Four new bylaw officers were added to the municipal payroll recently as the city prepares to take over enforcement of downtown parking facilities.
Ugo DeBiasi, Barry Hornby, Alan McGrath and Walter Taylor were the successful candidates of a competition that will also see them enforce other municipal bylaws when needed.
“Effective Monday (March 18), the parking patrollers you’ll see on our downtown streets will be city staff,” said Andrew Tucker, director of planning for the city. “They will be taking over from Robbins Parking.”
Robbins staff were sworn in as bylaw officers, but only under the Traffic and Highways Bylaw. The in-house officers will enforce all bylaws and provide other security downtown, added Tucker.
Operating out of the Community Policing and Services Office on Victoria Crescent, they will also act as city ambassadors, helping visitors and residents find their way.
Overseeing the new bylaw officers will be Rod Davidson, hired last fall as the city’s new manager of parking services.
“Our new officers are wrapping up an extensive training program that will have given them the tools to effectively enforce the various bylaw complaints that are common place in the downtown area,” said Davidson. “The ability to accurately answer questions from visitors and locals alike in regards to downtown Nanaimo and act in conjunction with the RCMP in handling these various issues that may arise is a key priority for these staff.”
The officers are scheduled to work between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Payments for all bylaw infractions can be made at the new Service and Resource Centre at 411 Dunsmuir St.