A graphic shows back alleys that would be restricted under a proposed bylaw.Lanes in residential zones are shown in blue while lanes in commercial/industrial zones are red. (council agenda/City of P.A.)

By Alison Sandstrom

Cost of curfew

Proposed back alley bylaw cost reduced as next steps discussed

Nov 19, 2019 | 9:34 AM

Prince Albert city council has learned that a proposed curfew would be significantly cheaper to implement than initially estimated, but careful consideration and consultation is required going forward.

The potential bylaw, that would allow police to stop, search and ID anyone found in public back alleys or on walkways at night, has been the subject of heated debate since the idea was introduced in August. On Monday night, city administration updated councillors about its cost and next steps in its creation.

Instead of signposting all of P.A.’s 500 walkways and back alleys, city staff now say the same could be accomplished by erecting large signs at city entrances and several smaller signs at key locations throughout Prince Albert. The drastic reduction in signage brings the estimated cost to $20,000, down from $150,000.

Legal considerations were also fleshed out. An existing bylaw that prohibits access to city parks at night could be extended to include public walkways. But restricting access to back alleys will prove more complicated.

Back alleys, like city streets are the jurisdiction of the province, not municipalities.

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Craig Guidinger, director of planning and development, told council that city administration had been in discussions with the provincial government on the issue.

“They’ve indicated that it is unlikely that they would block us,” he said. “But they were clear that they do reserve the right to cross-legislate depending on (…) public discussions.” That means the province could overrule a city bylaw.

Guidinger recommended the city carry out public consultation with a specific focus on what has become one of the thornier aspects of the potential bylaw: who will be allowed in the restricted areas and under what circumstances.

“What types of reasons do you use your back alley? What types of reasons can we include as exemptions in our bylaw? I think that would be an important process for us to go through,” he said.

Guidinger added that up to half of all properties in the city directly neighbor a back alley.

Mayor Greg Dionne told council he believed only one exception was needed.

“The only people that we want, and I’ve heard from the public and us, in back alleys at night is homeowners,” he said. “(…) I think if I live on that block, I legitimately have the right to go on my back alley. We want the people who don’t live there to be dealt with.”

City solicitor Mitch Holash clarified many of the city’s back alleys are used for commercial purposes, further complicating the matter.

“Businesses use the alley ways to access their businesses and in many different ways, and there’s not a residency issue that you can attach to that. There’s an employment issue that you attach to that,” he said.

City administration will determine a format for public consultations, perhaps a survey or a letter, pending final approval from council at a December meeting.

alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom