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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-16 Council Meeting Minutes Special Meeting.pdfMicrosoft Word - 2016-03-16 Council Minutes Special Meeting City of Maple Ridge SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES March 16, 2016 The Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting held on March 16, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the 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 E.C. Swabey, Chief Administrative Officer Councillor C. Bell D. Boag, Acting General Manager of Community Councillor K. Duncan Development, Parks and Recreation Services Councillor B. Masse P. Gill, General Manager Corporate and Financial Services Councillor G. Robson C. Marlo, Manager of Legislative Services Councillor T. Shymkiw A. Gaunt, Confidential Secretary Councillor C. Speirs 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 2.0 WAIVE NOTICE OF MEETING R/2016-156 It was moved and seconded That notice for the Special Council Meeting of March 16, 2016 be waived. CARRIED 3.0 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA A presentation by Dan Ruimy, MP was added to the beginning of the agenda and the agenda was approved as revised. Special Council Meeting Minutes March 16, 2016 Page 2 of 8 4.0 UPDATE TO THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DISCUSSION OF MARCH 14, 2016 Presentation by Dan Ruimy, MP MP Ruimy spoke to the proposal of the Quality Inn for supportive housing and asked that all recall that decisions made pertaining to this issue are not always done at the municipal Council level. He expressed concern that other levels of government including Provincial partners, Fraser Health and the Federal Government are not involved in the discussions. He indicated that he supported Council in the decision that they will make. The Chief Administrative Officer gave a PowerPoint presentation providing a timeline pertaining to the discussions between the City of Maple Ridge and BC Housing on supportive housing. R/2016-157 It was moved and seconded That before proceeding further with its proposal to provide supportive housing in Maple Ridge, the Provincial Government: 1. Commit to including in its public forum, information about the design and operations of the facility and an opportunity for the public to ask questions and receive answers; and 2. Confirm that MLA Doug Bing and MLA Marc Dalton are supportive of the Quality Inn location location. CARRIED Councillor Bell -OPPOSED 5.0 QUESTION PERIOD Rhonda Murray Ms. Murray expressed concern over the lack of process and transparency, stating that although promises were previously made in terms of public involvement in future decisions about housing, to date that has not occurred. She questioned the numbers and information pertaining to the shelter released by the City and asked when closed meeting discussions will be released. Michael Morden Mr. Morden expressed concern that Council did not have enough information to move forward on the BC Housing proposal. He asked whether RainCity will be the new operator of the proposed shelter under the current memorandum Special Council Meeting Minutes March 16, 2016 Page 3 of 8 of understanding and whether the proposed site will be run as a low barrier shelter under RainCity. He also asked what the language ‘support housing’ in a resolution passed by Council meant. Mr. Morden inquired whether Council has the option to deny zoning for the Quality Inn proposed use and what the impact will be should zoning be denied. Judy Dueck Ms. Dueck expressed concern with the short amount of notice given for the current meeting. She requested that another meeting be held with timely notice given to allow public participation. Ms. Dueck asked whether the draft memorandum of understanding was agreed upon prior to a public information meeting to be held by BC Housing. She encouraged the consideration of the citizens of Maple Ridge and residents and businesses around the Quality Inn in the decision to use the Quality Inn. She expressed concern with the location of the Quality Inn as well as the model proposed citing that it is not certain whether the location is to be used for supportive housing or as a shelter. She asked whether RainCity will be the operator of the new proposed location. Stacy MacLennan Ms. MacLennan spoke to her understanding of supportive housing as a part of a five step housing continuum following emergency shelter and transitional housing and asked how moving people from an emergency shelter to a hotel changed this to supportive housing. She expressed concern that a large centre will not work and asked how something that is destined to fail will help the community. Ian McLeod Mr. McLeod raised concerns over the current state of the housing market in Vancouver and the overall impact on the availability of rental properties in the region. He asked that now that Council has the Province’s attention and has established that this is a provincial issue and that housing and health care are provincial issues whether the province should be leading this initiative, and what will be done to maintain the province’s attention and to ramp up the visibility of this issue. Darryl Mathieson Mr. Mathieson identified himself as the owner of a preschool and daycare across the street from the Quality Inn. He asked what was done by Council to meet and consult with local businesses in that area and stated that he was not consulted. He expressed concern that the child care facility may have to close due to the impact of the proposed facility. Mr. Mathieson asked which consultation has taken care of the public and disagreed with the proposed Special Council Meeting Minutes March 16, 2016 Page 4 of 8 location of the shelter. He spoke to current problems with homeless in the area of the daycare. Heather Hop Hopp Ms. Hopp asked how the proposed homeless shelter can go forward if Maple Ridge does not have enough ambulances in the community. She stated that though there are 30 to 40 people potentially moving into the Quality Inn, there is the potential of 60 to 100 people losing their jobs as a result. Paul Holtved Mr. Holtved asked whether other sites were considered prior to the proposed use of the Quality Inn. He expressed concern with the impact on the residents of the street he lives on, which include children and seniors. He also asked Council to consider having a public forum to allow residents to come forward with proposals, including the donation of land on which to build a facility, and questioned what will be done once the three month extension on the current shelter expires. Mr. Holtved asked when BC Housing will hold a public information session. Dalene Lazarenko Ms. Lazarenko expressed concern with how the Quality Inn location was chosen by BC Housing. She felt that the location is not in the proper area due to the proximity to elementary schools, high schools and daycares and wondered how this proposal had gotten to this point. She asked whether other locations were considered and why studies on impacts on the residents and businesses had not been done by BC Housing. Brianna Tones Ms. Tones asked whether it is possible to extend the lease for the shelter beyond 3 months in the current location rather than rushing into a new location. She also referred a statement made that the RCMP will not charge addicts for a petty crime and questioned why. Ms. Tones commented that perhaps if charges were laid and some time was spent in jail, some would come out clean. Pastor Rod Shearing – High Way Church Pastor Shearing wished to reinforce statements made by Mr. Mathieson. He felt that the proposed location is wrong and asked why many lives will be jeopardized for the sake of a few. He encouraged Council to listen to the people. Roger Crai Craik Mr, Craik spoke to costs to local government, particularly the Bylaws Department in dealing with homelessness. He asked whether the City of Maple Ridge has looked at resolving the problem on its own and also whether Fraser Health could look after the health of the homeless. Special Council Meeting Minutes March 16, 2016 Page 5 of 8 Pam Banks Ms. Banks asked whether the move to the Quality Inn is being proposed in order to offer a place for the 40 persons who remain in the current temporary shelter. She suggested that BC Housing and Fraser Health deal with the remaining people and give Maple Ridge an opportunity to build a facility which will include detox and counselling. She also suggested that the federal and provincial governments be held responsible and accountable for solutions and that changes to the Supreme Court system be worked on. Ryan Svendsen Mr. Svendsen read from a prepared statement. He expressed concern that the City of Maple Ridge has become a conduit for the Province to transition homeless people to appropriate downstream services. He felt that the model of low barrier shelters managed throughout the Lower Mainland by BC Housing and Rain City is not working and spoke to the lack of ability of Bylaws officers to move people along. Mr. Svendsen asked whether members of Council believed that other municipalities are moving people along to Maple Ridge, whether BC Housing and Rain City could be trusted to keep their word based on past practices and whether a community is responsible for a homeless person who arrives in that community from elsewhere in the country. Dan Ruimy Ruimy, MP , MP Ruimy acknowledged that homelessness is a national problem and will have to be addressed on the local, provincial and federal level and that solutions can only be reached with all parties at the table Ryan Cocking Mr. Cocking spoke to transparency and questioned why more notice of the current meeting was not provided. He asked whether the hotel has been purchased. Mr. Cocking spoke to the difficulty small and midsize business owners are currently having due to the economy and felt that the rights of individuals at the temporary shelter are considered to be more important than those of business owners and persons with jobs. He asked for clarification of the meaning of supportive housing and whether that type of housing can be a low barrier shelter. He also asked whether residents will be able to do drugs within the individual units and if curfews will be imposed. Mr. Cocking inquired as to when the MLA’s will respond to Council on whether or not they are in favour of the proposed use of the Quality Inn. He questioned why the temporary shelter had 40 people when it opened and currently still held 40 people. Special Council Meeting Minutes March 16, 2016 Page 6 of 8 Shannon Smith Ms. Smith identified herself as a long term employee at The Pantry restaurant. She asked why this process was not started six months ago. She