Correspondence package regarding Overnight Camping in View Royal Parks
A collection of 30 emails and letters from residents largely opposing the bylaw to allow overnight camping in municipal parks, citing safety and environmental concerns.
From: Janet Racz Sent: November 7, 2022 7:06 AM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Overnight tenting View Royal Park
Hello,
Firstly, congratulations on your new roles - we are looking forward to the change! It has come to our attention that there is a third reading set to determine if overnight tenting will be allowed in the evenings of Portage and View Royal Park.
View Royal Park has a number of important vulnerabilities - namely roaming children and pets. Although I am told the tents will be only allowed along the highway portion of the Park, I have grave concerns our pets and children will remain potential victims. As evidenced by other municipalities, these areas are never left without hazards. All it takes is for a pet to pick up feces, laced with drugs, or thrown away marijuana, and the result is an emergency trip to the vet. Waves Emergency vet has already stated they are understaffed and required to close at times. Many vets around Victoria stated a huge number of drug related issues with pets when the Beacon Hill and other tents were allowed. Kids are often seen playing with dogs in all areas of the parks, including by the highway, as they are walking with their families and using the gym equipment to play on. Needles and other paraphernalia don't stay only in the areas where the tents are. If they did, the City of Victoria tax paying citizens would not have spent hundreds of thousands cleaning and remediating the parks.
Bylaw service will also be an issue. I would be surprised if Bylaw will be able to handle the constant issues this will pose. More will have to be hired, increasing our taxes.
Crime always goes up in areas the tents are permitted to stay. Less than 3 weeks ago we had an instance near the park where a masked man was attempting to gain access into homes and he wielded a large knife at a resident. The next day a man in a tent at View Royal Park, matching the description, threatened a woman whose dog went near the tent. She told area residents about the incident and was visibly shaken. This will be a common issue.
So I ask why are these tents put in the most vulnerable areas, citizen's backyards, when they pose such risks? I understand there is a BC Supreme Court ruling where this stems from, so I would ask that Council join other Municipality Councils in fighting such rulings. A better solution would be to allow the tents to remain on City property. If the tents are not gone by 7am, then the City has the bylaw and police immediately able to handle things. As well, no one frequents these areas in the evening, unlike Parks. The solution is not to put these tents in other people's back yards, making it our problem.
I would like the View Royal Park location to therefore be reconsidered. I believe in preventing problems rather than putting in more resources trying to figure out how to resolve the problems created.
Sincerely, Janet Racz
From: Gary Zachary Sent: October 30, 2022 8:20 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Camping in View Royal Parks
As a resident and taxpayer of View Royal, I am opposed to the amendment of the bylaw to allow camping in any park in View Royal. Current bylaws are not fully enforced. What are the plans to enforce this bylaw? If the campers are moved on every day, where do these campers go from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm? Likely, they will be lingering around shopping malls, schools and other public spaces. If not there, they will be in the neighborhood looking for food or shelter from the weather. We have recently had homes and vehicles broken into in our subdivision and there are not many campers here yet. We do not need to encourage and invite more of this activity to View Royal. All we need to observe is the death of the police woman in Vancouver and the multiple random attacks on people in Vancouver and even Victoria.
In the end it will be a costly battle to get them removed as experienced in other cities and municipalities. Then the huge costs to remediate the parks. The cost to sense of safety and security in our neighborhood is immeasurable. These homeless camps also have an financial impact on the value of real estate and the desirability of making View Royal a community to live and raise a family.
I agree theses people need a place to stay and they need care but by providing more spaces for them to use, we enable them to spread in the community and create havoc for neighborhoods. We as a society need to find a better solution.
The proposed parks are near schools. What about the safety of the kids? What about the needles and other things left behind in the playgrounds?
We have had homes and vehicles broken into in our subdivision and there are not many campers here yet. We do not need to encourage and invite more of this activity to View Royal.
Thank you for considering these thoughts.
