Councillors propose tighter controls on owners of vacant buildings

City council could consider new measures to crack down on the owners of vacant and derelict buildings that have triggered frequent complaints. Couns. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) and Sherri Rollins [...]

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Their motion calls for city staff to study a mandatory “property maintenance licence” for those problem properties, with an annual fee, regular inspections and requirement that owners provide “proof of ongoing maintenance.” The program could also impose escalating fines for repeat bylaw offences within a set time period, as well as compliance agreements with timelines and increased monitoring. “When you have vacant buildings ... some of the dereliction often is the noxious weeds and the uncontrolled lawn mowing that goes with it and so, this structure of a maintenance fee is part of a tough-as-nails approach (to deal with that),” said Rollins.

The motion will be discussed at council’s September meeting. While the city has the power to issue orders with deadlines for people to clean up properties that don’t meet bylaw standards, Rollins said the enhanced process would go “over and above” that. “This is to really tack on a shorter interval and (become) more responsive,” she said.

Rollins said the changes would come at a cost, including the addition of new enforcement staff. The motion calls for options to recover city costs for the changes. It deems “chronic” violations of property standards a major concern, which can include everything from overgrown grass to accumulated garbage, unsecured vacant buildings and/or illegal dumping.

“Some property owners repeatedly pay fines as a cost of doing business without bringing their properties into compliance, resulting in ongoing impacts on neighbourhood safety, cleanliness, property values, and quality of life,” the motion states. On Thursday, Mayor Scott Gillingham said he had not yet fully reviewed the proposal but agreed it was worth discussing. “I think right now there are too many property owners who don’t take care of their (properties).

And, so, we can look at ways, (if re-elected) in the new term, to address that issue,” said Gillingham. The mayor noted the next slate of city council members will likely be tasked to consider whether to implement changes. If the motion is approved, a staff report would not be expected for about six months, long after the Oct. 28 municipal election.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020.

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