Here’s a breakdown of the key points from the provided text about the councillor’s outlook on shelter site selection:
Councillor Lily Cheng‘s Stance:
Supports new shelters: She is in favor of the new shelters being established in her ward.
Critiques the site selection process: Her main concern is the timing of community consultation.
Advocates for earlier consultation: She believes residents should be involved earlier in the process to encourage participation and build trust.
Highlights the erosion of trust: She states that the current process is damaging the already fragile trust between residents and the city.
councillor Brad Bradford’s agreement:
Supports earlier discussions: He agrees with Councillor Cheng that more and earlier discussions are needed for the selected sites and any future ones.
Points to public input: he uses the five hours of deputations from residents as evidence that the public has more to say.
Councillor Mike Colle’s Perspective:
Acknowledges complexity: He recognizes that creating shelter sites is a complex process and it’s tough to satisfy everyone, especially regarding safety concerns. Emphasizes respecting concerns: He believes it’s natural for people to be worried about changes in their communities and that these concerns should be respected.
City Staff’s response and Process:
Accountability for safety: Staff stated that each shelter location will be accountable for what happens inside and outside the facility.
24/7 staffing and partnerships: Shelters will be staffed around the clock and will partner with police and crisis services to manage issues.
Ongoing shelter development: 13 more shelters are in the process of being selected and built as part of a 10-year plan.
Councillor input welcome: Councillors from other wards are encouraged to suggest potential shelter locations.
Consultation timing: Staff believe consultations are most prosperous after a site is selected, to help with integration.
Site selection criteria: Hundreds of locations are considered, with a focus on space, transit accessibility, and proximity to healthcare.
* Purpose of the 10-year plan: The plan to create 20 shelters aims to replace expensive COVID-19 era shelter hotels.
Overall Theme:
The core issue highlighted is the tension between the need for more shelters and the process of selecting their locations. While there’s general support for the shelters themselves, there’s a strong call from some councillors for a more obvious and inclusive site selection process that involves residents earlier to foster trust and address community concerns.
