Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to
council meeting number 21 for Tuesday,
July 21, 2026.
And I'll note that this is a a special
open meeting of council with only one
item on the agenda. We have some uh
routine business to deal with uh in
terms of um approval of the agenda, etc.
Uh, I will mention that we've got uh
councelor Elliot on on Zoom. Do we? Are
you there, Councelor Ell?
>> Yes, sir.
» Yes, sir.
>> Good.
» Good.
>> Yes, sir.
» Yes, sir.
>> Love it when the technology is working.
» Love it when the technology is working.
Thank you. Okay. So, now um I'm looking
for a motion to um approve the agenda.
And we also have some late items that
have been and these are basically um
letters that um have been submitted uh
relative to the uh support for the
temporary uh warming shelter at 395
Elliott Street. So if we could get a
motion on the floor to approve the
agenda. Councelor McKelie, Councelor
Rudenberg.
Uh councelor Run, you have a question?
>> Yes. Prior to voting on the agenda, I I
» Yes. Prior to voting on the agenda, I I
really would like to move uh J4
before us making a decision.
>> Uh
we we are doing that.
>> You're you're referring to gallery
» You're you're referring to gallery
questions. Yeah, that will happen before
the uh it'll probably happen after the
resolution has been placed on the table.
I will call for that. Okay. Anyone else?
Are we all in favor then of approving
the agenda as discussed?
Okay. I do have a I do have an opening
statement that uh that I'd like to read.
Uh before council proceeds with this
item, I would like to acknowledge that
this matter has generated significant
public interest and differing viewpoints
from within our community. We recognize
that many residents care deeply about
the outcome and may hold strong opinions
on the subject. It is important to
clarify that council's discussion is not
a public hearing. Council's role this
evening is to receive information, ask
questions, deliberate, and make
decisions as authorized under applicable
legislation and council procedures.
A number of submissions have been made
and council has had the opportunity to
review these submissions including the
late submissions. The meeting before us
is not structured as a public hearing
and does not provide an opportunity for
debate. Although there will be
opportunity uh for questions from the
gallery as is normally provided on our
regular council meeting agendas.
I ask that everyone present please
conduct themselves respectfully. Council
is committed to considering the
information before us thoughtfully and
professionally and we expect the same
respect to be shown to council staff
delegates and members of the public
regardless of differing perspectives.
Thank you for your cooperation. We will
now proceed with the item on the agenda.
So, I would now call on the Cornell
Shelter and Support Society, Tammy
Jansen, Executive Director, to to make a
presentation.
Hello everybody. Can I control this to
move the slides? Just hit the over
arrow.
There we go. Hello everybody. Um, for
those of you that don't know me, I'm
Tammy Jansen, executive director for
Cornell Shelter and Sports Society.
Thank you for having us here tonight to
review um and answer questions about the
temporary winter shelter.
So, as you can see from the first slide,
we operated a temporary winter shelter
from January 27th to April 27th of this
year.
And where is the
go this way?
Um, the services we provided were safe
overnight shelter from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00
a.m. We did open for staff to prepare at
6:00 p.m. Um, and allowed
clients to come in at 700 p.m.
Hot dinner was served nightly at 7:00
p.m. a light breakfast each morning,
harm reduction supplies and support,
overdose prevention services, on-site
support workers for case planning,
laundry mat vouchers. As there was no
laundry on site, we were able to partner
with a local um laundry mat and provide
folks with vouchers, so they had a way
to launder.
We had shower access at Season's house
as there was no shower at this site
either, but we have shower access for
folks at Season's House if needed. We
had clothing supplies, regular wellness
checks, and referrals to community
resources. So, our homelessness
prevention program that helps house
people out in community and market
rentals. Um and MSDPR, Ministry of
Social Development and Poverty
Reduction, their outreach worker is able
to meet with us at that site as well and
refer people for wound care with
Northern Health.
Our staffing qualifications to start, we
need our food safe, whimsis, first aid
level one, and a BC criminal record
check with a vulnerable sector. That is
something that everybody needs to have
and then we go through a lot of
onboarding training for our staff. Um so
required before working independently
they complete an introduction to
homeless sector through homelessness
services association of BC provides that
training.
reducing barriers to shelter access,
Nlloxxone administration, mental health
first aid, domestic violence safety
planning, trauma informed practice, harm
reduction, professional boundaries, and
crisis deescalation.
ongoing professional development that we
offer to our staff is um LGBTQ2S
plus awareness, documentation and report
writing, case planning, indigenous
cultural safety, program specific
training, and lived experience-led
training through our community action
team peers.
Over that 3-month period, we had a total
of 726
shelter stays. That's averaging eight
people per night. The maximum capacity
of that site is 16. So, we had an
average of eight people per night. 483
male, 243 female. Out of that 726
shelter stays, there was 80 unique
individuals that made up that 700 those
726 stays. 48 male, 32 female,
and those of who shared indigenous
identity, 34 first nations, eight matei,
and 29 non-indigenous.
Here we have some quotes um from folks
that have stayed, so saying that they've
never slept so peaceful in my life. Um
thank staff for opening the shelter. I
finally feel safe at night and sleep
good. Um, it's nice to be safe. An RCMP
member said, "It is so nice to have
somewhere to bring people when there is
no room at the shelter,
meaning season's house, because in the
winter it is full at 25 beds." Um, and
somebody's saying that they're glad they
have people have a place to go out of
the elements.
So we've always had we always have a
minimum of two staff on site at all
times upwards of four to five depending
on if a cook is there, if the manager
happens to be there, janitor happens to
be there. So but always a minimum of two
people. Um Vivian Ham managed the site
and was able to oversee and respond if
needed.
Uh all staff again are certified in
first aid women's food safe nlloxxone
and deescalation
and our society does have a 24/7 on call
supervisor on call
um some of the challenges and lessons
that we learned. So we were closed for
one week following a violent incident.
that incident saw a woman fleeing
violence and fled into that space. She
was not a guest at that shelter. She was
not staying there. She fled there for
stay safety. The person following her is
the one who caused the damages and we
had to close for a week.
We did provide on-site security patrols
um as somebody was stationed there from
11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day. Um
and they only reported one serious
incident where they had to call RCMP for
support.
There is a lack of on-site showers
creates barriers for those not
comfortable accessing season's house.
And there is no daytime space for guests
once the shelter closed each morning.
So, when we closed and they had to be
out by 9:00 a.m., there was no other
space for them to go to in community.
Some of the community benefits,
nighttime street presence drops as
guests have a safe destination,
hospital trips for frostbite,
hypothermia, and weather related
injuries will decline. Emergency
services face lighter demand overall
when people have somewhere to go. A
staff supportive setting takes the place
of encampments and outdoor exposure.
Storefronts and bank vestibules see
fewer people sheltering for warmth.
Signals that the city stands by its most
vulnerable residents. Community anxiety
eases when extreme weather hits. and
city public areas stay cleaner with
reduced to human waste and
paraphernalia.
We would like to recommend to council
that we continue this program or expand
season's house shelter. We would like to
do as we are today, begin planning
earlier in the year, add on-site
showers, storage, and outreach services
for people, and invest in community
education and engagement.
And I welcome any of your questions.
>> Okay. Uh, thank you for that. Well done.
» Okay. Uh, thank you for that. Well done.
And so, the floor is now open to
questions and comments from council. So,
I'll open it up.
Nobody yet.
>> Oh, councelor Runge,
» Oh, councelor Runge,
>> you guys. I don't always want to be
» you guys. I don't always want to be
first. Uh, thanks for the report. Uh,
with regards, uh, and I think you know
this question might come to you. It's
with regards to continue the program or
expand the program. What do you see as
expanding the program?
» And is there room I guess? So I I guess
on that expand as in we if season's
house is going to stay at 25 beds and
there's no expansion like we need we
need either a um a better dedicated
facility with more space for people. So
that's what I mean by expand. Um and and
also if it the two funding modules don't
speak to one another and I don't know
how to um
temporary winter shelter is only for
night. We need somewhere for people to
go during the day. So
ex expand that way.
» Okay. Anyone? Councelor Rudenberg.
>> Thank you. Good evening. Um, so one of
» Thank you. Good evening. Um, so one of
your last comments here is invest in
community education and engagement. What
does that look like to you? I know what
it looks like to me, but what does it
look like to you?
I I can say that Cornell Shelter and
Support Society is currently investing
in updating our website, updating modes
of um like how do you contact us, how do
things get brought to the table for the
good neighbor meetings, all of those
pieces. Um and community education. I
think we need to be able to have these
discussions so that all voices can be
heard and we we're not going to address
anything if it's this pocket over here
and this pocket over here. We need to
work as a community to address what's
happening in our community.
Um, and I I feel like if more stats were
out there, more opportunities were out
there for people to educate themselves
on the reasons for homelessness. Um, how
much housing is actually in Quinnel? Uh,
what's the difference between supportive
housing and emergency shelter? Those
kind of things need community needs
education on that. There are a lot of
people that think that supportive
housing you're still homeless. That's
not the case. Um and that means that we
need to do better at educating and and
and engaging with community so that we
have a proper understanding.
So it that's a a great start, but how do
you how do you how do you talk to
community members who say, "But I still
wake up with stuff in my front door or
they put a fire at my front entrance of
my store. How do you work with that part
of the community who are just done, who
don't want to hear the stats, who don't
want to think that we need to build
something more. So, how do you work with
community like who have that experience,
their own life experience with what's
going on in their especially around some
of our business community?
So, first of all, I'm not about people
who commit crimes should get away with
crimes. That's not what I am saying
here. Um,
we do host a good neighbor meeting once
a month and there are several people who
are invited to those meetings. Cornell
uh downtown business association, the
West Cornell business association, other
service providers, RCMP, bylaw, city,
those folks are at the table. So we try
to have those discussions at that table
and help address what people are seeing
in community. If it if it's not making
it to that table, then I don't know how
to or I don't know about it to address
it. So So there's that, which is why
we're working on updating our website so
that people have a clearer path on if
this is happening, who do you call? Is
it bylaw? Is it RCMP? Is it our society?
I I need it to be known that we don't
own this population of people. I have no
capacity
or power to monitor someone when they
leave season's house and commit or do
something at the bakery. I a lot of has
happened between now and then. However,
if I know it's somebody in crisis, I can
reach out to Northern Health. I can
reach out to bylaw. I can reach out to
Northern Health to say this person needs
more supports. Um, we sit on several
tables with the city, the housing
solutions table. Um, oh, now it's it's
the situation table that they meet
several times and and they try to
identify who's having issues, what's
happening in community, and how we can
work together as service providers to
support these people. Um, I do
understand that businesses are
suffering. Um, I do understand that
people are waking up with somebody on
their front lawn or poop or something
and that's not what I want. Um, I am
born and raised in Cornell. I want a
healthy community. We all want the same
thing.
>> I really appreciate that. But you can
» I really appreciate that. But you can
understand the um it's it's that bigger
picture because we know there is a
crisis when it comes to mental health.
We know there's a crisis when it comes
to addictions. Um that the whole
housing, you know, attainable housing
for everyone in the community. So,
um they tie it all together when they
see that person doing whatever. And
unfortunately, it lands in your lap. and
and you're right, you would not allow,
you know, somebody to break the law.
There's also the whole court system that
we know that is not necessarily working
for us. So,
it's it's about you're not just talking
about your shelter here. When you talk
to the community, it's that bigger
picture. And I know the you know, you
have your meetings during the day. There
are people who cannot make it during the
day who would love to be there. You know
what? you know, we need to look at
opportunities for people to actually
start to understand that, you know,
having those evening meetings or, you
know, maybe it's a pre-break meeting,
but something that gets other members of
the community that cannot make a 2:00
meeting in the afternoon because they
are busy busy trying to run their
businesses. Um,
it's, you know, there I have a couple
other pieces here, you know, and you
talk about expanding seasons house that
opens up another whole piece, right?
It's kind of like, so where do you think
you're going to put it? And that and
again, I mean, one of the questions I've
asked people about this and they said,
we need this in Quinnell. We understand
that people deserve a safe, warm place
to be able to put their head at night.
And then the the next question is, so
where do you think we should put it? And
their hands go up in the air. Go, well,
no, no, as long as it's not in my
backyard. And we know that that that
exists out there. They know we need it,
but where do you put it? Um,
I think I've said enough for now. Thank
you.
>> Can I speak?
» Can I speak?
>> I I I hear what you're saying,
» I I I hear what you're saying,
Laurianne, and I just I I
to put
all of that on a nonprofit
to organize.
I think, like I said earlier, I could I
could put it to council as well. What
community engagement are you doing to
help solve these issues that we're
seeing in our community? What meetings
are you having to allow community to
come forward? Um,
I I I would like council to think about
that as well.
>> Okay. Thank you for that. Before I go to
» Okay. Thank you for that. Before I go to
uh Councelor McKelie, I do have a
question for you. I've always been
confounded with acronyms and
particularly given my military
background and so I've got to ask you,
what is MSDPR?
» Ministry of Social Development and
Poverty Reduction.
>> I should have known that. Thank you,
» I should have known that. Thank you,
Councelor McCelie.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And thank you
» Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And thank you
Tammy for the report. I'm going to hold
off on my comments until we hear from BC
Housing. And are we voting after we hear
from BC Housing?
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> Wonderful. Thank you again,
» Wonderful. Thank you again,
>> Councelor Boule.
» Councelor Boule.
>> Uh thanks for the report, Fam. Thank you
» Uh thanks for the report, Fam. Thank you
very much. Uh very informative to echo
some of Councelor Rutenberg's points.
You know, we have to find a solution
here that works for all of us and the
community. And I have written down in my
notes communication. I think we need to
devise something that we are together on
the same page because that seems to be
where sometimes the problems um do
occur. Pieces are part of the
responsibility of a municipality. Other
pieces are part of you as a nonprofit
organization. So sometime we have to
balance those those pieces. I had a
couple of questions on your report. You
had 80 unusual people. What's unusual
people? Are they just random people that
attended your uh or attended the shelter
when it was open or I just never used
that before. I'm like unusual.
Unless I'm reading it wrong on that.
>> It said 80 unique.
» It said 80 unique.
>> Unique. Okay.
» Unique. Okay.
>> What's unique people?
» What's unique people?
>> Unique. One person unique to themselves.
» Unique. One person unique to themselves.
>> Oh, okay. Okay. Perfect. Just for
» Oh, okay. Okay. Perfect. Just for
clarity. And my other question, sorry,
and maybe I I misread that, but my other
question for you too is you have in your
report too that um when you close down
the temporary shelter and there's no
place for them to go after they're
outside the shelter, you don't you don't
keep any stats on where do they go? Like
they're just out of the shelter and they
could just walk down the street or they
could go to a different service
provider. Is there any stats that we
could say, hey, send them to another
organization? And again, that's coming
back to my communication piece and how
we do this as a community, right? So,
>> so that would go with the cold weather
» so that would go with the cold weather
planning that we worked on with the
municipality
um to identify a warming station space
available in community. Um
so I we don't know where I mean there
can they drop in at the friendship
center, can they go to the library? Can
they There's There's
We've tried to say you could go to West
Fraser Center to stay warm, but that's
not an an ideal situation either, right?
Like, but the right now my hands are
tied except for it's 9:00 a.m. You got
to go. Sorry about your luck. See you at
700 p.m. tonight.
» Okay. No one Oh, councelor Rudenberg,
sorry.
>> Go ahead.
» Go ahead.
>> Sorry. Um you did uh make comment here
» Sorry. Um you did uh make comment here
about uh referrals to community
services, right? Do you know how many of
your uh clients access those services or
that maybe were successful?
>> I I would have to look more into that.
» I I would have to look more into that.
But our we have an ongoing relationship
with MSDPR's Ministry of Social
Development Community Integration
Specialist. Um, she's at our sites quite
often. So, I mean, like I I don't I
>> I guess this success would look like
» I guess this success would look like
they don't return to the to the shelter.
>> Oh, yes. Yes. Um, but then we're on to a
» Oh, yes. Yes. Um, but then we're on to a
whole other housing crisis and
affordable housing.
» Okay. Thank you. Oh, Councelor Vic, go
ahead.
>> Thank you. Hey, Tammy. So, I'm going I'm
» Thank you. Hey, Tammy. So, I'm going I'm
going to push you a little bit on
something and this is just hopefully
there there could be some dialogue on
something you spoke about you when a
resident or someone using your services
at season's house or at at uh uh at the
other facility when they leave your
doorstep they
really your responsibility
that ends. You can't be responsible for
the behaviors of every citizen who walks
along the sideway. So, I'm going to push
you a little bit on that. If you know
you have some clients that are um
troubled or have a predisposition to
perhaps cause a problem, can you not
develop policies where you work with
these individuals when you know they're
coming outside your premise? So there so
it it avoids the the languishing on the
sidewalks or trespassing on other
businesses property. Can you not can we
not meet you halfway there where you
engage with your clients and express you
know the rules of the road so to speak
when you leave your premise and what the
expectations of society are when they
leave. Is that possible? Is there some
kind of compromise there?
We do have those conversations. We try
to have those conversations. We contact
Northern Health Mental Health. We
contact bylaw. We contact RCMP. When we
know that there's somebody in our commu
community who is not doing well, we try
to get them the support and services
that they need. Um, we do have those
discussions about wanting to be good
neighbors, about cleaning up after
ourselves. We We do try to have those
conversations. I I really assure you we
do have those conversations.
>> I appreciate that and I'm sure
» I appreciate that and I'm sure
people listening to you right now
appreciate you saying that. But you
understand this is where a lot of
friction comes with operating a homeless
shelter in our community. It's it's not
often what happens within your doors
that concerns community members at
large. It happens when those
individuals, and it's probably a select
few, but when those individuals come out
of your premise and cause havoc or uh uh
issues, you know. So, I hope yeah, maybe
this is a this is a dialogue beyond this
decision tonight, but we definitely
would look forward to talking with you
more on how we can help with that
behavior. For sure.
>> Okay. Thank you, Councelor Vic. Anyone
» Okay. Thank you, Councelor Vic. Anyone
else?
Okay. Uh before I go to the next um
delegation which is BC housing and this
is for the benefit of those in the
public gallery. Uh at the end of every
council meeting um we have a a question
period from from the gallery and it and
it is for excuse me questions and not
editorializing and not commenting. It is
for questions. I'm going to read that to
you because that opportunity,
excuse me, to ask questions will come up
before the decision is made. Usually at
council meet, not usually um at council
meetings, the opportunity for gallery
questions comes at the end of the
meeting after all of the business has
been completed. In this case, I'm going
to ask for council or pardon me for
gallery questions before the decision is
made. So that if there's anything in
your line of questioning that might help
council uh to make their decision, then
um you're going to help us with that. So
I'm going to read gallery questions. All
gallery questions are to be addressed to
the chair of the council meeting, that's
myself, and must be an explicit question
about a specific business item that is
on the council agenda. The gallery
member must have heard the entire
council dialogue of that particular
council agenda item that the question is
being asked of. and gallery question
period is not an opportunity to bait to
debate with council or raise issues or
concerns with council that does not
explicitly form part of the business
item contained in the council agenda. So
in other words, I'm going to be watching
very closely that uh that we stay
focused and don't wander off into the
weeds. Okay. So with that, I would like
to now call um operations uh manager for
planning for pardon me a nonprofit
portfolio manager north for Ministry of
BC Housing uh David Sheets.
The floor is yours.
Good evening, council. Thank you very
much for having me and I look forward to
this conversation with you tonight and
ongoing.
My name is David Shia. I'm the nonprofit
portfolio manager for BC Housing. Uh my
office is based in Prince George.
I want to acknowledge that we're
speaking with you and working with you
from the traditional unseated
territories of the Estella Lako Da
Luscus D and the Nazco First Nations.
