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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-19 Council Meeting Minutes Special Meeting.pdfMicrosoft Word - 2015-05-19 Council Minutes Special Meeting City of Maple Ridge SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 19, 2015 The Minutes of the City Council Meeting held on May 19, 2015 at 8:19 p.m. in Council Chambers of City Hall, 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, British Columbia for the purpose of transacting regular City business. PRESENT Elected Officials Appointed Staff Mayor N. Read J. Rule, Chief Administrative Officer Councillor C. Bell K. Swift, General Manager of Community Development, Councillor K. Duncan Parks and Recreation Services Councillor B. Masse P. Gill, General Manager Corporate and Financial Services Councillor G. Robson F. Quinn, General Manager Public Works and Development Councillor T. Shymkiw Services Councillor C. Speirs C. Marlo, Manager of Legislative Services Note: These Minutes are also posted on the City’s Web Site at www.mapleridge.ca The meeting was live streamed and recorded by the City of Maple Ridge 1.0 CALL TO ORDER The agenda was amended to include a Question Period 2.0 MAYOR’S HOMELESS SOLUTIONS TASK FORCE UPDATE AYOR’S The Mayor gave a power point presentation providing information on the homelessness situation in Maple Ridge and the work being undertaken by the Mayor’s Homeless Solutions Task Force teams to address the situation. 3.0 QUESTION PERIOD Mike Ho Homen men Mr. Homen asked what was being done about security on Cliff Avenue. He asked whether portable bathroom facilities could be provided and whether the green light was given to persons on the street to camp in the bush off Cliff Avenue. Council Minutes May 19, 2015 Page 2 of 5 Mayor Read responded to the request for portable washroom facilities and the concerns about persons camping in the bush off of Cliff Avenue. Kristian Dejong Mr. Dejong expressed interested in the source of information on where persons who are living on the streets in Maple Ridge are coming from. He asked if people are coming into Maple Ridge from elsewhere. Mayor Read advised on sources of information provided which indicate where persons living on the street originate from. She also provided an explanation of the regional service provision. Stacy Stacy expressed frustration and outlined fears of living in the neighbourhood impacted by the camp on Cliff Avenue. She advised that residents feel unsafe in their own homes and outlined issues the neighbourhood is dealing with as a result of the camp. She also advised that it is felt that no action is being taken by either the Bylaws Department or the RCMP and asked why existing laws are not being enforced. Mayor Read spoke to the work being carried out by Council on providing a solution rather than dispersing the occupants currently in the camp. She advised that the situation is being monitored by the Bylaws Department. Stacy requested the action be taken in the short term to give the neighbourhood relief from the situation. Dr. Liz Zubek Dr. Zubek stated that the Cliff Avenue camp is in front of her business. She expressed concern for both her business as well as the needs of the population of the camp. She asked why a solution is being proposed which has a six month time limit for alcohol and addiction and mental health services when it takes a long time to develop trust. She also expressed concern that occupants of the camp will not trust new outreach workers. Mayor Read addressed concerns over the trust issue. She advised that the service providers being brought in are experienced in dealing with local issues of homelessness, addiction and mental health. Teal Quinn Ms. Quinn identified herself as an independent advocate and outlined her qualifications to speak on homelessness. She expressed her appreciation for the efforts of the current council to deal with homelessness. She expressed concern over barriers. She asked how the frustration of the citizens who are fed up with the stereotype of street people will be dealt with. Council Minutes May 19, 2015 Page 3 of 5 Mayor Read acknowledged Ms. Quinn’s statements however she expressed that it is important for Council to hear the concerns of the residents of the Cliff Avenue area. Brian Smetting Mr. Smetting asked that the occupants of the Cliff Avenue camp be moved off the site and onto an empty City lot. Mayor Read advised on discussions on more permanent camps and the challenges associated with those. Mr. Smetting expressed concern with the content of a Facebook site and asked when this will be addressed. Mayor Read advised on steps being taken to address the issue. Pam Banks Ms. Banks asked when the proposals being put forward will be implemented and once implemented, when it will be decided whether or not the proposed solutions are working. Mayor Read provided a timeline of the implementation of the plan to increase outreach workers in the community. She advised on the monitoring to be carried out. Ms. Banks commented that she is aware of many new faces living at the Cliff Avenue site. She expressed concern with the service provided by the RCMP and Bylaws in terms of responding to calls and complaints about the site. Rhonda Christiansen Ms. Christiansen expressed concern with the safety of the public property beside the camp, stating that this is a very unstable and dangerous slope. She requested that better fencing be put up to prevent people from going down the bank. Linda Linda identified herself as living at the Cliff Avenue camp. She wished to thank Council for the help being offered, stating that occupants of the camp did not wish to be there and that they require help. She stated that people living in the camp are doing the best they can and would just like a place of their own where they can feel secure. Council Minutes May 19, 2015 Page 4 of 5 Joanne Pinkney Mrs. Pinkney expressed her feeling that her rights and freedoms have been violated and that there are double standards in the community. She advised on issues when calling the RCMP to report drugs and alcohol use, particularly when asked whether she sees weapons or fighting. Ms. Pinkney explained the numerous issues she is facing as a store owner in the area and outlined the negative impacts on her business. She expressed hope that the solutions being discussed will move along quickly. Mayor Read thanked Mrs. Pinkney for her patience. She advised that she will follow up with the RCMP. Megan Peterson Ms. Peterson commented on the proposals to provide housing and felt that the underlying issue to homelessness is addiction. She asked what will be done with people who refuse recovery as recovery cannot be forced. Mayor Read addressed the issue of providing recovery services. Ms. Peterson questioned the merits of providing free housing. She spoke in favour of the ideology however she wondered if it was realistic. Ms. Peterson also asked about the credibility of the surveys done to determine where persons living in the camp were from. Mayor Read addressed the question of recovery and described the philosophy of the task force. She described the process used by Metro Vancouver to identify the homeless population. Mr. Major Mr. Major expressed concern over the safety of his children in the neighbourhood around the camp on Cliff Avenue. He stated he rarely saw RCMP vehicles in the area and asked that something be done to increase security. Mayor Read advised that discussions pertaining to increased security are being held. Dave Schultz Mr. Schultz expressed increasing frustration with the current situation, indicating that his family does not feel safe. He asked for a number to call at the Bylaws Department which will allow any situations involving the homeless at the camp to be dealt with immediately and asked what Council was doing about the current situation. Mayor Read advised on the strategy currently being worked on to help resolve the situation. Council Minutes May 19, 2015 Page 5 of 5 4.0 ADJOURNMENT – 9:55 p.m. _______________________________ N. Read, Mayor Certified Correct ___________________________________ C. Marlo, Corporate Officer