Gary Zachary 400 Margaret Lane
From: Lucille Zachary Sent: October 29, 2022 2:05 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Tent City - View Royal
No no NO……we do not need BUMS/mentally challenged people setting up tents in our View Royal parks. We as tax payers work hard to maintain what we have, and do not appreciate the above folks stealing, threatening and destroying out neighbourhood.
Already within one week we have had a guy trying to break into our homes.
Thanks for listening to my concerns Lucille 400 Margaret Lane
From: Joanne Beagle Sent: October 28, 2022 3:30 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: overnight camping in parks
Good afternoon. I have just returned from my walk in View Royal Park, where I again met other dog owners who have heard that it is your intention to allow overnight camping in this (and other) parks. Is this true? If so, I strongly urge you to discard this plan. View Royal Elementary school is visible from the park entrance, and there is a well-used children's park and bike park right next to the off-leash dog park. Our Place has a facility right across the highway that is set up for the homeless - surely that is a more suitable location to help address this issue of housing and homelessness, not to mention mental health and drug addiction concerns.
Respectfully, Joanne Beagle 15 - 15 Helmcken Road
From: T. P. Sent: October 27, 2022 12:12 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Overnight camping in parks feedback
Hi Mayor and Council,
I am a resident and homeowner in View Royal and I agree with the need to follow Provincial requirements to provide an option for overnight camping. I had my say in voting for mayor and council and I would like my input to be considered.
I discourage the usage of View Royal Park and Portage Park. Portage Park is one of the few high-usage places for dogs in the area and one of the few comfortable/accessible beachfront access points for the public and also contains a high-traffic playground. Camping spots can be associated with dangerous litter including needles and this is of increased concern to exposed animal paws and a concern for children. There are so few off-leash parks in Victoria and the surrounding areas already. Portage Inlet Linear Park seems better, by comparison, as an option for a tenting space.
I would encourage inclusion of alternative parks. I suggest Glenairlie Park, off the E&N, for the following reasons: It does not contain playground equipment, it is very flat and well-defined (like a campsite) and easy to clean up, and it along the E&N which is known to the police as a common transportation route for people who are unhoused, so it's convenient. It is not a known park for off-leash animals and not a commonly used play area for children.
I would encourage council to adopt the following criteria when choosing parks:
- Is the park a common spot for animals to run around?
- If so, do not consider, since it puts the animals at higher risk
- If not, this is a good park for consideration
- Is the park a common spot for children to play within?
- If so, do not consider, since it puts the children at higher risk
- If not, this is a good park for consideration
There are so many other possibilities, such as a defined section in the Thetis area? What if an area was roped with signage, like a free campground?
The current bylaw names a large list of parks that have been excluded. Why? Of these, which parks meet the above criteria, without playgrounds and not known areas to bring pets? Any proposal needs its reasoning very clearly explained, you can't just list a bunch of parks that have been excluded without declaring very specific criteria for which parks are included, and like I said - the parks being included have amenities that seem inappropriate for this usage, if so many other parks exist that don't have the same issues. Transparency means explaining your reasons and my criteria above needs to be weighted more strongly against any existing possible reasons.
Tyler P.
From: Ramy Gerber Sent: October 26, 2022 5:38 AM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Cc: Roy McMuldroch Subject: Concern around overnight camping
Dear View Royal council,
We wanted to inform you about our concern about the council's talks about allowing overnight camping in our municipality parks.
We understand from reports that a person has been staying in a tent in Portage Park for a while. When this person was approached by a dog recently, he pulled a knife and threatened the dog and owner.
This past weekend, a person with a similar description was looking in houses in our Gibraltar Bay neighbourhood, and when a resident confronted him, he pulled a knife on our neighbour.
While every person in Victoria has a right to a safe place to stay, we believe that the council's vote to approve overnight camping in our parks will impact the safety of the residents who pay taxes in View Royal. Other Municipalities in Victoria are dealing with a criminal element and requiring much police presence and support with their large or small encampments. We do not want our safety and security jeopardized with this vote.
Please do not vote to allow overnight camping in View Royal!