We tried to put our presentation
together in three parts thinking about
the questions that we had last month um
and trying to be thorough in the in um
in the discussion with you. So we we
we're going to talk a bit about BC
Housing's mandate and our role. We're
going to talk about the current state of
shelters services in Quinnel and we're
going to talk about the future state or
the future opportunities for shelter
services in Quinnell.
BC Housing develops and manages and
administers a range of social housing
programs across the province.
We work with people at all levels,
people at risk, be they homeless and
unhoused or be they elderly. And we work
with individuals and families to provide
affordable housing specifically for
people that can't afford the trai
traditional market housing. And we try
to work within the context of the
community that we are in. Equally, we
provide housing services and support
services for women fleeing abuse and in
transition.
I showed this slide to you before. This
is our sort of spectrum of of what we
do. So the the on the far left side is
with lowincome unhoused people. It
provides shelters, provides supportive
housing and in some respects you can see
that side for people elderly people in
assisted living. in the center. It's for
people who are able to maintain a
tendency, people that are liable to be
low income but still well enough to live
independently without supports. And as
you move further to the right of the of
the spectrum, it's for people who are
regular working families who work
low-income jobs in your community. And
in some cases, we able to provide
housing to help um families to get into
home ownership.
So the current situation in Quinnal as
we understand it based on the point in
time count that was last done in 2025
there were 131 people identified as
living um outside. That was a 3%
increase from the previous year or
previous count in 2023.
And we're proposing or we're discussing
a temporary winter shelter um as a way
to respond to the needs of some of that
population.
particularly during the the extreme
seasons that we have and winter
primarily.
As as as we've mentioned, there's 25
shelter beds, permanent shelter beds at
Carson Street at Season's House. Um, and
up on the upper floor, there are 10
transitional housing units. Those are
essentially permanent housing for people
who are able to live independently. Um,
and
I guess the specific to that building
that as you probably know that building
is old. It's heavily used and it's in
very poor condition. And it's when we
talk about that other element around the
future conversation around shelters.
That's one of the factors is the age and
state and location of that property
and the capacity.
and that property is owned by BC
Housing.
We took some time since the last meeting
to review the the the um the December
meeting and the conversation or the
points that were raised in that December
meeting. And so I'm going to try and
speak to some of those in the upcoming
slides.
So a temporary winter shelter addresses
the urgent need for additional shelter
units in extreme weather and in
particularly in cold weather. A shelter,
a temporary shelter provides a safe,
warm place to stay during the winter
months. Um, it provides critical or
life-saving um, spaces for people to be.
Um, and in doing that prevents strain on
other services, health and hospital and
police specifically.
In those programs, we provide food, some
meals, some some one-on-one supports,
some relationship building, some counsel
and advice um and referrals. The program
is open nightly and in many cases the
program is open 24/7
and typically they operate between
October and April.
As Tammy mentioned, there were 80
individuals who used the shelter in the
period that we operated from February to
April this year. Those 80 people used
the pillow 7286
times
and the average was eight guests in the
night.
The program provides two meals a day. So
we provide people a a a dinner meal when
they come in in the evening and a
breakfast when they leave in the morning
before they leave in the morning. We
provide harm reduction supports be that
um supplies supports, referrals um and
assistance or referrals with other um
health related issues. We also provide
hygiene and and personal care like
laundry, um showers, um and and
sometimes clothing and other essential
service supplies. And also provide those
those one-on-one check-ins for wellness
supports and and case planning where we
can or where people are wanting to take
those services.
During this year, we experienced some
challenges.
Um the the largest inc was an incident
that Tammy talked about where there was
a a violent character arrived at the
building unexpectedly caused some damage
um caused some threats um involved the
police and um and ultimately we closed
the property for about a week at that
time and from that point forward
Northern Health opted to relocate their
services.
There was another incident as well
around a loitering that was relatively
easy to um to resolve.
And one of the challenges of course is
again as Tammy mentioned is you know the
the the building has basic facilities,
bathrooms and a kitchen. It doesn't have
a shower. It doesn't really have laundry
services. It would be more ideal if
those were available on site
and it and and again the program was
closed in the mornings and it would
probably be more ideal if there was a
place for people to stay in the daytime
too.
We provided security throughout the term
of the program. Northern Health had
security on while they were in the
building. After they left the building,
we had the program operating in the
nighttime and we had security on in the
daytime. And from after when the program
concluded, we've had security patrols um
two in the daytime and two in the night
time since.
So the terms of the future planning, I
think there's kind of two levels. One,
we're we're here to request a um
continuation of the temporary use permit
so that we can provide these overnight
services at this location. Um and
secondarily to um to pursue a
conversation with you and with the
broader community about what shelter
services are needed and what would look
good in our community or in this
community and that would include the
kinds of services that should be
available and it would include
conversations about location and um and
whatever partnerships might go along
with that. The second or the other
element of that is, you know, we we want
to be able to support the city as much
as we can with respect to your cold
weather and warm weather um daytime
services as well that are funded through
emergency management. Um um or sorry,
and I forget their name, EMCR.
And then this last slide is just a bit
of a diagram about what we think some of
that dialogue would look like. um that
that and the upper half of that is, you
know, if if we're successful with you
tonight, then we will begin to um
prepare to open that property in
October. Um that we'll operate it
through to April. Um and that um um and
and and then with respect to your
programming, your cold weather service
programming, we're we're wanting to
offer access to that space for when
you're using that when you're running
your program in in the coldest weather
periods. And at the same time, um, we're
wanting to, we understand that, uh,
later in the agenda, staff are bringing
forward a conversation about
coordinating a shelter conversation, and
we want to be involved in that, and we
want to work with you about how, um, you
can provide or how we can have services
for people in your community.
And thank you for having me here.
>> Okay. Thank you for that. Going to
» Okay. Thank you for that. Going to
council for questions, comments.
Councelor McKelby,
away you go.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
» Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
And thank you, Tammy and David. Um,
I put some thoughts down, and you know,
they're probably not going to sit very
well with some of you. Um,
first of all, I'd like to say I have
profound admiration and gratitude for a
Cornell Shelter and Support Society and
the work that you all do.
I have toured all the facilities under
this umbrella. The Grace in season's
house and bridges supportive housing.
The work you do is often thankless,
extremely difficult and it is endless.
I know you are struggling.
I have had people contact me personally
that work with with uh the folks that
you do and they are
expressing their concerns with the state
of our concern with the state of our
community and their personal safety.
Citizens are calling me with their
apprehensions and anxieties with the
condition of our community.
I feel like Cornell has stepped up in a
big way over the years to support our
vulnerable and marginalized community.
Sadly, the upshot as in other
communities as we are losing this
complex battle daily unlike anything
we've seen
and quite frankly don't want to see an
experience.
Our community is being overrun with
blatant in-your-face drug addiction and
crime. I can go on and on with examples,
but we can all see with our own eyes
what we are dealing with.
I don't believe that 39 Elliot 395
Elliot Street is an ideal location at
this time.
Our local resources are completely
tapped. Ambulance, firefighters, police
funding, volunteers, the burnout.
Can we honestly propose another facility
when we are in a crisis already?
We will attract more of the same issues
if we go ahead with this in my opinion.
As a council elected to serve the entire
community, we have to know when enough
is enough. All of our citizens deserve
to feel safe, secure, and protected. And
they do not. Our businesses are losing
the battle every single day.
How do people living in the neighborhood
feel about another shelter facility so
close to where their children attend
school?
That's a big concern of mine.
How safe do they feel? How do the people
in the neighborhood feel safe at night?
I've seen letters where they're, you
know, getting banged on their doors at
midnight or even later than that and
it's quite terrifying.
Anyway, I know from some of the letters
I've seen that this is a reality and it
must be addressed. After the agonizing
consideration,
going through all the going through
everything, I honestly can't support
this temporary use permit. That's that's
my feeling. Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you, Councelor McCelie.
» Okay. Thank you, Councelor McCelie.
Anyone else?
Okay. So, Councelor Rudenberg,
>> um,
so you have on here quite an extensive,
uh, community engagement timeline from
September through to January on um, I
guess it's the second to last slide.
Um,
what what does that mean? because we've,
you know, we've we've got this happening
here. Um Tammy has talked about how
they're trying to improve their
community engagement. So, you have this
happening from September through to
January basically on not only the cold
weather plan, but also future shelter
and on the um the TWWS piece. Um,
you know, in regards to what my
colleague has just said, how again, how
can you convince the community that
they're going to be safe? I know it's
not necessarily people who are all part
of the shelter family,
but our community does not feel safe.
Um, and you know, the cost to our
communities, not only our our members
feeling unsafe, but I think about um,
you know, every time an ambulance has to
go out, every time police have to go out
to attend to an event, um, fire
department, um, what does it cause the
school district to clean up
paraphernalia that's left in their
yards? And I'm specifically talking
about the school right next to um, um,
Riverview. Um, so we have to absorb
those costs as a local government,
school district. They're absorbing those
costs. How do we how do we sell this to
the community so that they understand?
Well, so that they know that they can
feel safe and work to make sure that
some of the issues that we've seen in
these letters are not happening.
I know it's a big it's a broad question,
but it's out there. Like people want to
feel safe and they don't right now. When
people are banging on the doors at 3:00
in the morning or when they see an
uptick in drug paraphernalia happening
once this uh temporary winter shelter
opened, how do you make them how do you
help them understand or how do you help
this program
to make our community feel safe?
>> I think there's five levels of
» I think there's five levels of
government probably that are in this
conversation. the city, BC housing, the
health authority, the school district,
the police come to mind. I think all of
us have some responsibility in that. And
I I read wrote some of this with the
recognition of what I read in your
agenda and what I understand your CEO
has written about the city leading a
conversation around shelter services.
I've been hearing from your community in
lots of different ways and lots of times
about dis dissatisfaction with the
shelter program that exists now,
including its location. And I can tell
by looking at it and I've been on the
inside of it as well. And I've been
saying to you too that it's overloaded.
It's over full and it's not ideal. And
we need to put it into a different
location. The people that we're talking
about live in your community. They're
they're here. They've been here. They're
going to be here. Whether we have this
temporary shelter or not, I've never
come to you and said that I think this
is the best location. What I've said is
that this is a property that we own and
that we can use, that we can invest in,
and that is currently um compliant with
the building code. I've been standing on
the street corners with Tammy and Tanya
for 3 years, and we have not been able
to identify another building that meets
that ex that meets those basics. After
that, I'm willing to sit with you
throughout the conversation that you're
going to lead as I understand it and to
and to engage that conversation with you
to listen to you. On a personal level, I
don't know how I would deal with that
myself. On a professional level, I've
been working in the community social
sector for 35 years. I don't know if
I've done the right thing because I only
see the problem getting worse as do you.
I don't know how to solve it. What I
know is that if we provide these kinds
of services, we save something like 50
or $60,000 per year in the tax on tax
meaning use by the health and police
services. That by doing this kind of
thing, we're reducing the um emergency
response and we're able to at least
manage the response for some of those
people. I would be happy to run this
program 24/7 if I could and I might be
able to, but funding is a challenge. We
didn't propose to do that last year
because the ops was there. That would
reduce some of that. I don't know how to
speak to people's behaviors when they
leave the property. I think, you know,
to the conversation that you had with
Tammy earlier, we're dealing with human
beings that have severe mental health
issues. We're dealing with human beings
that feel fundamentally isolated from
community. They don't feel like they
belong and so they don't care. And I I
don't know what to do. That's not the
way I raised my children. That's not the
way my ch my parents raised me. That's
not the way you are talking. But that's
the human beings that we're dealing
with. I don't think any of us have an
answer to that. I think what we see is
severe addiction and severe mental
health problems. And none of us have the
resources to do it. All five of our
government agencies have a mandate, a
circle, and we work our brains out to
fill that circle. But we none of us have
the resources or even the mandate to
look at the diamond between us and how
it is that we can meet those needs. I
have deep respect for the problems that
the school district has. I'm happy to
engage in every way that I can, but I
don't have that mandate. My mandate is
shelter. My mandate is housing. I don't
I'm dealing with people with severe
mental health problems, severe addiction
problems, criminal behaviors all the
time. But my mandate is shelter and
that's all I can bring to you along with
my commitment to engage with you and the
rest of your community to provide try
and provide a solid service in a proper
location. I've cast my brain around this
town and I can't think of any
neighborhood or any corner that's going
to be ideal. I don't know what to say.
>> So I I appreciate I can hear the passion
» So I I appreciate I can hear the passion
in your voice. You've been in the in in
social services for x number of years.
Um and you talk about your mandate and I
think therein lies some of the problem
that there is no latitude allowed when
you come to a community to be able to do
to be able to make it that big
encompassing picture to be able to talk
to the school district. you should be
allowed to do that because the decisions
that get made through BC Housing affects
those pieces of the community. So,
that's not something we're going to
solve here right now. I know that, but
that it's that siloed mandate piece that
drives me bonkers when they say, "Well,
no, you know, we can't talk we can't
talk with these guys because that's not
what we're supposed to be doing." Um,
and it's kind of like the whole, you
know, where are we going to find the
next place for the shelter? Well, you
know, well, because this is what we need
and we've always done it this way, so
we're not going to be able to think
outside the box. They don't allow us to
think outside of the box because this is
just the way we've always done it. And
I've heard this when I've talked about
opportunities for other um areas where
say a shelter with a continuum piece
could be built. Like I keep thinking, oh
well, we have an old mall that needs to
be ripped down. there's an opportunity
to provide so many different levels of
housing plus anyway, but it's outside
the downtown core where all the services
are provided.
But there's got to be a way of figuring
those kinds of pieces out. We've got to
break the mold of well, we can't do it
because everything is here because what
we're seeing happening, especially in
the west side of Quinnell, is everything
is starting to be built up over on the
west side. And that in itself is
concerning. um people don't want to
invest in housing over there or they
have housing and they don't invest to
make them better because of issues that
happen. So it you're right I don't have
the answer for this but it makes it
really hard to make um decisions on
pieces like this when we know about that
bigger picture. I think if I could,
you're asking me what I'm going to do
and I'm saying what are you going to do
and I don't mean to be playing that game
with you, but to your point, I think you
have the the latitude to be able to lead
us in that place and I'm looking to the
city for guidance and leadership into
that conversation because you do have
more breadth and flexibility than I do
and you have the ability to bring the
rest of us together in that
conversation.
» Okay,
thank you for that and and really uh
thank you for the the last three
speakers for your for your candandor. It
it's it's tough but uh it's good to sort
of get that on the table. Uh are there
any more councelor Runge?
I think just as a general point also
there there actually are more than five
governments involved here because we
somehow have to move this issue because
it's not a Cornell issue. It's not a
Vancouver issue. It's a Canada possibly
North America possibly world issue. We
have abilities at our ports with more
RCMP presence that the federal
government should also be involved. I I
you know I appreciate all these things
that are happening. For me, it's just
from a Cornell perspective, we have
different
places in the process of being built.
Grace in partially built, not done. This
temporary shelter, which personally I
see in the future not being a temporary
shelter, but sliding into just possibly
just another shelter. And that makes it
difficult, I think, for us to to say,
"Hey, this sounds great." It's not and
it's not to belittle the seriousness of
any of these issues because they're
there, but it's about I think going to
uh councelor Rudenberg's point about us
looking at this
possibly a little slower and saying,
"Hey, this isn't working right now. Is
there another way and coming through it,
you know, back at it again?" And it, you
know, I guess that's where our
discussion here is really difficult with
this because for me a TUP puts red flags
all over the place, you know, and it's
not the people in the shelter
necessarily. It could be those kids
coming on the bikes delivering things to
them. It could be what happens
afterwards outside the shelter when we
don't have the ability to say, "Hey, you
know what? The things that our tourists
see, that our citizens see every day. We
could see it most likely now if we drove
down the street." and and those are the
issues that as a council I think we
really start to struggle with here.
>> I appreciate your struggle and I think
» I appreciate your struggle and I think
we're going to see them whether you
approve it or not and and I can see the
vision that you just conveyed as well.
It's not what I'm asking for. What I'm
asking for is an opportunity to run this
program now to respond to the problem
that we see now and to work with you
over the next three years to come up
with the right thing in the right place
as best we can here.
Yeah, and I appreciate that. Like I
share that concern for the vulnerable
people, but you know what? Framing us as
framing this choice as accepted or
people will suffer oversimplifies a
complex situation that we really can't
answer here today. I just, you know,
rather than, you know, being pressured
to adopt this today, I'd rather consider
that solution, considering the safety
for our, you know, for our citizens,
considering all of the things that were
talked about. And I I believe that
ultimately, like right currently, I I
believe that rejecting this proposal
will push us to look at other options,
other options where we collaborate more,
we look for a stronger solution. So, I'm
committed to working with the community
to identify that. But you know what? for
myself right now. This won't be my
choice.
>> Okay. Thank you for that. Anyone else at
» Okay. Thank you for that. Anyone else at
this point?
>> Yes, Mr. Mayor.
» Yes, Mr. Mayor.
>> Oh, I'm sorry, Councelor Elliot. I
» Oh, I'm sorry, Councelor Elliot. I
didn't see a hand.
>> Go ahead.
» Go ahead.
>> No, it's all good. Thank you so much.
» No, it's all good. Thank you so much.
And I want to thank the uh presenters
for doing what they've done today. Um
it's it's a very very important topic
and and it's a difficult situation.
I feel that it's
very easy to talk about a warming center
in the middle of summer and not see the
risks to individuals that that are at
need.
Um
I don't feel personally that having a
warming warming center during the winter
so we have occurrences of minus30
um is going to bring people into town. I
don't think it's going to make the
situation worse. In fact, talking about
knocking on doors at 3:00 in the
morning, if if individuals are in a
warming center and staying warm in the
middle of the night, they're probably
not going to be pounding on doors to try
and get into somewhere warm or to do
whatever they're doing.
We can we can pause on this for sure,
but it's it just doesn't solve the it
just doesn't solve the problem for me.
I think that we have to make a decision.
And unlike another counselor, we can
make that decision tonight. Okay? We
don't have to pause on this. We can have
the strength to move forward and show
people that we care and that we're
trying to keep them warm and trying to
do the best for our constituents, for
our people, especially those in need. I
understand the challenges that the
businesses are going through. I truly
do. I see the downtown core myself,
but I honestly don't think that offering
16 warm beds at night is going to change
that situation
and make it worse. I think we're going
to show compassion, possibly going to
save lives,
and that's why I'm ready to move forward
for the betterment of the community in
in my opinion. Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you, Councelor Elliot. I'd
» Okay. Thank you, Councelor Elliot. I'd
really like to before we get too far
down the road of of expressing
which way we're going to vote on this at
this point. I' I'd really like to hear
the count or the staff report and then
because really this we have we have two
presentations. We have Quinnell Shelter
and Support Society whom we've heard
from. We've had BC Housing who we've
heard from but we heard we haven't heard
from staff. So, let's uh pause for a
moment and get that staff report uh
dealt with and then and then have this
discussion. Are we okay with that? Okay,
Tanya. Go ahead.
>> Thank Thank you, sir.
» Thank Thank you, sir.
>> I'm sorry. Go ahead, city manager.
» I'm sorry. Go ahead, city manager.
>> Yeah, Mr. Mayor. Just a moment so we can
» Yeah, Mr. Mayor. Just a moment so we can
excuse uh Mr. Shia and then change the
screen so that Councelor Elliot uh can
be seen and seen uh see what's going on
in the room and then we'll move through
your agenda to item E1.
Okay, we are take we're not taking a a
refreshment or a hydration break. We're
taking a technology break.
Okay, there we can see councelor Elliot
now. So, are we are we good to move on
and to the uh the staff report?
Okay, Tanya, the floor is yours.
>> Thank you, Mayor. And I think this is
» Thank you, Mayor. And I think this is
just going to provide a really good
summary of the whole issue before you go
into um some deliberations on some
decisions. Uh again, the purpose of this
report is consideration of the
continuation of the temporary use permit
for temporary winter shelter at 395
Elliot. BC Housing, as you know, uh
applied for the use of a temporary
winter shelter at 395 due to shel due to
the current shelter at 146 Carson Avenue
being at and over capacity in winter
seasons. um requiring staff to turn
persons away. The identification of 395
Elliott occurred following a year of
searching for alternative locations. Um
that was the a tense year. Uh as you
know, we've been looking at other
locations for a number of years. In
December of 2025, council authorized the
use of emergency shelter at 395 Elliot
subject to reconsideration following
additional reporting in what you're
finding tonight. In June 23rd, um at
June 23rd, 20 2026, BC Housing and the
Quinnell Shelter Support Society
presented to council on the prior year's
experience.
Council requested additional community
notice of this consideration. Notice was
issued for this meeting um via
newspaper, website, and direct mail to
surrounding property owners. Submission
submissions have been received, and
there's 30 included uh in this report
tonight. Uh, six letters were received
identifying concerns regarding public
safety and nuisances, and I'll go into
those more more. They're all attached.
Um, uh, 20 four letters were issued in
support of the facility. Four of those
submissions were from organizations with
within the community, and I'll go into
those as well. Uh, as well as some of
these supports. Um, submissions received
in December can also find in the be
found in the package. um that was at the
original council uh consideration of
this facility. At the June 23rd meeting,
city staff also provided a plan for
shelter renewal in the community um as
well as the cold weather plan recently
completed. And I just want to go back
and definitely state the plan that we're
referencing um that was part of uh BC
Housing's uh um uh presentation in terms
of consultation is a plan we prepared.
So um and we are sharing and trying to
partner with the BC housing on doing uh
and was pro provided at that June 23rd
meeting. BC Housing's application and
consideration is for the temporary
winter shelter operating October through
May for the next two years. That's the
nighttime winter shelter. Uh a separate
initiative to work with BC H housing to
find the loca a new location for shelter
services to replace 146 Carson has been
approved by council. So that that that
consultation was something we reviewed
and actually provide a resolution to
approve. The warming and cooling center
is funding only available to local
governments. So when we keep talking
about the warming centers, that's
something that we organize and approve
or not. If council approves
contracting the service at the Cornell
Shelter and Support Society to run out
of 395 Elliot, that would be for the
daytime hours when there are emergency
conditions prescribed by the cold
weather and extreme weather response
plans. That's something that the
government and which uh um Tammy uh from
through the Quinnell Shelter Support
Society has identified is a very awkward
system. We that we've continuously
mentioned to council through the
government. uh the separation of those
two things into two different funding
agencies has created a lot of uh
difficulties with us in terms of trying
to organize these types of facilities um
as well as for uh the Quendel shelter
support study um in trying to manage the
population.
The shelter beds in comparable
communities are also attached for
consideration and we've put those in
just so that you can see the number of
shelters that are um uh in various
communities and and the fact that we are
really not outside of the norm for with
respect to and that includes with the
additional 16 um shelter spaces in like
communities.
So, I would go to um uh the chair to
determine should we go into the
resolution right now or would you like
more comments?
>> I think you could uh read the
» I think you could uh read the
recommendation and I'll I'll call for a
mover and second and we'll get it on the
floor and then we'll have some
discussion.
>> Thank you, mayor. The the recommendation
» Thank you, mayor. The the recommendation
is that council endorse continuation of
the temporary w temporary shelter under
the temporary use permit TUS
202506 at 395 Elliot Street and that
council endorse staff developing an
agreement to utilize 395 Elliot for a
warming and cooling center during
periods of extreme weather as defined in
the city's cold weather and extreme heat
plans.
>> Okay. So, a mover.
» Okay. So, a mover.
Are we having
>> Sorry. Councelor Rudenberg is moving. Do
» Sorry. Councelor Rudenberg is moving. Do
we have a second?
>> Councelor Elliot.
» Councelor Elliot.
>> Councelor Elliott is seconding. Okay,
» Councelor Elliott is seconding. Okay,
we're on the floor now. I'm opening it
for council discussion. anybody
before I I'm
>> just
» just
>> I'm not I hope I don't have to call the
» I'm not I hope I don't have to call the
question yet but uh because I've got
some comments but I'm
>> but we were going to have
» but we were going to have
>> gallery I I want council first
» gallery I I want council first
if if you think that we could what's
your choice council would you like to
hear from the gallery first and then ask
your questions I thought that I may be
doing it the the other way around but
what's your pleasure councel
Go ahead, Councelor Elliot or pardon me,
Council Run.
>> I prefer public input, please.
» I prefer public input, please.
>> First, okay. Are are we okay with uh
» First, okay. Are are we okay with uh
inviting um gallery questions at this
point?
>> I have a question, Mr. Mayor.
» I have a question, Mr. Mayor.
>> Go ahead.
» Go ahead.
>> Yeah. I'm curious, as you mentioned
» Yeah. I'm curious, as you mentioned
before, this is the first time that this
has taken place where we have the
gallery questions ahead of where it's
scheduled on the agenda. How did we come
up with that, please? Because I don't
remember. If I missed it, I do
apologize, but I don't remember anything
coming to council.
>> Well, we we I discussed it with staff uh
» Well, we we I discussed it with staff uh
earlier today and we felt it was uh more
beneficial that council makes their
decision in light of any questions that
come from the gallery because if the if
the decision is made, uh those questions
from the gallery are really a moot
point. That's my point. Go ahead,
councelor Run.
>> I get it. I get it. If I could just uh
» I get it. I get it. If I could just uh
complete my thought here. Um I
understand 100% how that works. It's
just it's never been done before. So I
think we're kind of setting precedent
here on on how we uh operate our
meetings from now on. Thank you.
>> Actually, if I may, Councelor Elliot, we
» Actually, if I may, Councelor Elliot, we
actually had a discussion right at the
beginning when we're setting the agenda
and I requested that this be put in at
this time and we changed the agenda
right in the prior in the beginning part
of the meeting.
>> Okay. So thank you for that. Uh now I'm
» Okay. So thank you for that. Uh now I'm
ready to entertain questions and it's
again it's not debate it it's not
comments it's not this or that it it is
pure questions.
>> So u can we go ahead with that and when
» So u can we go ahead with that and when
you do come up to the microphone we just
ask that you uh give us your name for
the record and proceed with your
question.
Do I have any takers?
Come on up sir.
John River 221 Enark Road South. I've
come here this evening to talk about or
listen about a a warming center, a
cooling center, but unfortunately we've
added
everything else. drug addiction,
homelessness,
the whole umbrella and said this
cooling, this shelter is no good because
of all these problems.
We need to concentrate, can we
concentrate on the the shelter itself
and not bog oursel down with
everything else?
So your question then is can we should
concentrate on the shelter and not all
of the other complexities that are
plaguing us
>> and say that the shelter is not good
» and say that the shelter is not good
because of that
>> as I said at the outset of the meeting
» as I said at the outset of the meeting
that's as the chair and the pilot here
that that is my goal to try to keep
everybody on track so that um we are
really just talking and deciding about
the shelter.
>> Okay. So if I can
» Okay. So if I can
>> Okay. Thank you.
» Okay. Thank you.
>> I can see that happening. I would be
» I can see that happening. I would be
greatly appreciated. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Anyone else from the gallery?
» Thank you. Anyone else from the gallery?
Come on up, sir.
» We just need your name. We don't need
your rank and serial number. Just your
name.
» My name is Tom Sally. Um, I retired from
working in this exact field that you
guys are talking about. And I agree with
the guy over there that this should be
about getting more services here. And my
question is, if this is such a big deal
to each of the counselors and to city
hall, how come you haven't brought the
five parties
together to make a plan regardless of
what facilities you have?
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Okay, that that's a very good question.
» Okay, that that's a very good question.
>> How come the counselors haven't done
» How come the counselors haven't done
this?
>> Well, no, we have we have done a lot. So
» Well, no, we have we have done a lot. So
Tanya, do you want to just bring bring
everyone up to speed on on you know we
we have a plan and and this is this is
all part of it. I mean this this is not
the first time that we've had this
discussion.
>> Thank you. Yes, I would suggest that
» Thank you. Yes, I would suggest that
we've been having this discussion about
as long as I've been working for the
city. So there's been numerous suggest
discussions. There's been numerous um um
applications that have been made. Um
we've been at this table a number of
times and I think the uh the concerns
that have been brought up are absolutely
valid on all fronts. Um and I think that
the uh the concern the the discussion
about uh that there is a growing issue
that is that is plaguing the broader the
broader uh society that just our
community is very valid and it's about
what do we choose to do in order to
respond to those those issues to best
protect our community.
>> Okay, thank you for that. Uh come on up.
» Okay, thank you for that. Uh come on up.
Yes, please. Uh just your name and your
question, please.
>> Mr. Mayor, if if I may just interject, I
» Mr. Mayor, if if I may just interject, I
just want to add a comment to what Tanya
is saying and uh the member of the
gallery is welcome to sit down while I
add my comment. So certainly to Tanya's
point uh yeah this has been an ongoing
conversation but but to answer that
gallery question so if you go back to
the June meeting at that point in time
council did endorse the engagement
strategy for how we were going to work
with all of these different entities
around the community uh but also senior
levels of government to come up with a
long-term strategy for a replacement of
the existing shelter in the community.
Tonight's question is limited to the
temporary use permit of 395 Elliott. And
the reason why for for the community's
knowledge and the gallery's knowledge,
the reason why that is separated out is
that engagement strategy with the
community for a long-term shelter
solution is going to take significant
time. This specific issue was forwarded
by BC Housing following the temporary
use permit that was granted at the end
of December asking for a continued
operation for the next two years. So
those two things have been separated
out. Uh but just for the gallery and the
community's knowledge, that plan is
absolutely what staff have been directed
now to carry out over the next number of
months into 2027 to come up with that
long-term strategy which involves the
engagement of a variety of stakeholders
from throughout the community.
