Grand Forks city council gave first three readings to the Parks and Public Spaces Access bylaw on Monday, which would make it harder to set-up camp around town. This bylaw replaces the Parks Access and Off-Highway Vehicle Regulation bylaws with an updated set of rules. It would see anyone being within a park between 11PM and 6AM prohibited, while also allowing a homeless person to reside in temporary shelters in designated parks between 7PM and 9AM.
Councillor Chris Moslin explains:
“This bylaw tells you what you can’t do, but really what is being said is what you can do. If you are homeless, if you have no fixed address, no predictable home to go to and you’re in need of shelter, you can set up camp….”
There are 5 parks where temporary shelters are prohibited, City Park, Gyro, Lois Hagen, Barbara Anne, and Sugimoto Park. Playgrounds, sports courts and fields, cemeteries, bridges, and trails are just a few of the other prohibited places.
Councillor Christine Thompson says despite some concerns mostly surrounding language, she would hate to see this pushed back:
“I think we need to proceed and work with this bylaw, and if we find that there are parts of it that aren’t working as well or not working at all, they can always be amended at a later date, but I really don’t want to see this held up.”
Mayor Brian Taylor says he agrees with Councillor Thompson in that we need the rules even if they’re not perfect:
“It could use some refinement, and circumstances are changing, but I think we need to have rules and I think there’s been a really good effort by our staff to put this together in a meaningful way, looking at what other communities are doing.”
One amendment was concerning prohibited vehicles in public areas, allowing pedal assisted electric bicycles were designated.