City aims to speed up action on unsafe properties

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This article was published 26/11/2024 (285 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new city team is now working to accelerate the first response to unsafe properties in Winnipeg.

Earlier this month, an “unsafe conditions response team” of property enforcement and inspections staff began work on a pilot project to inspect unsafe conditions at properties sooner, city spokesman Kalen Qually said in an email.

The project offers hope such sites could be prevented from lingering and attracting fires, rodents and dumping, according to the head of a local neighbourhood group.

“It’s great to hear some news about this and I really, really hope it’s another tool in the toolbox to … (clean) these neighbourhoods up,” said Darrell Warren, president of the William Whyte Neighbourhood Association.

Traditionally, the city assigned complaints about a property to inspectors on a ‘first in, next out’ basis, with initial responses sometimes taking about 20 business days. The pilot project team now receives complaints about unsafe sites directly and begins working on them within two business days.

“I think it’s a great thing to go from 20 days to two days, that’s definitely going to speed the process up. But I just wonder if that process is going to have any bite or stall out when it comes to the enforcement part,” said Warren.

He said folks in his neighbourhood fear fires at vacant properties could spread to their homes, so speeding up enforcement, not just inspections, is critical.

Warren said other city efforts to crack down on so-called “problem properties” appear to be paying off. William Whyte had 12 rubble-filled lots about three months ago, which has since dropped to three, he said.

Warren credits previous city enforcement and cleanup efforts for the improvement.

“I’ve checked out the whole area and it’s really looking a lot better. You can see a change happening … (Many people are no longer) living next to this eyesore where there’s all kinds of rodents running around,” said Warren.

A city report identifies a growing need to tackle vacant and derelict properties.

“There is a marked increase in unsafe and derelict properties across the City of Winnipeg. Properties in states of disrepair, neglect, or unsafe conditions are hazards to the immediate community, to first responders, and need to be addressed in a more timely manner,” writes Alana Crocker, manager of development and inspections.

The pilot includes steps to streamline a 311 referral process to clarify what “unsafe conditions” are, work with property owners to help them comply with remediation steps, adjust the compliance time frame and dedicate staff to ensure a quicker response, the report says.

For example, Winnipeg’s building bylaw defines a property as unsafe if it poses a risk of harming people, animals, or neighbouring properties, such as through fire, falling hazards or an unstable structure.

City-led remediation of properties would occur when owners are unresponsive to orders. Those cleanup costs would be charged to the owners’ property tax bills, Qually said.

The team will focus largely on cleaning up post-fire rubble, deteriorating/unsafe properties and structures built without required permits.

“In this instance, this is (staff) saying we’ve resolved to do some implementation of the policy … I do think that will resonate with Winnipeggers, who oftentimes complain (about unsafe properties) but don’t necessarily see their complaints addressed,” said Coun. Sherri Rollins, chairwoman of council’s property and development committee.

Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said the motion is one of many city steps to tackle the surge in vacant and derelict properties. City council previously approved changes to ramp up security standards, add bylaw enforcement officers and create new inspection fees.

Rollins said the city is now also meeting with stakeholders on the topic.

“We’re going to turn it around … We’re really serious about addressing what is one of the (city’s) most significant challenges,” she said.

Since the team is not expected to require new staff or funding, the department didn’t require a council or committee approval to start the work.

The city report warns staff assigned to the pilot could need to transfer back to other duties in the future, such as efforts to speed up some provincially legislated inspection timelines next year.

Coun. Cindy Gilroy, who has repeatedly lobbied the city to ramp up its response to rubble-filled lots, welcomed the pilot.

“This is a really important first step forward. Instead of us being reactive, we’re going to be proactive,” said Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre).

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However, she expects the effort will require more staff and funding in the longer term.

“We’re going to need the staff allocated to keep this moving forward,” said Gilroy.

Organizers plan to report on the pilot’s results in April 2025, though it does not have a set end date, Qually said.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter

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. Read more about Joyanne.

Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.