Concerned for our safety, Ramy Gerber and Roy McMuldroch
From: Laurie Darrah Sent: October 25, 2022 1:42 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: NO TENTS in PARKS - there are alternatives
Dear Mayor and Council,
First, congratulations to the new Mayor and Council. I am hopeful that we will see common sense leadership.
I understand there is currently a bylaw before council to allow overnight tents in Portage and View Royal Park. This should not be allowed in areas where there are vulnerabilities such as children and pets.
A solution might be to allow tents on Municipal grounds so they can be properly managed. There is support run by Our Place Society for our vulnerable population in View Royal - New Roads Recovery Centre - 94 Talcott Rd View Royal BC. Maybe there could be a place on their site for tents.
It is time to get creative with solutions rather than follow the trend that Victoria Council has created.
Please show some important leadership.
Thank you for keeping our community safe.
Laurie Darrah 106 Mills Cove
From: Cam Shott Sent: October 25, 2022 11:38 AM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Camping in our Parks
I’m sure you don’t actually believe these, so called campers, are going to pack up their belongings and move along by 7am.
Once they set up camp, along with all their stolen bikes etc. Good luck trying to move them.
The unhoused people as you’ve called them are for the most part, able bodied individuals. If your going to allow them to overnight in the parks. Then ask them to volunteer a couple of hours cleaning up.
Council is only enabling these people. Try empowering then for a change.
The Police and Bylaw officers are busy enough without having to babysit the unhoused individuals.
Who’s going to cleanup the mess they leave behind? You know there will be a mess.
If Council thinks it’s ok, then you should open Town Hall for them to use the facilities.
Cam Shott. View Royal resident
From: Dave Buchanan Sent: October 24, 2022 8:34 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: overnight camping in View Royal parks
Hi
Hi understand council will be voting on new bylaw that would allow overnight camping in our parks. I would like voice my opinion to let Mayor and council know at I strongly disagree with this idea.
Allowing overnight camping would greatly reduce the safety and security of View Royal tax payers and our families and would ruin our parks.
Please learn from the disaster the City of Victoria created when the allowed overnight camping
Thank you
Dave Buchanan Business Development Manager Paladin Technologies
From: carlamcivor Sent: October 24, 2022 8:25 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Bylaw to Allow Overnight Camping in View Royal Parks
Good evening,
I was recently made aware of a new bylaw that may be enacted regarding overnight camping in View Royal parks.
We are not in favour of overnight camping in parks. We are concerned this could lead to some folks making the parks their temporary or permanent home. The parks are for everyone's enjoyment. There are no facilities for washrooms, refuse, water etc. The burden for cleanup would be on city staff.
We recently had an incident in our neighborhood (Gibraltar Bay) where a man attempted to break into a home and when confronted by a resident he produced a knife. We understand there is a person currently living in a tent in Portage Park who matches the description of the man with the knife in our neighborhood.
We feel allowing overnight camping in View Royal parks would increase incidents such as this and do not support it.
We appreciate your consideration of our opinion in this matter.
Regards,
Trevor and Carla McIvor Gibraltar Bay Estates
From: Tyler Bianchi Sent: October 24, 2022 4:54 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Over night camping - Parks View Royal
I understand that overnight tenting / camping is being considered to be allowed in View Royal parks and off leash parks.
I am vehemently against this notion. The safety of tax paying citizens, their pets and the children of the community need to be first and foremast in the minds of our elected officials when making such decisions.
Recently a member of View Royal was abused by one such camper as their dog was near the campers tent. Apparently a knife was used in this “warning to remove the dog from the proximity”. Our children and grand children roam freely in these parks with our pets and we do not want restrictions placed on them and to be fearful of needle and other noxious substances coming into contact with them.
Do not allow overnight camping in our parks in View Royal. MANY of your voting constituents are opposed to this and will undertake further action as needed.
Regards,
Tyler
From: Lorraine Liwiski Sent: December 3, 2022 2:52 PM To: Info Address info@viewroyal.ca Subject: overnight camping VR parks
Hello
I just read the agenda for the upcoming meeting , which includes the council considering letting overnight camping in two parks, for the homeless, the mentally ill, the drug addicted, and the criminal elements.
Absolutely not!!!
