Resolution seeks to ban unauthorized camping in the city
Commerical properties in Fort St. John’s downtown core have been plagued with collections of unauthorized structures in recent months, as warmer weather has allowed the city’s homeless population to eschew the shelter in favour of more independent accommodations.
Both residents and businesses have complained to the city about the tents, which have sprung up behind businesses, in parking lots, alleyways and empty lots throughout the city. Not only do a number of the business owners and their staff feel intimidated by the residents of the structures, but their prescence is something of an eyesore.
Councillor Trevor Bolin proposed a resolution at Monday’s council meeting to hopefully find a way of dealing with the issue.
"THAT, Council direct staff to review current City bylaws to determine options to manage soft-sided (tents, tarps, lean-to's) camping on public property and properties zoned commercial, AND THAT, staff provides a report for Council's consideration."
Councillor Byron Stewart asked why the resolution was only focussed on commercial properties, and didn’t include institutional, residential, or industrial properties.
Bolin replied that he left those types of properties out of the resolution because he felt there are very few institutional properties in the city where soft-sided structures are likely to be set up.
“Residential is a tough one,” he said, “because I believe that if people want to have camping in their backyard, their kids should be able to set up a tent in their backyard, so I left that out.”
Several councillors raised concerns about the forested areas at various elementary schools in the city, schools being institutional properties. Councillor Gord Klassen suggested that institutional properties be added to the resolution, along with a disclaimer that school planned events be allowed, but not “outsiders using school property as a place to put up tents.”
Bolin agreed, adding that what he is trying to achieve with this resolution involves walking a “fine, fine line between criminalising the homeless, and making a bylaw that prevents tents in the downtown.”
Klassen said he thinks it’s important to include institutional properties in the resolution because it is a safety issue. The forested areas are near playgrounds, and also being trees, can pose a fire risk.
Following the dicussion, the amended resolution reads:
“THAT, Council direct staff to review current City bylaws to determine options to manage soft-sided (tents, tarps, lean-to's) camping on public property and properties zoned commercial and industrial as well as properties zoned institutional, excluding events planned by that property holder. AND THAT, staff provides a report for Council's consideration."