City of Powell River council will be considering a recommendation from its finance committee to extend free recreation complex passes to local RCMP officers.
Ray Boogaards, city director of parks, recreation and culture, made a presentation to the city’s finance committee on Thursday, January 28.
“I’d like to recommend that we extend the same opportunity we provide for city staff to the RCMP and Victim Services staff,” said Boogaards.
A similar request in 2007 was denied by city council at that time.
Over the past seven years, as part of city’s staff wellness program to reduce sick time and injuries and improve productivity, staff have had access to Powell River Recreation Complex.
Staff sergeant Rod Wiebe said in the last year the detachment was down two members, one from April to August with a knee injury, and another from April to December with a neck injury.
“Make no bones about it, ultimately when we’re down a member, the city pays because it covers 100 per cent overtime costs,” said Wiebe. “When a member is off sick and we have to backfill, that comes out of the city’s overtime budget.”
The city paid $78,000 in overtime costs for the detachment last year.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway told the committee while she agrees the health impacts for the force are important, the move could open the door to other contractors expecting similar treatment.
“For all intents and purposes, the RCMP is a contractor. If somebody came here to do some road work could they feasibly ask for a membership, too?” she asked. “I’m concerned because they are not employees.”
The cost to the city to provide 12 adult passes would be $6,159 annually. Mac Fraser, chief administrative officer, told the committee that, despite the fact the RCMP detachment are not staff, he considers the concept to be beneficial.
“It’s always good to be stewards of the taxpayer’s dollar, but $6,000 to increase the morale and fitness of your police force is a deal. There’s a lot more value than cost,” said Fraser. “They are as close to staff as we want, and I consider them part of my staff.”
Boogaards said there are heart and wellness benefits for the officers, but there are also benefits for the community.
“Police officers working out with other patrons inside the recreation complex is a perfect model of community policing. Members out in the community is the cornerstone of the community policing model,” said Boogaards.
The recommendation will be brought to a future committee of the whole meeting for further discussion.
