The city will decide in the next six months whether to spend $142,451 on a new program to deal with late-night noise complaints such as loud parties and screaming neighbours.
The program would fill a huge gap in enforcing noise rules and require a special duty police officer to assist the bylaw officers.
But police say even if council does start the program, there will be times when the service isn't able to provide the officer.
City councillors will decide during budget deliberations in the spring whether to hire a municipal bylaw enforcement officer and, when available, a special duty police officer to answer noise complaints from 9 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Complaints unanswered
As it stands, such calls often go unanswered until the next day because officers are too busy, staff say. Bylaw enforcement officers don't work later than 1 a.m. for safety reasons.
Hamilton police will still be too busy to staff the program on some nights, said Supt. Dave Calvert. Officers may be deployed to emergency calls in other areas, or dealing with special events such as the Pan Am Games.
"We're obviously going to try to staff it every single time, but I can't predict the future," Calvert said outside a planning committee meeting on Tuesday.
The idea of a program first came up in June 2013, when Brad Clark, then a Ward 9 councillor, learned that no one was answering late-night noise complaints.
The issue dates back to 2008, when a consultant's report recommended municipal bylaw officers only work until 1 a.m., at which time police should take over noise complaints.
But noise complaints and other bylaw infractions are low priority for the police, Clark said. He wanted the city to look into establishing a late-night bylaw enforcement unit.
"The police are telling us they're not going to do it. We're not going to do it," Clark said then. "It's a neon sign that if you have a party after one o'clock, don't worry about noise complaints because no one's coming."
Pilot project offers enforcement to 4 a.m.
Staff came back with that report this week. Staff recommend a one-year pilot project with a special duty officer and municipal bylaw enforcement officer working until 4 a.m.
It would cost $65,600 for the bylaw enforcement officer and $76,851.84 for the police officer. The latter amounts to $61.58 per hour at a rate of 24 hours per week.
Hamilton Police Service would absorb the $61,760 administrative cost, which includes a vehicle and 15-per cent administration fee.
Common noise complaints include parties, squealing cars on roadways, backyard barbecues or neighbours shouting outside their homes, Calvert said.
Hamilton police will do everything it can to provide a special duty officer for the program, he said.
But "I can't commit that we'll absolutely staff it 100 per cent of the time."
Coun. Brenda Johnson of Ward 11 took issue with the program's $142,451 cost.
"This seems a little bit higher than I'm comfortable with," she said.
The program will be included in the city's 2015 budget, which council typically passes in the spring. Councillors can strip the program from the budget before they approve it.
The cost of the program to answer late-night noise complaints:
- Overall cost: $142,451
- One municipal law enforcement officer (full-time equivalent): $65,500 per year
- One special duty police officer: $76,851.84 ($61.58 per hour for 24 hours a week)
- $43,680 per vehicle and a 15-per cent administration fee ($18,080)
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