FINDINGS

The residents of Mary Hill are concemed with the following: noise; traffic congestion;
violence; safety; damages to personal property, swearing; lack of cooperation,
commitment and responsibility by youth; the "Not In My Back Yard" syndrome; and, the
need for a local youth facility (as in the shelter at Lions Park). (A more in-depth list is
attached as Appendix I.)

The teens of the Mary Hill area are concerned with the following: lack of a structure
during the cold and wet weather; lack of facilities; lack of freedom; road potholes; police
interference; noise; safety; aad, needing a place to go. (A more in-depth list is attached as
Appendix I.)

RECOMMENDATION:

That residents and youth be asked for input prior to park development.

Statistics compiled by the RCMP in three areas (Prairie/Cedar, Downtown and Mary
Hill/Citadel) of Port Coquitlam from January 1, 1992 to October 31, 1992, indicate the
following:

That some complaints are unfounded;

That the Downtown Area has more cisturbances and violations due to the number of
licensed establishments,

3. Tha when complaints against youth congregating in one area are investigated, there
usually is not enough evidence to charge a group comprised of 12 and 13 year olds;
and

That an organized citizenry such as that in the Mary Hili/Citadel may lodge more
complaints than the average resident.

1.
2.

In discussions with the RCMP constable, it was indicated that law enforcement officials
are frustrated with some of the provisions of the . .

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1 That a letter requesting changes to the Young Offenders’ Act whereby parents would
be made more responsible for the criminal behaviour of their children be sent to the
Honourable Doug Lewis, Minister of Justice; to MPs Joy Langan and Ian Waddell;

and to the Honourable Colin Gabelmann, Attorney General of the Province; and

" Recognizing that 5% of our young population is the probable cause of the problems,
that the other 95% of our youth be counseled and educated on the perils that confront
them when and if they engage in criminal activity. It was felt that, in this way, youth
will not feel isolated if they do not conform to peer pressure and, by not conforming
to that pressure, the other 5% may decrease.