The City of Windsor now has a bylaw officer dedicated to enforcement in the city's core.
Nicole Brush has seven years of experience enforcing bylaws in Windsor. She'll focus on downtown and high-traffic business zones in the city.
The position is part of the city's "Strengthen the Core: Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan," addressing safety, cleanliness, security, and new investment. City council approved the $3.2-million seven-point action plan last month.
"'High standards' is our second action item because council and all project stakeholders recognize both the challenges and the incredible opportunities that come from breathing new life into problematic properties in the core," said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. "This dedicated bylaw officer is crucial to ensuring that we can immediately address the high volume of infractions."
Across the city, over 3,000 service requests come to Windsor's Building Department annually. Last year, 120 were specific to the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Area. It accounts for over half of all requests in the city's nine BIAs.
"First, we want to work with those business owners who have possible infractions to bring their properties into compliance right away," Ward 3 Councillor Renaldo Agostino said. "After that, those who will not cooperate or are unavailable or unresponsive will get the bylaw smackdown everyone has been asking for."
Where a building or property is deemed non-compliant, the city will give owners a reasonable amount of time to comply. If an Order to Repair is issued, they'll have 30 days to make changes. A case might also escalate to the Provincial Offences Court.
"Enforcing bylaws is critical to ensuring safety, preserving the integrity of buildings, safeguarding property values, and nurturing a dynamic community," added Commissioner of Economic Development Jelena Payne. "Providing consistent and impartial enforcement is key."
Since introducing the plan, the Windsor Police Service has welcomed 41 new Auxiliary officers, the city has recruited a senior economic development officer to oversee the implementation of the plan, and the Nurse Police Team has been expanded to seven days a week to support those struggling with mental health and addiction challenges. The city has also implemented its new Vacant Home Tax to discourage vacancies and help increase the housing supply.
* With files from Maureen Revait