The North Battleford Fire Department installs one of the first motion sensor lights as part of a neighborhood watch program. (File Photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Back alley safety

Proposed pilot project to offer motion sensor lights at subsidized cost

Mar 2, 2021 | 12:34 PM

A plan to provide motion sensor lights to Prince Albert residents at a reduced price is nearly ready to be rolled out.

Council gave the program, aimed at increasing residents’ feelings of safety, tentative approval on Monday night.

Director of Planning and Development Services Craig Guidinger explained the initiative would be run as a pilot project in 2021 and capped at 100 participants.

Canadian Tire has offered to sell 100 solar-powered motion sensor lights at half-price for $50. The city would further subsidize that by $25, meaning participating consumers could purchase the devices for $25. The cost to the city to offer 100 lights through the program would be $2,500.

The idea to distribute the lights grew out of discussions on the city’s alley curfew bylaw last year and draws inspiration from a similar program in North Battleford. In that city, around 600 residents have signed up to receive motion sensor devices. While the lights have not been linked to a decrease in crime, residents who installed them reported increased feelings of safety.

Milestone anniversaries

Parkland Ambulance turns 50

20h ago

Court proceedings

Woman involved in death of Saskatoon mother, handed 18 year prison sentence

Nov 21, 2024

Brunch n' Lunch

Eggsmart: The new take on breakfast

Nov 21, 2024

Guidinger told council, like the alley curfew bylaw, it could be difficult to measure the success of the program. However the city is considering sending a survey to participating residents at the end of 2021 as part of the evaluation process.

“Although our back alley report, for example, they [the police] don’t have actual numbers, it is a great tool in their toolbox that they can use if needed,” Guidinger said. “And I would make the same comments, this [program] is a great tool in our tool box on how we can help our community feel safer.”

Council is expected to give the plan to offer the lights final approval at the next council meeting on March 15.

–

alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom