Napanee council hears update from CAO on homelessness strategy

The Council of the Town of Greater Napanee heard a brief update at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, on what has been going on behind the scenes since a special meeting was held earlier this month to discuss the rising problem of homelessness in the town.

Mayor Terry Richardson noted, “At our September 3 meeting, we had a public meeting with some deputations, with respect to the unhoused persons or homeless situation we have in the municipality. We had approximately 240 people attend. 760 [people] were tuning in live to the meeting, and since that time we've had over 2,700 views. So it appears it's very, very important to our municipality.”

He asked Town Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Matthew Grant to give an update, saying that Grant had "some very good ideas going forward. He'll be looking for some direction, I believe. But I would like to ask Mr. Grant to just advise everyone here tonight and all those watching… where we're going to go with this.”

Grant began by pointing out that he had spoken to many members of the public and Council about varied concerns. 

“There's a couple of different stages I think we should reiterate, a couple of things we're doing already that we should talk about, and then also a plan moving forward,” the CAO said.

He reminded Council first that current case law states that “if there is not enough housing or shelter space --- and in Napanee, there is currently no shelter space, but if there's not enough --- then you can't remove people from all public spaces. And so that is a matter of managing the issue.”

"We are working with our partners, PELASS (Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Social Services), who are responsible for housing and homelessness, as well as our other partners. But there's a number of things in our toolbox that we're going to bring forward in the coming weeks and... months," Grant said.

In the immediate future, he said, staff would be bringing forward a parks bylaw that encompasses an encampment protocol specifically designed to give predictability to the community about where encampments are and are not allowed. 

"That particular protocol would suggest distances from sensitive areas, including playgrounds, day cares, that sort of thing. And it also recommends a broader sensitive area, which we had recommended as Conservation Park," he said.

Grant indicated that beginning on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, an online engagement portal will be opened: “It will provide some education opportunities for people to learn about what we are doing, what our mandate is.” 

“By way of reminder, we're responsible for land use and parks,” he stated, referring to the Town of Greater Napanee, but he noted again that he has been working with “our partners responsible for law enforcement, the OPP,” as well as PELASS, and Addictions and Mental Health Services of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (AMHS-KFLA).

The online portal, Grant said, will allow residents "to provide input on the parks bylaw, about parks use more broadly, as well as the encampment protocols specifically.” 

Then, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, there will be another public meeting at the Best and Bash Arena. 

“We will have a facilitated session, inclusive of our partners, where people will be able to say what it is that we're already doing, whether it be law enforcement... PELASS... the Town of greater Napanee, we are working in concert on this really challenging issue... Members of the community will have the opportunity to ask questions [and] provide feedback on... the recommendations.”

He reiterated his desire for parks management to "[create] predictability for both the unhoused and the housed to minimize negative interactions. And we would like to hear from the public so we can provide Council with the most informed recommendations.”

One priority he noted is fire safety, explaining, “It's one of the larger risks, and you can expect the fire chief to come forward with some information in short order.” 

"I've been in discussions with the fire chief, who's been looking at fire legislation to make sure we have done everything in our power to minimize the possibility of harm to both those that are living unhoused and those that are housed as a result of this issue. Council can expect us to bring forward a report on our strategy around using our full ability under that legislation to make sure we've done everything in our power... from a risk mitigation perspective,” Grant explained.

“One of the other opportunities we have is an encroachment bylaw.”

He noted public complaints and concerns “with respect to materials being placed on public sidewalks that make it difficult for people to pass [or that] may present a risk or a fire risk... you can expect us to bring forward some things for Council's consideration on how we manage encroachment on public property.”

“Further, we can look at items such as boarding houses. In light of recent events where there was a fire and an unfortunate death, the team has been discussing what is within our power and authority... to make sure that we not only support the ability for transitional housing, but we also make sure there's no unintended consequences for those particular facilities maybe not operating the way as intended,“ Grant continued.

“There'll be a number of other things we might be able to bring forward, but those are the kinds of things that we're looking at. They'll come forward in the coming months. They won't all come at once, because they're going to take some some time and attention to review.”

“It is our intention, and we believe the will of Council,” he concluded, “that we... look at all the tools in our toolbox and do so fairly and equitably, but to make sure we manage this issue to the best of our ability. Knowing we're not in a position to solve [homelessness], we will remain committed to working with our partners to manage it as best we can."

Councillor Dave Pinnell asked if “something in our toolbox” would be to ask staff to increase the number of garbage cans in the parks and also install some “needle boxes.”

He added, “Not that Council promotes the using of needles. We don't even know if the boxes... or the garbage cans will be used, but I can assure you that by not having them out there, they're not going to be used. So I'm just wondering if this would be the right time to ask if we could increase and supply those items.”

Grant responded that there had been discussions already amongst the partners and, “we can certainly explore that, if it is the will of Council that we look at expanding the ability to provide garbage receptacles. But more specifically, needle drop boxes, if it is the will of Council for us to pursue that, I would recommend a resolution to that effect, and then staff will take a look at how best we can do that. I would recommend we bring back a report to say 'this is specifically where we put them[and] this is how they're going to be handled.' But I would say now would be the time, Councillor.”

Pinnell took the opportunity to make a motion “that Council direct staff to bring back a report to supply and install additional garbage cans and needle drop boxes.”

Grant was careful to add that the staff report would involve “stages” of work to be completed. 

“I just wanted to set expectations. It'll be phased work. I would suggest [regarding] the work that's going to happen sooner than later, those budget proposals will be a bit more defined. I think work that is further out... would be more general in nature, in terms of our estimates,” he clarified.

Councillor Mike Schenk then expressed admiration for the efforts of the new CAO and the Town staff: “I just want to say to all the staff that are sending these emails, thank you so much. It's working as a team, giving us the information, giving us the facts, you know... and Matthew, I think it's just fantastic." 

But he apologized for not always answering the frequent messages and emails: "I see this beep, beep, beep, and everybody's saying thank you… does nobody work? But all I'm saying is ‘Thank you.’”

Mayor Richardson observed that Schenk had “opened up a door for a big discussion there… but we're just going to leave it for now.”

The staff report is expected at the next meeting of Council, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Meetings can be viewed virtually (or watched afterward) on the Napanee Town Council YouTube channel, or attended in person in Council Chambers at Napanee Town Hall, located 124 John Street. Further information about Council meetings, including agendas and reports, is available on the Town’s CivicWeb portal.