Council tackles panhandling

Photo: Kate Bouey

Vernon city council is hoping to quickly get some rules in place to deal with panhandling in the downtown and on medians at certain busy intersections.

“If panhandlers didn't make any money, they wouldn't be there,” said Mayor Akbal Mund.

The mayor said council was told by the city's bylaw manager that some panhandlers were raking in $40-$50 dollars in an hour.

“That's a lot of money to be getting tax free,” said Mund.

Staff have been asked to create a comprehensive plan that could rapidly be put in place and would include a range of options.

Mund said one possibility would be to put meters in the downtown which shoppers could plug rather than hand over money to transients. He said the money could go to a group or society that provides for the homeless.

Stressing it as a safety issue, the mayor said another suggestion is to put up signs at medians, where some people hold signs begging for money. He said it is illegal to panhandle on a median.

Mund said the city has to be careful on how it proceeds to ensure it complies with the Charter of Human Rights.

Recommendations will come before council on June 13.

Meanwhile, council has okayed the hiring of two part-time bylaw officers over the summer to help with foot patrols in the downtown and at Polson Park.

Bylaw spokesperson Darren Lees said the new hires will start as soon as applications are in and training is set.

The new officers will also allow the department to catch up on a host of complaints as well as help deal with the transient population, said staff.