100 Terrace Review —— Wednesday, November 20, 1991 Committee to examine youth 1e problem TERRACE — A proposal to implement a curfew as a crime Stopper in the downtown core has turned into a debate on curfews- versus-restricted hours for some businesses, with peripheral dis- cussion on the construction of a teen drop-in centre or "safehouse" as alternatives. The issues were discussed at a meeting of city council’s Finance, Personnel and Administration Committee during the first week of November with plenty of represen- tation from all quarters. Committee chairman Danny Sheridan said the City had considered a curfew but abandoned the idea because the Municipal Act restricts the maxi- mum fine to only $5, which is not much of a deterrent for potential offenders. An existing city curfew has never - really been enforced, in part due to the almost non-existent penalty. The current bylaw requires all youths under the age of 17 to be off city streets by 11 p.m. in July and August and 10 p.m. during the other 10 months of the year. Even with this bylaw in place, the problem of teen crime con- tinues. Terrace RCMP Staff Sgt. John Veldman told the committee that downtown pool halls are fre- quented by young people and RCMP have noted a certain level of crime in the immediate area, There is a significant level of vandalism and break-and-enters in the 4600 block Lakelse, and the alley parallel to Lakelse and Greig is seen as a contributing factor: it is dark, he said, and designed in a way that does little to discourage these crimes and other illegal activities. “The preferred choice of city staff, says Sheridan, is to restrict the hours of operation of some busi- nesses, the current proposal being a bylaw that would restrict the towards the cost of building or maintaining a drop-in centre and suggested that if other businesses did the same the problem of youth crime might be reduced. A representative of the Terrace Inn spoke out against restricting the hours of teen dances. The Terrace Inn no longer hosts teen dances because the space is required for other purposes (Ter- race Review, Nov. 13, page 24), but when they did, they were apparently quite successful. Hotel staff was, in most cases, able to control alcohol and drug related problems and the kids themselves were involved in activ- ities like policing, serving pop and running the disco. And here again, it was pointed out, taking this opportunity away from teens would force them to find other activities in other locations, which could mean a spreading of the problem. Other options were discussed: the installation of flood lights in the alley at the rear of the 4600 block Lakelse, the closure of the alcove opening onto Lakelse between Ev’s Men’s Wear and Grace Fell Flor- ists, and encouraging management at Danny’s Pool Hall to use their rear door only as a fire exit rather than a main entrance from the alley. City council has now adopted a Finance Committee recommenda- tion that a new committee be formed to deal specifically with the problem of youths wandering city Streets late at night, and the appar- ently related problem of crime, Sitting on this committee will be city staff, the RCMP, the Terrace Fire Department, representatives of the 4600 block Lakelse business community, Terrace and District Community Services, and pool hall operators. © hours of operation of public poo! | rooms, billiard halls, arcades and teen dance halls to a 9 a.m. open- ing and a 10 p.m. closing. But not everyone agrees. Com- munity workers Greg McQuarrie, Pat Sorenson and Tonee Sabine circulated a brief to the committee ‘that suggested the 10 p.m. closure would not serve any useful pur- pose. It could, in fact, encourage youths to move in ever-expanding circles outward from the down- town core, where the poot halls are located, resulting in an increase in crime in other parts of the city. A more realistic solution, accord- ing to their brief, would be the ‘ opening of a "safehouse" for _ young people who feel they can no longer return to their own homes. Working with the parents of these young people should be a part of the solution as well, they said. ~ Constantinos Sfikas, the owner of the ‘Terrace Recreational Centre, agreed. He estimates that a forced 10 p.m. closure would cost him 45 percent of his current revenue and says that would be unfair. He runs “a family type" operation, he said, -and-is already unable to rent his _ptoperty because of adverse pub- licity singling his operation out as the source of the problem. ~ As ait aliernative, Sfikas said, he is prépared to contribute $1,000 OVERNIGHT AGGRAVATION. Vandalism is a common occurance in the 4600 block Lakelse Ave., with decorative flower planters and plate glass windows being the most frequent targets. After considering the merits and drawbacks of enforcing an existing curfew and restricting the hours of nearby pool halls, city council has struck a committee to study the situation. | In Terrace The following convictions took place in Terrace adult criminal provincial court on the dates indicated according to information provided by the court registry. Tuesday, November 5 Maurice James Jaeger was fined $200 for possession of property obtained by crime and $150 for creating a disturbance in a public place. Caroline May Daniels was fined $300 and given a one-year driver’s licence suspension for impaired driving. Wednesday, November 6 Rodney Peter Clayton was sentenced to 30 days in jail and placed on probation for one year for assault with a weapon. Floyd Stevens was given a conditional six-month discharge and ordered to perform 25 hours of community service work for theft. ; Lawrence Russell Stephens was fined $400 and given a one- year driver’s licence suspension for impaired driving. Friday, November 8 Maureen Esther George was given a three-month suspended jail sentence for illegal pos- session of narcotics. Archibald John McCallum was fined $300 for illegal possession of narcotics. Samantha Jane McGowan was fined $100 for failure to stop at the scene of an accident in which she was involved. HOME BASED BUSINESS FAIR to yours SATURDAY, NOV. 23 10 am to 4pm Books»Crafts»Cosmetics*Shoes:Crystals *Clothing»Jewellery»Computers*Toys «Baby itemssGiftbags Refuses Hot Spiced Apple juice Coffee TERRACE ARENA BANQUET ROOM hag hg oe