INNISFAIL - As a way to be proactive to ensure public safety, the town has taken a big step towards the installation of surveillance cameras at Centennial Park.
And while administration and members of council agree there appears to be no serious problem with "anti-social" behaviour at the park, momentum is growing to spend thousands of dollars on cameras to ensure the safety of park users.
"If we deem there is a situation there, and a need for it, and for five or six thousand dollars, why would we not go ahead with it now? We've decided there is a need for it. When can we afford it? I am sure our finance director (Heather Whymark) can find a little bit of money," said Mayor Jim Romane, noting if the town went ahead with CCTV security cameras at Centennial Park it could be looked at as a "trial" scenario for other areas in town that could benefit from extra security.
The issue of anti-social behaviour at Centennial Park, particularly in the parking lot, was first brought up to council during a citizen delegation just over a year ago. Town staff was directed to look into the complaint more thoroughly by reviewing statistics collected by municipal enforcement and RCMP. Last December council was presented with a report that showed a handful of driving complaints and some suspicious activity. Staff was then directed to look into the cost of installing CCTV surveillance cameras at the park.
"We don't see a lot of illegal activity. We do have people who use our park. Safety is always a concern for people," said Michelle Honeyman, the town's director of community services who presented a report on surveillance camera options for Centennial Park during town council's meeting on Feb. 18. She later said local community peace officers and RCMP continue to do regular monitoring at the park. "Will cameras help? Possibly. But (there) isn't a huge issue of illegal activity in the park."
In her report to council, Honeyman outlined two CCTV camera options. The first came with a price tag of $4,740 with an extra $85 an hour charge for trenching, a process of burying a line in the ground. The second option was for a wireless system, with no trenching requirement. Council was told that cost would be $6,330.
Honeyman said both quotes included installation and there would be no subsequent monthly fees.
"It is a closed system, monitored by us. There is no maintenance fees or anything," she said.
However, council directed administration to get more information on both systems, as well as any ongoing costs and to bring it back to council at its earliest convenience. Honeyman said she expects council will have that information in March. At that time council could decide whether to move ahead with the purchase of a CCTV security camera system for the park.
In the meantime, the move forward towards extra security at Centennial Park pleased Coun. Jean Barclay, who told council that in spite of the December report showing few anti-social problems there are public safety steps that need to be made.
"Almost every day when I go down there, there have been people doing doughnuts in the parking lot. You can see it from the tire tracks, and just general safety, especially this time of year when it is dark at five o'clock, there are users that are using the trail. I know there are women who like to go to the dog park and are afraid to," said Barclay, adding she would like to see a camera up in the area with a sign stating the parking lot is being monitored. "It will cut down on a lot of the garbage and stuff that is going on down there."
