Community and Public Services Committee Minutes

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

9:30 A.m. - 5:00 P.m.

Council Chamber, 2nd floor, City Hall

Present:

• K. Principe, 
• J. Rice, 
• A. Knack, 
• A. Paquette, 
• and A. Sohi 

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1.

Call to Order and Related Business

1.1

Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement

Councillor K. Principe called the meeting to order at 9:31 a.m., Tuesday, April 11, 2023, and acknowledged that Community and Public Services Committee meets on the traditional land of Treaty 6 Territory. The Chair also acknowledged the diverse Indigenous peoples whose ancestors' footsteps have marked this territory for centuries such as: Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Nakota Sioux, as well as Metis and Inuit, and now settlers from around the world.

1.2

Roll Call

Councillor K. Principe conducted roll call and confirmed the attendance of Members of Community and Public Services Committee.

Mayor A. Sohi is a Committee Member pursuant to section 15(3), Council Committees Bylaw 18156.

Councillors T. Cartmell, M. Janz, E. Rutherford, A. Salvador, A. Stevenson, K. Tang and J. Wright; and R. Yusuf, B. Webster and J. Shearer, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: A. Sohi

  That the April 11, 2023, Community and Public Services Committee meeting agenda be adopted.

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Paquette, A. Sohi, J. Rice, and K. Principe

  Carried (5 to 0)

1.4

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by: A. Knack

  That the minutes from the following meetings be approved:

  • March 20, 2023, Community and Public Services Committee
  • March 24, 2023, Community and Public Services Committee - Non-Regular

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Paquette, A. Sohi, J. Rice, and K. Principe

  Carried (5 to 0)

1.5

Protocol Items

1.

Austin O'Brien School (K. Principe)

Councillor K. Principe, on behalf of Community and Public Services Committee, welcomed the class from Austin O'Brien School in Ward Métis and their teachers, K. Smith and A. Harasem.

2.

40th Anniversary of Alberta Women's Shelters (A. Paquette)

Councillor A. Paquette, on behalf of Community and Public Services Committee, recognized the 40th Anniversary of Alberta Women's Shelters.

2.

Items for Discussion and Related Business

2.1

Select Items for Debate

The following items were selected for debate: 7.1 and 7.2.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

All items were selected for debate.

2.3

Requests to Speak

• Moved by: J. Rice

  That Community and Public Services Committee hear from the following speakers, in panels when appropriate:

  • 7.1 Enhanced Encampment and Unsheltered Homelessness Response Plan
    1. C. Wiebe, Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association Policing Committee
    2. M. Mulder, 'Staying Outside is not a Preference' research team
    3. K. Hamelin, 'Staying Outside is not a Preference' research team
    4. J. McFeeters, 'Staying Outside is not a Preference' research team
    5. C. Cornejo, 'Staying Outside is not a Preference' research team
    6. S. Hammerschmidt, Chinatown and Area Business Improvement Association
    7. P. Luu, Chinatown and Area Business Improvement Association
    8. C. Noble, Bissell Centre
    9. J. Morgan, Water Warriors YEG
    10. W. Lau, Chinatown Safety Council
    11. K. Scoffield
    12. S. Pak

  In Favour (5)

  A. Knack, A. Paquette, A. Sohi, J. Rice, and K. Principe

  Carried (5 to 0)

2.4

Requests for Specific Time on Agenda

There were no requests for items to be dealt with at a specific time on the agenda.

3.

Councillor Inquiries

There were no Councillor Inquiries.

4.

Reports to be Dealt with at a Different Meeting

4.1

Tree Management for the William Hawrelak Park Rehabilitation Project

This report is scheduled to be dealt with at the May 2, 2023, Urban Planning Committee meeting.

Due Date: May 2, 2023, Urban Planning Committee

5.

Requests to Reschedule Reports

There were no Requests to Reschedule Reports. 

6.

Unfinished Business

There was no Unfinished Business on the agenda.

7.