Uh thank you for that. And and tonight
is really all a part of that plan. And I
believe it was uh June 23, not that long
ago that that uh the council um set this
in in gear. Uh is there anything else
from the gallery before
>> she's sitting down there?
» she's sitting down there?
>> Oh, go ahead. I'm sorry. There you are.
» Oh, go ahead. I'm sorry. There you are.
I I was looking in the gallery for you.
Go ahead.
>> Not a worry, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Uh
» Not a worry, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Uh
Mr. Mayor and Council, my name is
Michael Vaughn. Um, my question for you
is about the resolution and to to pay
you the respect because I know you are
very concerned about people freezing to
death in extreme weather. You wish to
see lives saved. My question to you in
relation to this resolution is what
exactly is the alternative?
Um, it was unclear to me in looking at
this permit that there was an
alternative on the floor that would keep
people alive in extreme weather during
the winter. So, that is my question.
Thank you.
>> Okay, thank you for that. Uh, does
» Okay, thank you for that. Uh, does
anyone uh want to take a a shot at this
one? It's it's a very u pertinent and
relevant question. I mean, I I don't
personally I don't think there is an
alternative. Um, but I know that
there's, you know, some concern about
the location, uh, and and how that melds
into the the overall plan. Does anyone
else want to jump in here? Councelor
Councelor Rudenberg.
Um, so I know I've come across as quite
the negative Nelly tonight. And what I
want to make clear is this is what I've
heard from community members that I've
spoken to. not necessarily my own
beliefs, but what I've heard, and I
needed to put that out there so that
they know that they've been heard by
people who they represent. Um, I
understand that we need to protect our
vulnerable population, especially in
extreme weather. I get that. Whether
it's cold or heat, do we have an
alternative?
Not right now. Um, if we were to build
um this amazing shelter in the near
future that has opportunities to house
temporary winter um uh uh groups and
offer cold and warm weather uh shelter.
That would be a bonus. That that would
be the best thing that could happen. We
don't have that right now. Um, I think
that, you know, and I apologize. I'm
probably one of the ones that kind of
went off in every different tangent you
could think about. So, thank you for
getting us back on track about this
particular piece. Um,
it will be an interesting vote around
the table. I think that post vote, we
have to look back at our um
community uh plan bylaw where it talks
about working with in partnership with
other levels of government, community
organizations, and service providers and
make these other pieces happen. It's
about how do we change mandates. It's
about all of those conversations that we
need to have in the future to create
opportunities for proper housing for our
entire community. The one thing that I
know that people are concerned about is
about the whole sliding um Elliot Street
into a full-time shelter space. And
that's what people do not want to see.
They want to see the proper um uh
communication with the community about
what another shelter looks like. They
don't want to see this sliding into
another full-time shelter. Um but
offering those services that we need to
make sure that vulnerable populations
are safe.
They agree with that. Um I'll leave it
at that. Mayor.
>> Okay. Thank you, Councelor Rudenberg.
» Okay. Thank you, Councelor Rudenberg.
Councelor Runge
>> and you know it's it's tough on us to
» and you know it's it's tough on us to
say hey this choice is accepted or they
will suffer. We know there's suffering
out there but like I said before it
really oversimplifies this situation and
it limits what we consider as
alternatives. So are there alternatives?
Yes, I think there are alternatives.
Maybe we could bring a trailer in. Maybe
uh you know BC Housing can bring a
trailer in just or maybe they we could
work a little quicker to uh build Grace
in so it you know meets its mandate. You
know there's all these other things that
are in process that are slowed down cuz
we don't have money from BC housing.
this could actually change a little bit
and we push these things to a better
solution there and build it up instead
of just saying, you know what, we're
going to just open another place, which
as the counselor previous to me just
said, we really worry that it's going to
just slide into another
shelter. And for the people that say it
doesn't cause extra hotspots for our for
our RCMP, our police, our fire
departments, unfortunately, it does.
So,
you know, I to say, you know, that we're
finding this easy to make this decision,
you know, I just can't answer that, you
know, because it's that's not really
what we're at here.
>> In this moment of pause, I'm going to
» In this moment of pause, I'm going to
come back to you, Joanie, but I got to
say that uh and I I think I'm sort of
sharing um the view of this entire
council. If anything keeps us awake at
night, it is this.
Forget about gold pans, forget about
bridges, forget about interconnectors.
This this is the sleep robber. Okay, I'm
going to Joanie Davis next for the
>> Yes, I pushed the button already.
» Yes, I pushed the button already.
>> Hello, my name is Joanie Davis. Um,
» Hello, my name is Joanie Davis. Um,
I think what you said, uh, Council Rangi
just said it perfectly. We all have very
big hearts. Um, my question is going to
go back to uh I believe it's Tammy. I I
have I'm looking for clarity on who are
those the bodies that are not giving you
the information. I would like to know
who they are and what bodies are you
having issues with? Who are the
department heads of those bodies? And I
believe we need to get together
all levels of government and get
accountable
because I believe that if the plane's
going down, you put your own mask on
first. We need you to put your mask on
first so then we can help other people.
That's my point. And I think there's a
lot of government bodies out there that
are not being accountable to what this
situation is. And I believe as a small
town, we can lead this mission by
example in British Columbia if we do it
together. We all have big hearts. We all
want to do the right thing, but we have
to put our masks on first and care for
what we have now.
That's what I have to say.
>> Okay. Thank you, Joanie. And I I really
» Okay. Thank you, Joanie. And I I really
do like the mask uh analogy. Um, so is
where's the representative for the
shelter society?
Can we get an answer to that or um any
kind of a comment? The the co the
question was really um directed to the
um the shelter society I believe.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
>> Who are these governing bodies? Who are
» Who are these governing bodies? Who are
you having
>> mayor? stuff. I think that was the
» mayor? stuff. I think that was the
>> just just in terms of the point, we
» just just in terms of the point, we
typically don't have questions going
back and forth to to the gallery.
>> Okay. Thank you for that. All right. So,
» Okay. Thank you for that. All right. So,
let's move on and see if there's here's
another one. Come on up. Just your name
and and your question, please.
Hello, my name is Lisa Budro and I am
the board chair of the school district
28. Um, with me I have superintendent
Lounge. I have trustee vice chair Honey
Affleck, trustee Julianne Runge, Trustee
David Chapman, and of course at your
table you have trustee Tony Goule. Um, I
do have a question. Um, but I will start
just by saying I do um or school
district 28 does recognize the
complexity of this issue and this work.
Um, we appreciate the work being done by
those who are trying to help. We have a
responsibility to ensure that our
schools remain safe learning and work
environments for our students and our
staff. We have continued to experience a
number of incidents at Riverview
Elementary School that are directly
impacting the school community. Every
incident requires time, resources, and
attention from our educators and school
district 28 staff that would otherwise
be dedicated to supporting the students
in learning.
School District 28 supports the initi
initiative and recognizes its important
while also emphasizing the need for
ongoing and increased supports to ensure
the safety and well-being of our
students and our staff. Our students and
staff deserve to learn and work in an
environment where they feel safe every
single day. I respectfully ask that
students and staff remain the guiding
principle as your decision comes upon
you tonight and um keeping in mind as a
guiding principle um as you guys move
forward in this work.
» Okay. So,
I'm I'm I'm at a bit of a loss on how to
handle that one. Is there any council
member that wants to jump in on this or
uh
» that's okay. We can leave it at that
too. Just keep kids in mind.
>> Okay. Well, thank you. Uh duly noted and
» Okay. Well, thank you. Uh duly noted and
and good for the good for the school
district chair and another uh trustee to
be here. Maybe there Oh, another one
too. So, holy smokes, we got quorum.
Okay,
>> go ahead. Councelor Runge,
» go ahead. Councelor Runge,
>> thank you. Thanks for being here.
» thank you. Thanks for being here.
Michael, I I do have a question with
regards to I guess Elliot Street. Did
were did you have an increase of any
incidents from the January to March time
or April time over previous years?
>> Thank you. I'm actually going to look at
» Thank you. I'm actually going to look at
uh Superintendent Lens to see if he can
better answer that for you.
Sorry,
put you in a hot seat.
>> That's okay.
» That's okay.
Good evening everyone. I'm
Superintendent Dan Louns from School
District 28. Uh, thank you for the
question, counselor. Um, anecdotally,
um, not a not a significant increase,
um, between, um, December, um, until
now. um at Riverview. I can tell you um
that um Riverview Elementary and Helen
Dixon Center are definitely our two hot
spot uh school locations um for
troubling situations. Um we did we in
the for the previous uh council meeting
we did, you know, sort of at a high
level describe some of the concerns. Um
the concerns haven't reduced by any
stretch. Um but I don't have specific
data on the number of incidents. Um the
incidents have been reported to RCMP to
bylaw etc. as well as a number of um
ongoing concerns dealt with at the
school level. Um whether we're talking
about cleaning up of paraphernalia
um weapons, pillows, all sorts of things
that are that are found early in the
morning usually by the school principal.
Um and then there have been a number of
cases that um you know it have been a
spectrum of u response um from folks
entering the school um to being on
school site um that needed either RCMP
or bylaw um intervention to to support.
I'm not sure if that answers your
question.
>> Thank you. Hey, in a perfect world, data
» Thank you. Hey, in a perfect world, data
is great. Thank you very much.
>> Okay, thank you for that. Uh, anyone
» Okay, thank you for that. Uh, anyone
else want to brave the microphone? Dan,
no, you're you're okay.
Uh, one minute. We got one coming up
behind U.
Yeah, you're up, Cleo.
Press the Press the red button.
There we go.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
My name is Cleo.
I'm a 75year-old woman who has been
working on our streets for a long time.
And
I'm a country girl. I try to think of
things simply.
