Cold Lake, AB – Cold Lake City Council passed several motions directed at safety issues caused by an increase in vagrancy, panhandling, unpermitted camping and unpermitted fires within the city.

Council took steps to curb loitering in commercial laneways, directed peace officers and local law enforcement to heighten the enforcement of safety concerns related to vagrancy, and also passed a motion to make residents aware of potential unpermitted camping that may cause safety concerns and create a liability for landowners whose property the camping has taken place on.

“It’s no secret that, for a variety of reasons, more people are having a tough time getting by and there is a feeling that there is an increase in vagrancy, aggressive panhandling, property crimes and social disorder,” Mayor Craig Copeland said. “While these issues are not unique to our community, we must take action to help the vulnerable and protect our residents. We are extending programs and services to provide people in need with support, and taking steps to protect residents from the public safety issues that have been identified.”

Council passed first reading on a bylaw that would see amendments to the Community Standards Bylaw to restrict loitering in commercial lanes. The amendments would make it an offence to loiter in a commercial lane between the hours of 12:00 a.m. (Midnight) and 6:00 a.m. Exceptions would be made for adjacent property owners, business owners, employees and people with legitimate business in properties along the commercial lane. The offence would be punishable with a $200 fine.

“We know that this measure alone will not eliminate crime, but it will be a tool that law enforcement can use to ensure criminals are not using commercial laneways as a cover for illegal activity,” Copeland said. “This would give law enforcement the ability to interact with people who are behaving suspiciously behind businesses during the times when many crimes are occurring. It would also allow property owners to report suspicious activity in commercial lanes in a way that is actionable by law enforcement. Some of our businesses have suffered significant losses and they deserve a meaningful response.” 

In order to come into effect, this bylaw will need to pass a second and then a third reading.  Prior to second and third reading, a non-statuary public hearing will be held for residents to voice their perspectives. The dates for the hearing will be published on the City’s website and advertised in the local media and through social media.

In a separate motion, council directed administration to further heighten the enforcement of safety concerns related to vagrancy, inclusive of loitering, public intoxication, public disturbances, sleeping in public places, panhandling, as well as unpermitted camping and unpermitted fires.

“This motion serves as direction to our administration that we will make every reasonable effort to ensure our peace officers and local law enforcement are aware of our council’s public safety concerns,” Cold Lake Chief Administrative Officer, Kevin Nagoya said. “We will work with our peace officers and local RCMP detachment to ensure the concerns are heard, and that the appropriate enforcement is planned and actioned.”

Finally, council passed a motion directing administration to make local landowners aware of potential liability and safety concerns posed by unpermitted camping and unpermitted fires. First responders have increasingly been in contact with temporary shelters and camps throughout the city, many of which have been the site of unpermitted fires on private properties.

“We do not know if the landowners are unaware of the situation or if they may be allowing these temporary shelters and camps to exist on their property,” Nagoya said. “In the event of a fire, landowners can be billed for the response, plus wildfires can grow to the point where an extensive and expensive response is required and resulting damages to other properties. Council felt that the safety hazard, coupled with the potential liability that landowners could face, merits some education on the matter. When the City becomes aware of a camp, temporary shelter or an unpermitted fire on private property, we will be notifying the landowner, so that they can take the steps they need to prevent property damage and mitigate any associated liability.”

City staff have been able to identify at least 28 sites that at one point, were being used as temporary shelters within the City of Cold Lake. Fire-Rescue has been responding to several unpermitted fires associated with a temporary shelter or camp, many of which grew in size rapidly due to the surrounding vegetation and personal effects which fuel these fires.

“We know these are complex issues that many communities are facing and our council is seeking a balanced response,” Copeland said. “We are seeking a compassionate approach, and will make every attempt to provide assistance to the vulnerable population but, at the same time, we cannot turn a blind eye the social disorder and behaviour that threatens the safety of our residents or their property.” 

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