Rick Green (for MAYOR) 芒鈧�� We must explore the use of Community Police Officers which is a significantly lower cost where needed.
Petrina Arnason 芒鈧�� YES There is new information with respect to the potential that the provincial government may mandate that municipalities and districts participate in a regional RCMP initiative. This policy would obviously impact our ability to make local policing choices.
Solon Bucholz 芒鈧�� DON芒鈧劉T KNOW. Our existing members are doing an excellent job. I believe we need to focus more on community education, crime prevention, and social support services, than on enforcement and incarceration, as a solution to crime in the community. I would like the opportunity to hear from the Police members who may be able to provide me with important information as professionals in their field that would help me better understand the demands for more police officers and the implications this would have on the municipal budget.
David Davis 芒鈧�� Yes. This is a public safety issue and our population is continuing to grow.
Bev Dornan 芒鈧�� Yes, as the municipality grows, this will need to be addressed, but hopefully the increases can be handled by increased tax revenue.
Zoshia Ettenberg 芒鈧�� I don芒鈧劉t know. So far I have not seen any arguments pro or con.
Charlie Fox 芒鈧�� Yes, as the community grows so does the tax base and a safe, health community is what we need in this Township.
Clint Lee 芒鈧�� No, it芒鈧劉s expensive and easy to say that we need more policing; what 91原创 needs is better community planning and design. Communities must be planned and executed based on sustainability principles such as those found in the tenets of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Research has shown that with proper design and effective use of the built environment, the opportunity for crime and fear of crime can be reduced. Through their involvement in design and construction, architects, planners and builders can influence the creation of safer neighbourhoods and communities. For example, in our own neighbourhoods we can design roadways to discourage through-traffic, build more public spaces and maximize the residents芒鈧劉 ability to use and view them, provide appropriate lighting for streets, paths, alleys, and parks and encourage residents to watch over each other through community groups.
Patricia Lessard 芒鈧�� I DON芒鈧劉T KNOW, without seeing the budget of where we may be able to achieve efficiencies it is difficult. As stated above, this issue should be included in the strategic plan.
Bob Long 芒鈧�� Yes - I can芒鈧劉t see any way to hire more police without impacting the budget.
Kevin Mitchell 芒鈧�� NO if it means a tax increase.
Jackie Mandzak 芒鈧�� No. At this time the 91原创s, which share the use of the RCMP, have a high ratio of police officers to residents. What we should be doing is finding ways to work with community awareness so that residents are encouraged to have a greater measure of control over their safety. By looking at the possibilities of community program expansion, which is largely volunteer, we can educate to help reduce minor crimes, giving officers the ability to respond with greater capacity. When residents are encouraged to work together, to know their community, the petty crime rate goes down.
Scott Nichols 芒鈧�� Yes. If they are required, we should hire more staff.
Angie Quaale 芒鈧�� I don芒鈧劉t know. Our RCMP do a great job but I wonder if looking at ideas like they are exploring in Surrey, to expand the coverage by adding a different 芒鈧搇evel芒鈧� of service might make some sense.
Kim Richter 芒鈧�� YES. As in my response to Question #18 above, the number one reason (my opinion) why any community has a municipal government is to ensure public safety. If more RCMP officers are needed to keep this community safe, then we should be hiring more RCMP officers. However, I think we need our RCMP officers to focus more on 91原创 rather than on regional priorities especially if 91原创 taxpayers are footing the bill. It costs more than $120,000 per year to put one police officer on the roads in 91原创. Police costs are the largest single slice of the revenue pie in 91原创 amounting to 30+% of every municipal tax dollar.
Blair Whitmarsh 芒鈧�� Yes/No - I am committed to a strategy that increases the number of firefighters in 91原创 within a fiscally responsible budget.
