Council is one step closer to a decision in the encampment debate.
Following a presentation by Director of Housing Services Kim Crew, council decided to walk back the 100 metre encampment setback rule that was voted through on August 11.
Councillor Rhonda Jubenville requested that the distance from private residences and businesses be reduced from 100 metres to 25 metres.
Council members voted 10 to 6 in favour of reconsidering the amendments to the Municipal Encampment Protocol.
During the discussion, councillors Conor Allin, Michael Bondy, Ryan Doyle, Amy Finn, and Mayor Darrin Canniff voiced opposition to reducing the setback distance from 100 metres to 25 metres. Councillor Alysson Storey was absent from the meeting, and councillor Marjorie Crew abstained due to a conflict of interest.
“Housing services, along with our outreach partners, will continue engagement attempts with individuals sheltering outdoors with the intent to connect them to the appropriate support and services,” said Crew.
By reducing the setback rules in the Chatham-Kent Municipal Encampment Protocol and Bylaw, administration was authorized to re-include the PUC McGeorge property and PUC Irwin water tower back into potential encampment location options. The current encampment at the PUC property on Grand Avenue East will remain where it is.
“Relocating is not easy, and as such, we wouldn’t expect immediate or enthused cooperation,” said Crew.
“We will make decisions about required services at various locations, such as dumpsters, garbage services, as well as porta-johns services. These services take approximately one week to set up after those decisions are made.”
Crew told council that if directed, administration will continue to look outside Chatham to find available property options that meet protocol requirements.
Director of Legal Services, Dave Taylor, advised council against only selecting one location for outdoor sheltering as it would effectively create an outdoor municipal shelter, admitting that administration is not aware of any Ontario municipality that has formally sanctioned a particular property for outdoor sheltering on municipal lands.
“Based on legal knowledge that has been presented to council and the public tonight, removing encampments in Chatham-Kent is not an option, sanctioning one site is not an option,” said Jubenville.
“I would like to spread the impact of encampments around Chatham-Kent instead of focusing on one neighbourhood or one site.”
Council also approved that the encampment committee be authorized to spend up to $100,000 from CK strategic reserves, per site, providing infrastructure supports like privacy fencing, to enhance community well-being.
The encampment bylaw vote, which was also moved to last night’s meeting, passed 15 to 1, with councillor Bondy voting against. Enforcing the Encampment Response Protocol was sourced to Royal Protective Services at a total value of $238,882 to be funded from the Housing Services Operation Reserve.