Public Reports

7.1

Enhanced Encampment and Unsheltered Homelessness Response Plan

The following member of Administration’s delegation made a presentation: 

• J. Flaman, Deputy City Manager, Community Services

The following public speaker made a presentation: 

• K. Scoffield

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• C. Wiebe, Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association Policing Committee 
• M. Mulder, 'Staying Outside is not a Preference' research team
• J. McFeeters, 'Staying Outside is not a Preference' research team
• K. Hamelin, 'Staying Outside is not a Preference' research team
• C. Cornejo, 'Staying Outside is not a Preference' research team
• C. Noble, Bissell Centre
• J. Morgan, Bissell Centre
• W. Lau, Chinatown Safety Council

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• J. Flaman, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
• C. Kjenner, Community Services
• D. Jones, Community Services
• I. Hoogenboom, Community Services
• J. Wilson, Employee Services
• S. Gellatly, Community Services
• S. Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and Corporate Services
• J. Liddle, Office of the City Manager (Legal Services)

The following member of the delegation answered questions:

• S. McGee, Homeward Trust

• Moved by: A. Paquette

  That Community and Public Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  1. That Administration provide a report that identifies appropriate partners / stakeholders to develop a prototype to create bridge pathways from homelessness to housing and recovery and provide a report to including an update on any budget implications, funding sources, and necessary agreements, with consideration of the following criteria:

  • receiving guidance from a circle of elders and knowledge keepers; and
  • that any potential transition spaces identified provide access to clean water, washrooms, waste services, sacred fire, security, personal storage, safe disposal, and transportation to support services.

  2. That Administration extend the current expression of interest deadline for an Indigenous-led Shelter by 30 days and expand the current requirements for EOIs to include consideration of proposals with non-traditional locations including but not limited to outdoor, greenspace, or tiny home configurations, etc.

  With the unanimous consent of Community and Public Services Committee, Councillor A. Paquette withdrew the motion on the floor.

  Withdrawn

   

  The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

  • J. Flaman, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
  • C. Kjenner, Community Services
  • D. Jones, Community Services
  • I. Hoogenboom, Community Services

  The following member of the delegation answered questions:

  • S. McGee, Homeward Trust
  
  
• Moved by: K. Principe

  That the April 11, 2023, Community Services report CS01637, be received for information.

  In Favour (4)

  A. Knack, A. Paquette, J. Rice, and K. Principe

  Carried (4 to 0)

• Subsequent Motion

  Moved by: A. Paquette

  That Community and Public Services Committee recommend to City Council:

  That Administration provide a report that identifies appropriate partners / stakeholders to develop a prototype to create bridge pathways from homelessness to housing and recovery and provide a report to including an update on any budget implications, funding sources, and necessary agreements, with consideration of the following criteria:

  • receiving guidance from a circle of elders and knowledge keepers; and
  • that any potential transition spaces identified provide access to clean water, washrooms, waste services, sacred fire, security, personal storage, safe disposal, and transportation to support services.

  Councillors A. Paquette and J. Rice requisitioned the subsequent motion to City Council.

  
  

7.2

Bylaw 20472 - Amendment to Bylaw 14126 Youth Council Bylaw

The following member of Administration’s delegation answered questions: 

• A. Giesbrecht, City Clerk

• Moved by: J. Rice

  That Community and Public Services Committee recommend to City Council: 

  That Bylaw 20472 be given the appropriate readings. 

  In Favour (4)

  A. Knack, A. Paquette, J. Rice, and K. Principe

  Carried (4 to 0)

8.

Responses to Councillor Inquiries

There were no Responses to Councillor Inquiries on the agenda.

9.

Private Reports

There were no Private Reports on the agenda.

10.

Motions Pending

There were no Motions Pending on the agenda.

11.

Notices of Motion and Motions without Customary Notice

11.1

Monthly Update on the Transit Safety Plan and the Downtown Core (A. Paquette)

Councillor A. Paquette stated that at the next regular meeting of City Council, the following motion would be moved:

That Administration provide a monthly verbal update to Council on the progress of the Transit Safety Plan and the Downtown Core until such a time that Council is satisfied with the progress on this work. 

• Notice of Motion Given: April 11, 2023, Community and Public Services Committee
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

12.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:59 p.m., Tuesday, April 11, 2023.