PRINCE GEORGE – The discussion around the Safe Streets bylaw will be put off until the end of August.
Mayor Lyn Hall and five other Councillors argued more time is needed to meet with stakeholders.
The bylaw would ban certain activities in the community, particularly in the downtown, such as aggressive panhandling.
The controversial proposed Safe Streets bylaw was back on the agenda for fourth and final reading last night. The bylaw passed the first three readings at its last meeting.
But it didn’t take long into the discussion to have it change course.
It was Councillor Cori Ramsay who sought to redirect the discussion, putting forward a motion to defer the decision.
“We need more time to talk to community members,” stated Ramsay. “Policing our way out of this is not the answer.”
She suggested the issue come back to Council on October 4th. And the motion was seconded by Councillor Susan Scott.
“I think 400 citizens have expressed themselves. We need to pause and do a little more and be a little more thoughtful.”
But those who supported the bylaw in the first three readings were quick out of the gate.
“Why are we postponing it?” Questioned Councillor Kyle Sampson. “Are we Postponing it for the sake of postponing it because it makes a few people uncomfortable. We’re taking longer to ripe off the band aid.
He suggested that Council is only “kicking the can down the road,” and went on to suggest this gives other troublemakers carte blanche to come to this community.
“We have to take back the streets,” stressed Counicillor Brian SkaunSkakun. ” The business owners are wits’ end.”
Councillor Terri McConnachie also opposed putting off the decision.
“I’ve heard a lot of compassion, fear, hope and blame, frankly. The Safe Streets bylaw does does penalize the homeless.”
“We need to get this right. I think we are creating a monster here,” stated Counillor Murry Krause, who voted against the first three readings. As did Councillor Frank Everitt.
“This is not a new struggle. The bylaw does fix [the problem].”
Mayor Lyn Hall and Councillor Garth Frizzell also supported a delay but pushed up the delay to the end of August. That amendment was passed six to five by Council.
