City council approved a new parks and public land bylaw aimed at addressing tents on public property in Williams Lake.
At their regular council meeting on Nov. 19, council approved the bylaw in a vote of five to one with no discussion.
The new bylaw replaces the existing Parks Management Bylaw from 1986, with a goal of "better managing maintaining, improving, operating and controlling the use of public property in city limits."
Previous readings of the bylaw had resulted in extensive discussion, however, the conversation this time only related to the fines associated with the bylaw notice enforcement amendment. The amendment designates penalties and the cost of fines associated with enforcement of the bylaw.
"How do you draw blood from a stone? How do you get money from somebody that doesn't have any?" asked Coun. Angie Delainey, noting she supports the bylaw itself but wonders how the fines would work in reality.
Gary Muraca, chief administrative officer for the city said the enforcement options were not written solely for homeless people, but are also meant to take into account transient workers such as tree planters. He said bylaw enforcement always starts with education.
Coun. Michael Moses noted unpaid fines could also be a setback for people who are recovering from addiction and associated homelessness, while he also acknowledged the city needs tools to maintain public safety.
Muraca again said the goal is to educate and provide resources and move people from areas needed for public recreation or children's day camp activities.
"Our intent is not to fine anybody," he said.
The new bylaw will allow the city to identify which public spaces can be used to erect overnight shelters when shelters are full.
Council plans to discuss where to allow temporary shelters, with council members making it clear during discussion they hope to not have tents in Boitanio Park next summer.
