The latest Council action aimed at improving health, security, and cleanliness downtown
During its August 30 meeting, Council voted to pass a new bylaw to help make the streets, sidewalks, and alleys of Prince George safer for all residents. The Safe Streets Bylaw, which is now in effect, is a means to address overtly anti-social behaviour in public, including aggressive panhandling, littering, sidewalk obstruction, graffiti, open drug use, needle disposal, as well as the creation of structures, temporary shelters, and campfires.
The Community Charter provides Council with the authority to address through its bylaws nuisances, disturbances, and other objectionable situations, such as graffiti and public indecency. Previously, the City did not have any specific City bylaws to help Bylaw Services staff to manage these issues.
The overall purpose of bylaw enforcement is to gain voluntary compliance, not to criminalize. The Safe Streets Bylaw is designed to remove any questions of interpretation by using plain language and setting out clear expectations of behavior in the downtown and throughout Prince George.
In recent years, calls for service related to social issues at the City of Prince George has seen a marked increase:
Year | Needles | Other: i.e. tents, open drug-use, human waste, etc. |
2017 | 6 | 149 |
2018 | 158 | 911 |
2019 | 294 | 802 |
2020 | 497 | 1796 |
As of August 26* | 305* | 1184* |
The Safe Streets Bylaw passed first three readings at the June 14 Council meeting, and was due for final reading at the June 28, but Council opted to delay final reading to provide more time for additional public consultation.
UBCM resolution approved
Also during last night’s Council meeting, Council approved a resolution from the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Resolutions that the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) and Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) petition the provincial government and BC Housing to ensure the provision of a range of housing option for homeless individuals including no barrier housing options and services.
A series of Council actions to improve health, security, and cleanliness downtown
The adoption of the Safe Streets Bylaw is the latest in a series of Council actions taken in just the past few years aimed at addressing social issues in the community, particularly the downtown area.
On August 14, the City announced nearly $2 Million in Provincial and Federal Government funding for the City of Prince George’s Community Safety Hub. The almost $2 Million in funding, which is allocated via the Union of BC Municipalities’ Strengthening Communities Services Grant Program, will be used by the City in several important ways including increased security and RCMP patrols, improved cleaning and sanitation, and a service and drop-in centre for unsheltered homeless.
As part of this, the City is also engaged in hiring two outreach workers to work directly with Bylaw staff. When the Safe Streets Bylaw is being utilized with members of vulnerable populations, an outreach worker will attend to provide on-site assistance.
Last week, the City filed an application in the BC Supreme Court seeking an order for the safe and orderly transition of the occupants at the encampments on George Street and Lower Patricia Boulevard. The City is working with BC Housing to prepare the occupants to leave the encampments and move to accommodations that best meet their needs. A hearing is expected to be scheduled by the Court during the week of September 13.
Further information about City initiatives aimed at improving cleanliness, safety, health, and inclusion in the downtown are available on the City website.