Prince George city council is moving ahead with plans to deal with homeless encampments in the city. Those measures include clearing out the camp in Millennium Park and hiring two additional police officers.
The homeless camp at Lower Patricia Boulevard will become a designated place for homeless people.
Council Monday agreed to proceed with proposed amendments to bring the Parks & Open Space Bylaw in line with the current law. The previous version of the bylaw prohibited overnight sheltering in all parks and municipally-owned open spaces. Such blanket prohibitions have been found by courts in British Columbia and beyond to be unconstitutional if sufficient shelter space is not available.
The amendments were last considered on April 12, when council voted to delay final reading in order to hear further input from the community and continue discussions with the province. Having done so, council voted Monday to allow temporary overnight sheltering at a single site, located in the area of Lower Patricia Boulevard presently protected for this purpose by court order.
Also approved were measures to address public safety concerns, including funding for two additional police officers, who will be dedicated to the new Provincial Repeat Violent Offender Intervention Initiative; a neighbourhood crime prevention pilot program headed by a specialized contractor; and measures to begin the process of remediating Millennium Park.
Council continues to support the province as it works to implement the infrastructure and supports required to house the most vulnerable in the community, and end encampments in B.C. municipalities.
Coun. Trudy Klassen was the only councillor to vote against the motion, saying she doesn’t believe the Lower Patricia Boulevard encampment has the capacity to handle an influx of more homeless people.