Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

Chief Constable and General Manager of Community Services

SUBJECT:

Enforcement of Illegal Marijuana Grow Operations

 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

All changes in level of service are to be reported to Council.

BACKGROUND

In late February of this year, a pilot project was launched to deal with identification and closure of marijuana grow operations in the City.

The project members, now identified as the “Grow Busters”, include staff from Police, Fire and Community Services. The team also works closely with staff from BC Hydro and BC Gas.

There are an estimated 4,000 marijuana grow operations in the City of Vancouver. Grow operators show no preference for a particular neighbourhood. Any house on any block may be potentially a grow operation.

Illegal marijuana grow operations are not only an illicit substance issue, they pose a significant hazard to life safety and have a detrimental impact on neighbourhoods. Illegal crops are not limited to the basement or attic areas. Every square foot of a home has the potential for being affected. The cost of repairs can run into thousands of dollars. Grow operators often tear up floors, break through walls and damage pipes and wiring. Carbon monoxide is a further silent hazard. Growers divert the exhaust gas vents for the furnace and hot water tank in order to enhance the growing process. Because the windows are covered and no air is allowed into the buildings, carbon monoxide, a silent and odorless poison gas is produced posing a serious risk to life. In addition to the hazard created by carbon monoxide, electrical circuits are usually overloaded, diverted or tampered with, causing a major electrical shock and fire hazard.

The Fire Department reports that illegal grow operations pose a serious threat of fire. There have been ten (10) fires related to grow operations since January 1, 2000. For awhile, the Fire Department was averaging two fire calls a month related to grow ops. A number of injuries to firefighters have occurred as well as one casualty being a dead dog. The Department advises that the dangers of grow-op houses using propane for fuel and heat sources is alarming. One 20lb bottle of propane in a confined space is equal to 100 sticks of dynamite. In one incident, a family living upstairs in a house was unaware of the grow operation going on downstairs by a renter. A fire started and the renter escaped without informing the family upstairs.

DISCUSSION

The Grow Busters Procedure:

Inspection of illegal grow operations by Community Services staff is initiated by the Police Department. Warrants are obtained and arrangements are made through the Deputy Chief License Inspector to have Fire, and Electrical Inspection staff accompany the Police on the search.

If the initial search reveals that the electrical and/or gas installations have been modified to accommodate the grow operation and that a hazardous condition exists, the equipment is disconnected and arrangements are made with BC Hydro and BC Gas to disconnect the electrical and gas services to the building. The building is then posted by staff as NOT SAFE TO OCCUPY.

Subsequent to the warrant execution, the property owner receives written notice that reconnection permits will not be issued and that the building may not be re-occupied until a coordinated special inspection has been carried out by City staff. This inspection involves the Building, Plumbing, Electrical and Property Use Inspectors who report on infractions related to City By-laws. Following the inspection, the property owner is notified that all relevant work must be completed under a permit and that an application for permission to re-occupy the building must be submitted.

In addition to those buildings closed by the “Grow Busters Team”, staff in Community Services receive written notice from BC Hydro of buildings that have been disconnected due to power being diverted to accommodate a grow operation. In these cases, the same procedure as outlined above is carried out.

The following is a breakdown of the number of grow operations shut down between March 6, 2000 and June 23, 2000, as a result of the Grow Busters and BC Hydro’s actions:

 

Total Number

No. per month

Grow Busters

48

12

BC Hydro

66

16

Total to date

114

28

Many of the complaints that have been received have been generated through the Renfrew/Collingwood Community Police Office. The Community Office has been swamped with concerns from neighbouring residents about possible grow operations in their areas. The Office has launched an awareness campaign to assist community residents and property owners on the dangers that grow operations create and how to recognize a grow-op. The campaign is expected to significantly increase the number of complaints submitted as well as the public’s expectations on the City’s ability to respond in a timely manner to their concerns.

In addition to the Grow Buster’s Program, the team is developing a strategy of notifying property owners when complaints of a suspected grow-operation are received. It is hoped that once the property owner has been made aware of the possibility that their building is being used in this manner, they will take appropriate action to have the operation shut down without having to involve City resources.

Costs of the program:

The pilot program has generated an increase in the number of inspections carried out by each of the inspection divisions as well as an increase in the number of follow-up enforcement letters. There is a minimum of five site visits carried out for each grow operation. In addition to the site visits, there are subsequent inspection reports, correspondence, issuance of trade permits and re-occupancy permits. Regular work programs have been temporarily deferred and police officers have been diverted from other duties and programs in order to accommodate the pilot project.

The district inspectors’ workload (using 1999 statistics) is projected to increase by 7% to accommodate the proposed Grow Busters program. The inspection staffing compliment (four (4) temporary FTE inspection positions) necessary to offset the increased workload generated by the program represents an increase of 6.4%. In addition, a temporary 1 FTE administrative support position will be required.

