Update: Council discusses shelter site switch

Nov 25, 2019 | 5:15 AM

Update

Councillor Scott Anderson failed to get any support from his fellow councillors for both his motions.

More details to follow.

After floating the idea a couple of weeks ago, a Vernon councillor tries to get support today for his plan to shift where homeless residents can shelter in the city.

Scott Anderson is proposing a ban on camping in Polson Park, and to open the City Hall Plaza to overnight camping, which he feels could get current homeless campers to move away from Vernon, or take action to improve their situation.

Anderson says the camps have turned the park into “an eyesore,” and moving it to the city grounds would put it closer to enforcement departments, and bring the issues closer to local politicians and city administration.

“City hall grounds are close to the police, close to the fire station, close to the same services utilized now, so from a logistical and security perspective, it makes sense. Grouping overnight campers together will make it easier for both the RCMP and Bylaw to fulfill their duties, writes Anderson in a notice of motion.

Anderson goes on to say the change of venue will also send a message to numerous audiences that city hall not only recognizes the problem, but is willing to deal with it directly.

“It tells the citizens of Vernon that local politicians are not aloof from the issue, it tells merchants that they are valued and that the local politicians are doing what we can to alleviate their concerns with concrete action,” said Anderson, a second term councillor, and former interim leader of the BC Conservative Party.

Anderson also wants to change the existing hours of allowable camping to between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., two hours earlier than current.

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