THUNDER BAY – The city will be making after-hours security available on call in an effort to address complaints of excessive noise, intimidating behaviour, offensive language, speeding vehicles and possible alcohol and drug use at a north side park.
Thunder Bay city council on Monday night voted to implement a short-term plan developed by administration to tackle frequent evening and late night disturbances reported by neighbours living near John Jumbo Park. The area of the park generating the most reports is said to be easily accessed by vehicles and is visually isolated but still close to a few neighbouring residential properties.
The city had been using random security patrols at the Toivo Street park throughout July and August but did not encounter any activity. Police had reported 15 calls of noise and other disturbances from July 1, 2017 to Aug. 31, 2018.
In a report to council, administration said bylaw enforcement officers are neither staffed nor trained to respond to late night disturbances and that the cost of the on-demand security response would cost around $300 to $500 a year.
“Rather than schedule routine or random stops with a mobile patrol, we have established a process with our city dispatch number so we can provide residents in the area with the information so they are aware that number is available to them for this specific purpose,” city parks manager Cory Halvorsen said.
“That would result in a call from city dispatch to our mobile security team and it would also email myself and the appropriate supervisors so we would be aware the incident was being reported.”
While Halvorsen said police should be called if there is any kind of criminal or mischief behaviour, Mayor Keith Hobbs said noise complaints aren’t a priority for police.
“We’re always hearing about the police being overtaxed and overworked, and they are,” Hobbs said. “When I was a watch commander we were always 30, 40 calls behind and we never responded to those kind of calls and they don’t now. Somebody has to address them and if police can’t do it, then bylaw should be doing it.”
The strategy also includes removing a free wireless internet hotspot from the recreation centre, which is expected to happen this week.
Administration also outlined a long-term plan that could include installing a gate at a cost of up to $7,000, which would also have an additional cost of up to $1,000 annually for security to open and close it daily. A camera system at the park is projected to cost $10,000.
Coun. Trevor Giertuga, who represents the McIntyre ward where the park is located, encouraged administration to report back on whether the short-term plan is successful.
“Speaking to the neighbours, they would certainly like us to go to the long-term plan right away and start looking at gates and cameras,” Giertuga said. “They would potentially like us to look at a 10 p.m. closure for that specific park.”
Halvorsen was optimistic the problems will be fewer as colder temperatures approach.
“We were anticipating that since we were coming out of the summer and heading into the winter, typically that type of activity in the park spaces will slow down because of the weather,” Halvorsen said.