Police department resources for the project will be supported within their existing budget at this time. The program requires a commitment of nine (9) Police Officers (eight investigators and a co-ordinator) who will be drawn from other policing duties and programs as operational priorities permit.

Revenues:

The costs of enforcement of grow operations to date, has been partially offset by the fees generated from special inspection permits and reconnection permits. Prior to obtaining approval to re-occupy a building, the owners are required to obtain a special inspection permit at a cost of $309.00. They must also pay for reconnection of electrical and gas services at an average cost of $100.00 each.

The approximate revenue generated to date is as follows:

Benefits of the program:

Feedback from the Community has been extremely positive. Neighbouring property owners have expressed their sincere gratitude to team members when they have seen them at a particular site and through the Community Police office. In addition, the program brings the property owner into the process. In most instances, the property owner was unaware that their property was being used as a grow operation. Once they are notified, they have been very cooperative in obtaining the special inspection and follow up permits and have had the necessary repairs carried out to their buildings.

The police report that another key success of the program is that to date, there has been no reoccurrence of grow operations in the buildings closed by the Grow Busters. Closure of these buildings has resulted in a seizure of approximately 7.3 million dollars worth of marijuana, $63,000 in equipment and $50,000 in cash.

Because of the success of the pilot program, the Police Department and Community Services Group are recommending that the “Grow Busters” project be permitted to continue and step up its enforcement of the grow operations. As stated previously, there is a large backlog of complaints from the Community about suspected grow operations in the City. In order to effectively handle the number of complaints, the Project Team is recommending an increase in the number of buildings that are investigated on a weekly basis. As of September 2000, the Grow Busters anticipate that they will inspect four (4) times the current number. Although to date, the Community Services Group has been able to manage their workload on a temporary basis, the current program cannot be sustained, and the expected dramatic increase cannot be accommodated with the department’s current resources.

This is a temporary measure to deal with the Community’s concern about the explosion of illegal marijuana grow operations. It addresses the nuisance and safety issues of the problem but it does not deal with the criminal aspect. The Police Department does not have the resources to eliminate the problem through criminal investigations and charges.

SUMMARY

It is therefore recommended that Council support the establishment of the Grow Busters program and its projected expansion in order to enable the City to respond effectively to the concerns of the Community. It is also recommended that Council approve the establishment of five (5) temporary full time positions in Community Services for up to one (1) year, at an estimated cost of $255,000. Such costs to be offset by the related permit revenue of approximately $360,000 (720 expected closures x $509.00). See attachments A and B.

- - - - -

ATTACHMENT “A”

REVENUES (ACTUAL AND PROJECTED)

Actual:

  

March 6, 2000 to July 6, 2000 (4 months)

Premises Closed By:

Total No.

  

No. Per Month

  

Grow Busters Team

48

  

12

  

BC Hydro Notice

66

  

16

  
 

114

  

28

  

Total Revenue

=

114 x $309(Special Inspection Permit Fee)  =    $35,226

 

114 x $200(average re-connection fee for

 

              electrical & gas services) -      $22,800

 

$58,026

Projected:

  

July 6, 2000 to September 6, 2000 (2 months)

Premises Closed By:

  

Total No.

  

No. Per Month

  

Grow Busters Team

48

 

24

  

BC Hydro Notice

32

  

16

  
 

80

  

40

  

Projected Revenue =

80 x $309 (Special Inspection Permit fee) = $2 4, 7 2 0

 

80 x $200 (average re-connection fee for

             electrical & gas services) =  16,000

                    $40,720

 

September 6, 2000 to July 6, 2001 (10 months)

Premises Closed By:

  

Total No.

  

No. Per Month

  

Grow Busters Team

  

480

  

48

  

BC Hydro Notice

  

160

  

16

  
 

640

  

64

  

Projected Revenue =

640 x $309 (Special Inspection Permit fee) = $197,760
640 x $200 (average re-connection fee for

        electrical & gas services) -  128,000

                    $325,760

TOTAL PROJECTED REVENUE (1 year)

$366,480

ATTACHMENT “B”

 

ADDITIONAL STAFF COSTS FOR GROW BUSTERS PROGRAM (1 YEAR)

 

4 x Inspectors @

Salary = $47,000

 

Benefits =     4,700 (10% for temporary staff)

       

Mileage =     3,000

      $54,700

 

Total x 4 =

      $218,800

 

1 x Clerk III
(Administrative Support) @

Salary =
Benefits =

$33,000
    3,300 (10% for temporary staff)
$36,000

 

TOTAL STAFF COSTS = $254,800

TOTAL PROJECTED REVENUE = $366,480

SURPLUS = $111,680

* * * * *

ag000725.htm

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