Winnipeg hopes to expand use of illegal dumping surveillance cameras

The City of Winnipeg hopes to expand its use of motion-activated surveillance cameras to curb illegal garbage dumping to private property.

In April, the city embarked on a two-year pilot project that involves placing closed-circuit cameras at illegal-dumping hot spots reported to city by residents and business owners.

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So far, two cameras have been placed on city property, but council wants to expand their use to private property.

Last year, the city allocated$54,000 to purchase sixsolar-powered cameras, which are triggered by motion, much the way wildlife cameras capture images of forest creatures in remote locations.

On Tuesday, city council's innovation committee approved a plan to allow city staff to enter into legal agreements to install the cameras on private property without having to come to council first.

"This givesthem the agility to do thisquickly," innovation committee chairmanCoun.Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) said Tuesday at city hall. "Ifwe startpublicizing that we're tryingto enter intoan agreement with Bob at123 Cherry Tree Lane, it becomesvery public that were doing that because it has to go through council."

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The city won'tdisclosewhere it's placing the cameras, but dozens of illegal-dumping hot spots have been reported, said Winston Yee, the city's community bylaw enforcement manager.

"Once you have illegal dumpingstarting, it tends to accumulate andit attracts more," said Yee, who hopes the surveillance-camerapilot programwill serve as a deterrent.

"Once we get the results of thepilot to see how effectiveit is, in terms of both charges and as wellincreasing awareness to reduce illegal dumping and havingpeople use legitimatemeans [instead], such as calling311 and getting bulk waste pickup, we'lldo a report that will go to council."

Aside from the camera purchases, thepilot project is being conducted at no additional cost to the city's water and waste, public works and community services departments, a report to council states.

The plan to allow the city to enter into legal agreements to place the cameras on private property requires council approval in June.