Council likes “no camping” bylaw
Victoria City council’s Governance and Priorities Committee voted Thursday to send the proposed anti-camping bylaw to a final reading.
The committee, made up of members of council, endorsed the bylaw which would forbid camping on City medians and boulevards and would bar trespassing on medians after dark. The bylaw is intended to break up the Pandora Avenue tent city and reduce the increasing number of pedestrian/vehicle collisions.
Mayor Dean Fortin talks to the media after Council voted to send the anti-camping bylaw to final reading. Photo by Robert Randall © VibrantVictoria.ca.
Council voted to allow public comment on September 23 so that citizens could give feedback on the bylaw before it becomes official. Normally, public hearings and not held for bylaws dealing with streets and boulevards.
Councillor Phillipe Lucas was the lone “no” vote, saying council should delay introduction of the bylaw so that additional research could be made on the causes and consequences of homelessness and its relation to addictions. Claiming HIV/AIDS and Hep C were deadlier than nearby speeding traffic, Lucas reiterated his call for increased harm-reduction services, including a fixed needled exchange site. Lucas also recommended traffic calming measures on Pandora avenue in order to slow down traffic passing by the tent city.
Mayor Fortin abruptly cut off Lucas saying there was no link between harm reduction services and the problem of mind-altered pedestrians blindly wandering into traffic at all hours. Fortin said speed bumps would serve as a “launching pad” for cars and cyclists coming down the avenue, rather than making the street safer. A visibly angry Lucas insisted the bylaw would increase long-term problems on the boulevard.
The City says 14,000 to 15,000 vehicles a day come down Pandora Avenue. Vic PD reports that collisions on the block this year are up 58 per cent.
Councillors Chris Coleman and Sonya Chandler were absent from the meeting. Final hearing and vote is scheduled for September 24, the day after the public are invited to speak to council on the subject.
To discuss homelessness on the VibrantVictoria discussion forum, click here.
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Responses to this Headline or Article
The five most recent replies to VibrantVictoria.ca's discussion forum's Victoria homelessness / drug abuse issues thread, the most relevant thread to the above headline or article:
Yippy Ki A
Jan 24, 2012 at 6:31 pmI've been trying without much luck to find the articles quoting dean on the success.
martini
Jan 24, 2012 at 6:35 pmQuote: I've been trying without much luck to find the articles quoting dean on the success.
Quote: "This is a great day," said Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin. "This is a rare opportunity to add a significant number of rental units to the affordable and supportive housing supply, and is a big step forward in our efforts to end homelessness in our region."
The city will use its debt-reduction reserves to pay the purchase price and absorb $386,000 in taxes that were mostly owed to the city.
The 68-unit Traveller's Inn on Gorge Road will be renovated into about 39 units.
Yippy Ki A
Jan 24, 2012 at 6:41 pm"Fortin puts a positive spin on the delayed projects: the 710 Queens St. property already houses 36 people with supports; 120 Gorge Rd. is stalled due to a difference of vision with the housing operator, but “we’re on budget. We’re fine.” Victoria news 11/04/11"
Guess were not so fine now?
JohnN
Jan 24, 2012 at 6:42 pmSome Fortin quotes on this housing topic in:
New year brings new hope for tackling homelessness
Victoria affordable housing project launches
Fortin's inaugural address, Dec 2011
Quote: I've been trying without much luck to find the articles quoting dean on the success.
Bingo
Jan 24, 2012 at 6:43 pmQuote: I've been trying without much luck to find the articles quoting dean on the success.
Is this it?
