Vernon’s mayor knows the homeless issue will continue to create challenges for the city.
In November, the city moved into homeless camps and shut them down, and Akbal Mund says that could occur again in 2017.
“If there are health and safety concerns, we will consider taking them down,” he said.
However, Mund insists the city doesn’t make arbitrary decisions and before a camp is removed, discussions are held with social agencies, largely to ensure there is space in local homeless shelters.
“We’ve done a very good job of handling the situation.”
Mund also says that bylaw staff have developed communications with the street population.
“They are people and we need to treat them with respect.”
But while camps may be removed, Mund believes other options for addressing homelessness must be pursued and he wants to continue federal-provincial partnerships for affordable housing.
“If we don’t move in that direction, there will be issues.”
Another priority for the city in 2017 is criminal activity, particularly in the downtown core.
“There is a lot of petty crime but our RCMP detachment has been responsive. We have strong leadership there,” said Mund, adding that the city has invested money towards surveillance cameras.
And like other communities, another focus in the new year will be economic development and trying to create jobs.
“More people are looking at Vernon,” said Mund, adding that the main draws are the lifestyle, amenities and proximity to Kelowna International Airport.
“We have to keep promoting Vernon as a great place to live.”
Mund anticipates investors and residents from the Lower Mainland and Calgary may be attracted to Vernon because it isn’t highly urbanized.
“You can still get from one side of town to the other side of town in five or six minutes. Go to Kelowna and see how long it takes.”
As part of the strategy of containing potential sprawl, the city is encouraging density downtown and specifically residential housing. An example of that is the Hamlets, which is under construction on 29th Avenue.
“That’s the future — commercial/retail on the bottom floor and residential above,” said Mund.
In terms of recreation, expansion of Kal Tire Place will get underway this spring.
Once the new facility is completed, hockey will no longer occur at the historic Civic Arena. However, that doesn’t mean Civic will be demolished.
“Council would like to maintain the arena. We have to determine what to do with it and the renovation costs,” said Mund.