about clean yards (126) and property standards (34) (33.8 per cent decrease)
- 78 about noise and nuisance (8.3 per cent increase)
- 70 about zoning (18.6 per cent increase)
- 66 about garbage (25.8 per cent decrease)
Compared to the same time last year, for the first half of 2023, parking administration issued 8.7 per cent more traffic tickets at 2,916, with 18 per cent more paid at 2,513, about the same number withdrawn at 250 and twice as many trials requested at eight.
In several categories, the report shows revenue has a way to go before it meets expectations for the year.
Revenue from business licences is budgeted for $13,000 but has totalled $8,493; from parking fines is budgeted for $230,000 but has totalled 117,587; and from dog licensing is budgeted at $15,730 but has totalled $12,740.
On the other hand, Provincial Offences Act revenue managed to exceed expectations, being budgeted for $85,000 and already totalling $92,655.
Council received the report for information without any discussion, but during the requests for staff reports, Ward 1 Coun. Cheraldean Duhaney asked staff to consider ways to better enforce regulations regarding walking dogs off leash and trash around commercial properties near Miller Park Avenue.
“How can we maybe be a little bit stricter on those concerns, because walking with your family and other residents walking with their dogs off leash is not safe at all. And of course we want to enjoy our community, we want to walk safe in our community. ... Residents are definitely pushing the envelope about those concerns,” she said.
Ward 7 Coun. Peter Dykie, agreed with the need for better enforcement of trash and litter, noting that commercial properties need to have more garbage bins.
“You’ll be surprised to see how little garbage containers are in these plazas. ... When we were planting the trees this spring along Holland Street, I was surprised to see how much garbage goes into that ravine in Ward 1,” he said.
While Geoff McKnight, CAO, confirmed staff would get back to council with more information, Deputy Mayor Raj Sandhu suggested the issue could be better resolved by speaking with the owners or tenants of the properties.
“A resident reached out to me about a West Park plaza that had no garbage cans. I just called Brent (Lee, director of corporate services) and Robert (Besley), they had a dialogue with the owner and within two weeks, those garbage cans were back,” he said.
While Duhaney agreed that contacting staff can be an effective method of solving problems, she explained that by also raising the issues during the meeting, it helps to let residents know their concerns are being heard and addressed.