Uh, one of the discussions was
when people leave the shelter facility,
why is the shelter being held
responsible for the behavior?
Um,
if you have a a pet that leaves your
premises and misbehaves,
if you have a family member who leaves
your home and misbehaves,
what can we do about it?
Do we just Oh, well,
we we don't even have an SPCA anymore
from what I can understand when we have
these problems. So
these animals, these family members,
these people in our community who are
are mentally ill, who are not getting
medical services they need, if if we
don't
provide
winter shelter in cold weather, well,
we'll certainly reduce the numbers of
those people. It's that simple.
Because
I don't like to be out there at minus
20, minus30
providing food for people who are
hungry.
And I'm certain that
none of you would.
I would like to ask
each one of you, if you're willing, go
with me one day. go with me
and and go to the shelter, go to the
Grayson, go to Season's House, go to
Bridges and firsthand
see our community members and the
struggling and the situation that
they're in. I understand that there are
community members that are afraid. I
hear it all the time. Uh, I'm afraid to
walk downtown because I'm not safe.
I understand those feelings for them. I
don't share them when I'm out there.
I don't feel that way. I think twice in
the last years that I've been doing
this, I've felt uncomfortable and unsafe
and I just simply got in my vehicle and
locked the door.
But I cannot in good conscience say we
don't need a temporary wheel shelter
because it makes someone else
uncomfortable. It's going to cause
deaths. Are you okay with that on your
heart?
Please come with me. See them firsthand.
There's nothing like one-on-one
education.
And it's not that I condone their
behaviors. It's not that I condone
lawlessness or crimes or violence.
But the big picture is as a country, as
a province, we're not providing the
services that these people need. So what
are we going to do with them? They're
everywhere.
But at least we can keep them from
freezing to death in the winter. Please,
let's try to do that.
We can't solve everything, but this is
one step in a good direction.
Thank you for that, Cleo. Uh well said.
Uh and I agree that um
if if there was an opportunity I I guess
a structured opportunity for us to um
participate in the coldest night or or
you know visiting the shelters. it. I
mean, I've been to Season's House. I've
been to Bridges. Um, and I I do remember
in in a former life actually sleeping
out. Um, I think it was in Labour Park,
but I mean, that was a long time ago.
Uh, but personally, I I would I would
welcome that if if that opportunity
would were to represent itself. Anyone
else uh from the gallery? Come on up.
Hi, my name is Grace Curry. Um, I just
want to echo that that when
you are talking about community events,
there's a healing fire that's held every
single month. Um, people come out from
everywhere and this is a moment that
there is that firsthand education.
people are struggling and I think it's a
perfect opportunity for a lot of people
to really see that these are humans and
when we talk about fear and feeling
unsafe. Can I'm going to ask that this
decision holds empathy and takes empathy
of these individuals lives. I understand
the business owner's fears. I understand
those fears. So in the same respect that
you can understand the business owner's
fears, can you please take a moment to
understand what these individuals lives
have been living there? You want to talk
about fear, this is the most
unimaginable
fear and you're only seeing maybe 1 2%
of what they're living when you see them
on the street. That's not their whole
story. And I ask you in this decision to
really look at their full story.
take a neoliberal approach to understand
the system that they are living in that
a lot of them didn't choose this.
They're not choosing to be in pain.
They're not choosing to suffer. And I
ask you to come to the healing fire. I
ask you to come see what is happening
here firsthand. See the services that we
have. See the people that are showing up
every single month and bringing
everything that they have. Please take a
moment to understand what these people's
lives are living and what they're going
through and have the same empathy that
you have for your business owners, for
the people that are literally being
missing and murdered all along our our
country every single day. Thank you.
>> Thank you for that. Um, it wasn't quite
» Thank you for that. Um, it wasn't quite
a question, but I did detect a question
mark at the end. So, thank you. Someone
else.
Come on up, Dave.
Okay, thank you very much.
Um,
council,
I want you to uh
look at as something that you might have
overlooked. The first thing I think is
important is you missed the vote
on a couple of issues. You missed the
boat when you didn't include the RCMP to
be here tonight.
As most of you are aware,
I was the guard supervisor down at the
police station or the jail
for 31 years.
That is not
the jail is not a home for people
anytime you have a problem. But that's
what it's become. the number of people
that come through there just because you
didn't have a bed for them, you put them
in a cell and you thought that problem
went away for the night.
Well, as a human being and as the person
that worked there,
that is improper.
Everybody needs a place to live and stay
and a steel bed isn't the answer or the
drunk tank.
But what was happening there was anytime
there was a problem in in season house
or bridges, you called the RCMP and all
they did was take them and put them in
jail.
Well, in my case, I'm okay because I
have a bed and I have a house and I had
employment through the city. But what
you failed to re resolve was resolve the
problem.
I think it's important to know from my
perspective.
Everybody needs a place to stay
in all kinds of weather.
Jail isn't the answer. And jail is not a
solution. Jail is not a shelter. But
it's been used time and time again as
this problem solver. It is not. The only
other thing I wish to
say and that is
uh probably I'll be a little bit out of
line here. I think uh council
was very disrespectful tonight
in not including
the school district to give a
presentation before you came to question
period.
We are also we have a major concern as
you heard.
I'm not speaking on behalf of the school
district. I'm going to speak on behalf
of myself. But as you know, I'm a school
trustee.
And I think it's disrespectful
when you asked them to make a
presentation
and you you ignored them on the agenda.
I'll leave it at that.
>> Uh thank you, Dave, and I apologize for
» Uh thank you, Dave, and I apologize for
that. Uh but really the the the impetus
for this meeting um you know was or is
the the location of the of the uh
temporary shelter and that's why we have
housing doing the I guess the uh the
major presentation and and shelter and
support society um joining in and also
our staff report. I I suppose we could
stretch out and you know have the the
Chamber of Commerce and the business
associations and and I and we we would
be here all night and and certainly if
the if the school district would like to
come back and you know engage um you're
you're doing that right now. Um but um
you you do raise a good point so I
apologize and I thank you.
Anyone else from the gallery?
Okay. So, are we ready to uh move ahead
with the resolution? I I I have a couple
I have a actually a question uh for the
resolution. And the resolution is duly
moved and seconded, but I'm wondering if
it's possible. The resolution doesn't
say that it's a two-year agreement. And
I I think that the the actual permit
would say that it's 2 years, but should
the should the resolution contain a
reference to the the time period of the
um of the tenure.
» The temporary use uh permits only for a
three-year period. Um it would have to
be renewed after that. We obviously made
a different concession when we did the
first resolution to only allow it for
one year. uh having uh uh the uh
questions and and presentations prior to
make allowing it for additional two
years. We created that. So it it's up to
councils. It's council's discretion. You
don't have to put it in for the two
years. Um uh you don't have to say that.
It would just be for the two years
unless you wanted something else. It'll
be for the additional for the remaining
two years unless you make another formal
request. So just to be clear now the
resolution is for two years.
>> The res resolution is for the remaining
» The res resolution is for the remaining
two years for the temporary use permit
guess.
>> Okay. Uh so h how difficult or or would
» Okay. Uh so h how difficult or or would
it would it be uh advisable uh to put a
clause in there that says that uh as a
council and I guess more importantly as
a community uh can we um have a revisit
of this at the end of year year one uh
provided things are coasting along
properly and and you know as best as as
best as can be expected.
>> That would be council's discretion.
» That would be council's discretion.
>> Okay. Uh would that require an amendment
» Okay. Uh would that require an amendment
if I if I was to ask for that council?
>> Yes. You'll need to have someone move
» Yes. You'll need to have someone move
and and duly second an amendment, then
vote on the amendment. If the amendment
passes, then you'll have to have a
second vote on the amended motion.
>> Yeah. Just we just treat it as as an
» Yeah. Just we just treat it as as an
amendment. So, is there anyone that's
will willing to move that or should I?
Looks like it's me. And and and so I'm
I'm moving that uh that we put a a
clause in there that um that at the end
of year one we we be given the
opportunity to to sort of not sort of
just to review this to to make any
recommendations for keeping the ship
going straight ahead. I did that. You
don't put all of that in the resolution,
but you catch my drift. I need a
seconder. Councelor Rudenberg. Okay. So,
>> just sorry.
» just sorry.
>> Go ahead, councelor Ranch.
» Go ahead, councelor Ranch.
>> A point of order. If we were to pass it
» A point of order. If we were to pass it
as it stands, this discussion although
important, we could have a me meeting to
discuss things, but it will make no
difference. It will bring up these
feelings again that we have in this
room, which are, I believe,
more divisive than they actually are
building a building a community that
makes a difference. So I I I would
actually speak against that uh
amendment.
>> Okay. Councelor Goule.
» Okay. Councelor Goule.
>> Uh thanks u Mr. Chair. Thank you. Um and
» Uh thanks u Mr. Chair. Thank you. Um and
I too would probably speak um against
that amendment. Um I I've been taking
notes and and just listening, you know,
and you know, we need to to focus our
intention on not a short-term solution,
but how do we get a long-term solution?
I think if we're mandating things, we're
going to be in trouble. We're going to
be back here. any council is going to be
back at this table um making the same
decisions, having the same
conversations. Uh we've been having I've
been a counselor for four years, eight
years. We're still having the
conversations as director Turner said,
20 years. These things have been going
on forever. We're not We have to find a
a solution here. You know, we have to
have um clear timelines. We need secure
funding. We need public consultation. Um
temporary shelters, I think, um only
address the needs in the short term. um
we're going to be open for a year, we're
going to be open for another year. Um
and then what we're where we're going to
be back back at the same table. I just
think that we need to look at a longterm
tragedy here and how we do that. I think
and how we get there for future councils
and this council is going to be very
important as we as we look at the
discussions. You know, I I just want to
see that we come with a permanent plan
that has measurable milestones, defines
accountability, and we do regular public
updates. I think that will deter um
what's happening and be able to find a a
long-term solution. You know, we're
we're relying on these temporary
extensions. We're relying on these
temporary things. And I just don't think
it's doing a service for anybody until
we have a long-term something that we
can actually put our teeth into and
actually be able to be proud of as we
move forward with the community. I think
it's going to take time. I don't think
it's going to be an overnight solution.
