After extensive debate, city of Williams Lake council voted in favour of developing a parks and public use bylaw to help address some issues in the downtown.
The vote at city hall took place during the regular council meeting on July 16 after more than 20 minutes of discussion.
The resolution directs staff to now "prepare a Parks and Public Lands Bylaw for review and consideration, incorporating the requirements for temporary overnight sheltering as endorsed by council in April 2023, and to present additional options and proposals for consideration and further discussion."
Council are hoping to aim the bylaw at addressing concerns around unhoused people and open drug use.
"We have to tackle this a different way and if the bylaw's a place to start then that's what I think we should do, " said Councillor Jazmyn Lyons, noting the goal is to keep everyone safe, including the unhoused community.
A letter from the Salvation Army in the downtown was included in the discussion and prompted strong response from some council, as it pleaded for the city to help as staff of the Salvation Army grapple with what they describe as "escalating drug use" around their buildings in the downtown.
The letter states how staff are picking up trash, including needles and other drug paraphernalia, in an attempt to keep the area clean, but also end up picking up trash overflowing from the city-owned garbage in front of their building as a result of it not being emptied frequently enough.
The city parking lot next to their building was the site of an overdose death, according to the letter, and is reportedly being used for drug sales, use and human defecation.
"As a paying customer for parking, there are times when I feel unsafe going to my vehicle," said Tamara Robinson, director of family services and community outreach, in the letter.
Many on council pointed the finger squarely at the province for not addressing these issues.
Councillor Michael Moses expressed concerns around the resolution and put forward an amendment.
He had proposed the council look at supporting local non profit and service organizations to address the problems, advocating to higher levels of government. He also suggested they first find out what changes are being proposed after an email from the Union of BC Municipalities reportedly notified council of some upcoming changes to shelter criteria legislation by the province. His amendment failed, and the resolution was passed as presented.
Councillor Joan Flaspohler noted she supported the shelter approved for the downtown in what was the Elk's Hall because she hopes it will hopefully help to address some of the issues in the downtown when it is up and running by providing a place for people to be during the day and to connect to services.
Staff will work on a potential bylaw and bring it forward to council for further discussion.
