Cranbrook Citizens Survey - Budget 2025 “The biggest thing the City of Cranbrook can do is to be more transparent and actually value what the citizens are saying in this survey. There have been other surveys that the City has put out then completely disregarded the citizens input.” – anonymous survey comment (Cranbrook Citizen Survey Budget 2025). I am in complete agreement with this public comment. At the start of our term, Council made a commitment to both transparency and improved communication with you. We believe that when we ask for input, we have a responsibility to listen and to provide answers beyond a statistical response. As Mayor, I am responding on behalf of Council and staff to the most common comments that we received. With over 700 comments received relating to the survey questions, I have tried to summarize the most prominent issues highlighted and to address the comments and concerns that were provided by survey respondents. Mayor Wayne Price.
Bylaws and Enforcement 11% very satisfied - 24% somewhat satisfied - 35% satisfaction rating
Public Comments Do not cut Bylaw funding. Increase the number of Bylaw officers. Impose more fines for bylaw infractions. Raise the cost of fines for bylaw violations. Stronger enforcement of bylaws. Increase downtown parking fees.
Response Survey responses showed strong support for Bylaw staff. Issues appeared to be related to enforcement of bylaws. Historically, City of Cranbrook Bylaw response and enforcement has been complaint driven. Voluntary compliance, through communication and education, has been the practice for remediation prior to enforcement. A number of survey respondents recommended that Bylaw issue more fines and increase the cost of fines for bylaw infractions. Recognizing public support for a transition of our Bylaw response and enforcement policy, Administration will be working with our Bylaw department to review our response and enforcement policy and our penalties and fines bylaw. I believe that Bylaw’s lower satisfaction rating is also attributed to their role in working with our homeless situation. There is an assumption that City Bylaw can move those living unhoused wherever and whenever they want. That is not the case. Supreme Court decisions have created limitations on local government’s ability to control camping and movement of those living unhoused. Bylaw staff are also required to have an RCMP member present when enforcing tent take down or removal. Reduced RCMP 1