Columbia Street West businesses working to shed nuisance property labels

Down the road at the Ramada, General Manager Percy Amaria says the area did see an increase in problem activity, but passing traffic and regular inspections from bylaw and RCMP have helped.

“We are working with them. And we’ve seen a big change in I would say the last 40 days. Totally cleaned up. Properties are cleaned up, neighbouring hotels are doing a good job. So we don’t see as much as we used to see.”

Amaria says the nuisance classification was a wake up call for some of the businesses, and with the positive changes made, the label is ultimately a good thing.

“I think the new year will be much better for this little strip along Columbia Street.”

City officials met with property owners a month ago, and City RCMP Support Service Supervisor Kevin Beaton says the effort is there. Businesses in the area and the school district have increased security measures to make the area less desirable for criminals to frequent.

“We’re getting constant communication from these folks to say, ‘This is what we’ve done, come and have a look and help us if we need to do more’.”

Business such as the Star Lodge and Desert Inn have been making an effort to clean up the area, and increase security to deter criminals. (Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today)

Beaton says there are currently 22 different properties around Kamloops which have met the nuisance criteria. The term is based on the amount of times bylaw, RCMP or Kamloops Fire Rescue resources are called to a property.

“So under the Good Neighbour Bylaw within a 12 month period if there’s more than three calls for service for one entity, which could be bylaw, Kamloops Fire Rescue or RCMP,” he explains. “Then again at this law enforcement working group, we meet to discuss those calls. And the criteria is three calls in that 12-month period, or one call in a 24-hour period.”

The law enforcement working group first uses an education-based approach with property owners. Bylaw officers regularly go out for in-person inspection check-ups, document whether progress has been made or not, and speak with property owners. But if an owner isn’t cooperative, Beaton says they can step up enforcement.

“We don’t want to go that route. We will do our best to work with the property owners in that respect, but the City does have the ability to start issuing fines under that Good Neighbour bylaw.”