It's not going to be a yearly solution.
I think it's going to take time. It's
going to take a lot of time and
investment. As I said earlier,
communication is the key piece. I think
we're we're biting heads all over the
place and we're trying to get people at
the table, but we have all different
mandates. Everyone has a different
mandate when they sit at a table and on
a board of directors. Um I think it's
time that we just move away from these
temporary measures and somehow make a
lasting solution that, you know, our
vulnerable individuals can um um feel
safe and our citizens can feel safe at
the same time. So we have to so we have
to balance that. So I'm not in favor of
the one year.
>> Okay. Thank you, Councelor Vic.
» Okay. Thank you, Councelor Vic.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I'm also of
» Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I'm also of
the opinion perhaps we don't need to
dilute this motion. I think I think we
have enough information to proceed as
is. Um to councelor Goule's point, we
resolved on June 23rd to work towards a
long-term shelter strategy. We should be
putting all hands on deck to that end
and resolving to have a permanent
solution in our community for long-term
shelter and having uh temporary
measures. I think um the the friction
that we're facing here is does this
temporary measure could it could it
cause more harm in that neighborhood in
this community than it solves? And that
neighborhood has suffered uh a lot of
disorder. And the question we're facing
with is can can it can that community
can that neighborhood uh take on more?
And unfortunately, I I don't I I think
from from the feedback we've been
receiving, they cannot. There is there's
a tremendous amount of disorder already.
And it's just we're at we're at the
point where it's it's no longer fair to
that neighborhood. So my view would be
let's all hands on deck to to form a
long-term strategy, a long-term shelter
solution that accommodates a cold
weather uh cold weather solution.
>> Uh thank you for that and and and
» Uh thank you for that and and and
council. I I I neglected to mention and
I've got it written right right here in
capital letters and it says new council
and that was primarily the reason that
you know we're making a decision that is
going to encumber uh the new council for
a period of well a year and a half and
and um but I'm I'm willing I'm willing
to accept that. Uh is there anyone else
who wants to jump in before I call the
>> Yes, please.
» Yes, please.
>> Go ahead. Councelor Elliott.
» Go ahead. Councelor Elliott.
>> Uh, thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Um,
» Uh, thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Um,
so as far as long-term, I get it 100%.
Uh, we've been working on this for
decades, but there's so much more work
that has to be done. Um, I'm happy that
the housing solutions table, which I'm
chair of, is meeting next week and this
is uh top of the agenda and and we'll
continue to to carry this forward.
But there needs to be a solution for
this winter coming up in my opinion.
Okay? Everybody wants long-term. There's
no doubt about it. But we have to look
at these individuals in the short term
as well. We have to be able to keep them
warm in the winter so that no one dies.
Okay? This is extremely important to our
community.
Everyone deserves to have heat. Everyone
deserves to have a roof over their head.
And for us to just say, "Yeah, we need a
we need a long-term plan." I think
that's just
I agree with it. But to just put people
out on the street when we could be
keeping them warm is not the right
answer either.
We talked about um fear in the community
of this turning into
an an alternate shelter in the future.
Any decision like this has to come to
council.
So it's not a given. It's it's nothing
that has to take place. We're talking
about a temporary warm shelter and
cooling for people in need, in desperate
need, in minus30 weather.
Come on, people.
The last thing is, okay, I like you said
you like the analogy of the mask on.
Flip that on its head a little bit.
I've got my heat on.
I've got a roof over my head. and a lot
of people don't.
I think we should be helping the most in
need in our community and doing the best
we can and to defer this so that nothing
takes place next winter.
I don't think that's the right solution
at all. Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you, Councelor Elliot. Uh
» Okay. Thank you, Councelor Elliot. Uh
councelor Runge.
>> Thank you, uh, Councelor Elliott. But
» Thank you, uh, Councelor Elliott. But
you know what? In fairness, and it's a
difficult question, but there are other
solutions out there. And to just frame
this as the only solution, I think is
incorrect.
If we were to defeat this today, another
solution could be found. And yes, it
might be, like I said before, a trailer
being pulled in somewhere to another
facility that we already have. We we do
not have to do this. So, you know, just
to frame it as we're going to be t
taking the these uh the roof or the heat
away from people is actually
disingenuous cuz that happens every
single day of the year. And you know
what? Our community, as much as we would
love to, actually doesn't have a
solution for it yet.
>> Okay. Thank you for if you mind,
» Okay. Thank you for if you mind,
>> if you don't mind.
» if you don't mind.
>> Yeah, go ahead, please.
» Yeah, go ahead, please.
>> Okay. Thank you, councelor Ranch. So,
» Okay. Thank you, councelor Ranch. So,
pulling a trailer, a great idea. Where
would you put it? I'll wait.
We have a solution now. I think it's on
us to be courageous and to move forward
with this.
» The questions to you, councelor R.
>> Do you want me to respond to where I
» Do you want me to respond to where I
think I would go?
>> This is not getting us anywhere.
» This is not getting us anywhere.
>> It's not going to get us anywhere right
» It's not going to get us anywhere right
now. So, I think we should go to the
vote. Thank you.
>> Okay. We're going to we're getting close
» Okay. We're going to we're getting close
to
>> Mr. Mayor.
» Mr. Mayor.
>> Oh, sorry. Go ahead, city manager.
» Oh, sorry. Go ahead, city manager.
>> I just want to clarify. So, the
» I just want to clarify. So, the
amendment that's been moved and seconded
is to is to approve it only for one
year. Correct.
>> Negative.
» Negative.
>> It was to approve it for two years with
» It was to approve it for two years with
a with an opportunity to not pause it,
but to review it. And I guess I guess in
in in retrospect, I mean, we re we would
be reviewing this all the way along, but
what I was proposing would be that there
would be an opera a date at which we
could say something or do something
rather than, you know, sporadically
throughout the term of the 2-year lease.
>> Yeah. Okay. So, so to clarify then, my
» Yeah. Okay. So, so to clarify then, my
understanding is the amendment on the
floor is still to do a 2-year
approval with a chance for this to come
back to council at the end of the next
season for to weigh in on success
similar to what happened this past year.
Yes, that that was the gist of the
resolution and I'm going to call a qu
I'm going to in a moment call the
question on the uh on the motion to to
amend and it's it's abundantly obvious
how that's going to turn out but but I
have a after we deal with that I I have
a couple of other comments to make
before be before we call the question on
the main motion. So seeing no more on
the amendment. Uh so all in favor of the
amendment.
All all opposed.
Unanimously opposed. I know how to read
a book. So
>> not unanimously. No. I think that that
» not unanimously. No. I think that that
was a a four to two if I have it correct
because you abstained from voting. Mr.
Mayor.
>> Uh no.
» Uh no.
>> You voted in favor of the amendment. I I
» You voted in favor of the amendment. I I
vote actually I voted against the
amendment.
>> Got it. Okay.
» Got it. Okay.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> I vote in favor of the amendment.
» I vote in favor of the amendment.
>> So that's a that's a 5 to2 defeat.
» So that's a that's a 5 to2 defeat.
>> Okay. We'll we'll put it down down at
» Okay. We'll we'll put it down down at
that. Um before I go ahead uh and call
the question, um I I'd like to put it on
the floor and I'm not going to make a
motion here, but I I would prefer to
defer decision
until next Tuesday's council meeting.
That's only 7 days down the road. uh
that would be at the meeting of July the
20th in order to allow the opportunity
for further public input generated by
the obvious coverage and awareness
that's going to emerge from this
meeting. I I think that there's a a
gallery here that is fairly united in in
approving uh the proposal, but I don't
think that there's a real representation
uh or at least not such a significant uh
representation
from people that are opposed. And uh if
I can be completely candid uh and this
is just my personal feeling that there
seems to be um a sort of a built-in
network of approval but there isn't a
reciprocal network of opposition. I'd
just like to hear any comments on that.
Councelor Rudenberg.
>> So as the chair I think um it you should
» So as the chair I think um it you should
not be making those kind of assumptions
as the chair about what their network is
and isn't. um whether I agree this
should be postponed to next week. I
don't see how it's going to change some
of the the uh comments that have been
made. Um but I I don't think you should
be making that assumption that somebody
didn't get their ducks in a row to come
here and make their thoughts known. Just
as as the chair, I don't think that's
appropriate.
>> Well, well, I accept that, but um we'll
» Well, well, I accept that, but um we'll
see. We'll see see how it shakes out at
the end of the day. And um this really
has nothing to do with in fact well I'll
I'll bring up this other option outside
of the uh the motion that we're going to
vote on. Are we are we ready to for me
to call question on the resolution?
>> Yes. Okay. Are we all in favor of the
» Yes. Okay. Are we all in favor of the
resolution? Hands up.
I see one two
>> Oh, I see two. opposed to the
» Oh, I see two. opposed to the
resolution.
Okay, that is that is defeated.
So, um
so we have that as a matter of record
and and finally um I have I have another
idea here uh that I'd like to pursue and
I think that this um uh can can come to
come to being. I'd like to see some kind
of an online portal and a hard copy drop
off box for people to leave questions,
concerns, recommendations, beefs,
bouquets, etc. Uh that wouldn't wouldn't
only come to the city, but would would
come to the city BC housing, school
board, and shelter support society. In
other words, all of the the major
stakeholders that that are involved in
this. And I'm not I'm not putting that
out out there as a as a a motion, but
that's some that's some direction that
I'd like to see. Tanya, did you you look
like you had a Okay. a comment or a
question.
Okay. Is there anything further for the
uh for the business of council tonight
before I call for a motion to adjourn?
Am I missing anything?
Okay. Motion to adjurnn then, please.
Moved by councelor McKelie, seconded by
councelor Vic. Are we all in favor?
Opposed? Carried. Thank you everyone.