stated that due to this process she now feels undervalued as do many businesses in the area. She expressed concern about what may happen to the community. Pete Chickloski Mr. Chickloski identified himself as a resident and owner of two businesses in the downtown core of Maple Ridge. He expressed concern with the increase in homeless, derelict and marginalized people in the area. He asked for confirmation that time period for Westridge Security patrols is from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. He asked if security will be increased and if patrol hours will change as a result of more people moving into the proposed Quality Inn shelter. Ron Rogers Mr. Rogers expressed his disappointment with the previous public information session hosted by Rain City. He asked for direction on whether questions pertaining to the current shelter and the proposal for the Quality Inn were now to be asked of BC Housing and whether Council will address issues and get clarification in advance of a public information meeting to be held by BC Housing. He expressed concern with indications that Rain City will be the service provider for the new proposed facility, asked whether there was such a thing as low barrier supportive housing and if the Quality Inn will also become a low barrier shelter. Jodi Statham Ms. Statham advised that she submitted a petition against the proposed use of the Quality Inn and felt that the community is opposed to this use. She expressed concern with the negative impact of drug dealers and street people on the neighbourhood she lives in and with the lack of security after 11:00 p.m. Sydney La Laroche che Ms. Laroche advised that upon arriving in Maple Ridge she spent two months at the Salvation Army shelter. She asked for a definition of low barrier and the difference between the Salvation Army shelter and the temporary low barrier shelter. Dalene Lazarenko Ms. Lazarenko asked for clarification from Council as to how the public will be notified about the upcoming public forum with BC Housing, whether there will be adequate notification of the time of the forum and whether various forms of media be used. Special Council Meeting Minutes March 16, 2016 Page 7 of 8 Judy Dueck Ms. Dueck asked whether Council had, in original meetings with BC Housing, put forward a position on the Quality Inn location, whether parameters had been given to BC Housing and if this information can be shared. She also asked which information is being used by BC Housing to draft a memorandum of understanding. Ms. Dueck stated that she had not been aware that Rain City may be operating the potential new facility and asked what will happen once those persons going to the proposed Quality Inn from the temporary shelter are successfully housed, whether more people will come in. She also asked whether Council has considered looking at opportunities for the use of smaller facilities citing that some persons on the street are afraid to use the current shelter. Michael Morden Mr. Morden shared comments he has received from the public. He stressed the use of good communication. He expressed concern with the lack of consultation, lack of an impact study and lack of public engagement as well as monies spent on a study which has not yet been provided. Mr. Morden reiterated his concern over the lack of public engagement and outlined the negative impacts of the proposed facility on various aspects within the community. He encouraged the use of smaller facilities. He advocated for proper law enforcement. Darryl Mathieson Mr. Mathieson advised that he had heard that a person living in a homeless shelter in Ladner was promised a spot at new facility in Maple Ridge and that other facilities have already been promising spots at the new hotel. He asked whether Council has recently consulted with MLA Bing and read an e-mail from MLA Bing. Paul Holtved Mr. Holtved questioned the focus on the remaining persons at the temporary shelter and asked whether there was a Plan B should these people not wish help. He also asked if experts will be available at the BC Housing public information forum to answer questions. Bri Brianna anna Tones Ms. Tones asked if members of Council felt it was a good idea to be using a motel, with separate access and no control over who is coming and going. Special Council Meeting Minutes March 16, 2016 Page 8 of 8 Glen Glenna Kelso a Ms. Kelso asked whether the Mayor and Council are in support of the rally of citizens showing their concern with the use of the Quality Inn as a shelter. She also asked how many people are currently left at the shelter and why after 6 months 30 to 40 persons remain there. Heather Hopp Ms. Hopp spoke about a personal experience with someone who lives in the shelter and does not wish to leave a low barrier shelter model. She recounted a day in the life of the person which includes theft and use of drugs in order to demonstrate how some persons do not wish help and that another low barrier shelter will not help such people. Ryan Cock Cocking ing Mr. Cocking asked whether the proposed facility will go through a rezoning process and if this will happen prior to persons moving into the facility. He also asked what will happen if rezoning is declined. 6.0 ADJOURNMENT – 9:42 p.m. _______________________________ N. Read, Mayor Certified Correct ___________________________________ C. Marlo, Corporate Officer