We are all acutely aware of the problems that this entails, and that we as citizens can not enjoy our parks as they should be enjoyed, and thus face varying kinds of threats to ourselves, our property, our pets.
The areas in question become unsightly and dirty. It's supposed to be a park, not a development!!
I understand that council, such as others, want to be like the rest of the municipalities, and be compassionate towards these types of people.
Instead of enabling the above named people, and degrading the community, putting taxpayers at risk, how about finding a better solution? Building a facility, such as the one that is located by the upcoming HandyDart area if it is not full. It's not just a VR problem, but it's everywhere and requires more comprehensive thinking, rather than band-aid , risky solutions.
Thank you Lorraine
From: Doug & Lindsay Critchley Sent: December 3, 2022 5:43 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca; Info Address info@viewroyal.ca Subject: Bylaw re Overnight camping in View Royal Parks Dec 6th Council meeting
Dear Council,
Please accept this letter for action.
I request an amendment to remove Portage Inlet Linear Park (PILP) from your “allowed” overnight camping.
Safety:- We live in the St Giles Street/Chancellor neighbourhood south of the TCH. between PILP and View Royal Park, both of which your proposed bylaw designates for “homeless” camping. We have no other nearby park in which to walk dogs, exercise, or sit and relax for quiet enjoyment. We are elderly and feel safe in the absence of campers. According to the Vic. P.D. survey of 1300 respondents in August 2022 79% of Victoria residents don’t feel safe downtown at night and 37% don’t feel safe in the day. DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN HERE.
Statistics Canada latest figures (dated 2020) report Victoria’s Violent Crime Severity Index as 183.1, View Royal 54.01 (26.78 in 2017 four years ago so doubled) In the last 4 years Saanich comparable increase is 63%, Langford 70%. These figures are the reasons behind our fearfulness. Please don’t destroy our neighbourhood’s livability.
Financial Concerns:- Staff state that injunctions etc. will be a burden on taxpayers if the bylaw fails. This will not be the case if one park is removed from the list and the other two remain. In fact costs will probably be reduced. Council should refuse to accept this staff recommendation.
Bylaw 1095 amendment bylaw#986,2018 “Overnight shelter” 18.3(b) ....at any time within 100m of (b) a footpath or road within a park area (e) a beach, (f) an Environmentally Sensitive Area {ESA} e.g. Portage Inlet. Therefor sections 18.2 and 18.3 restrictions exclude Portage Inlet Linear Park from erection of an overnight shelter. PILP has all these attributes within 40 metres and would not be permitted under Colwood’s bylaw.
Peninsular Streams has just completed a beach enhancement project at considerable expense to improve salmon habitat by installing gravel to promote forage fish, and adding native plants which are easily trampled or subject to damage by toxic chemicals often left by campers. Please include these environmental concerns in your deliberations.
Fire hazard:- Homeless camper’s tents catch on fire as they warm themselves or cook. These tents will be under trees which turns the park into an urban/treed interface. View Royal Park is less of a fire hazard because it is open and grassed.
Respectfully submitted Doug Critchley ... 132 St Giles Street.
From: J. Powell Sent: December 4, 2022 11:05 PM To: Info Address info@viewroyal.ca Subject: Bylaw re overnight sheltering in View Royal
I wish to address the draft bylaw to amend bylaw no. 986, 2018. The draft seeks to amend the bylaw by defining parameters for overnight sheltering in para. 18.0 and the parks that are excluded in para 18.4.
Portage Inlet Linear Park (PILP) has not been included on the list of excluded parks in 18.4 but Paragraph 18.3 specifies conditions where camping may not take place within 100m.
PILP is a sensitive ecosystem by many definitions as it is a federal waterfowl refuge, an eelgrass ecosystem. a herring hatchery, a pathway for migrating salmon and home to several otter dens. PILP is a beach as it lies along the northern edge of Portage Inlet. PILP has two paths where the whole width of the park is less than 100 m. In addition, the whole park is within 100 m. of a major highway with no barrier to prevent accidental or purposeful pedestrian access to the highway.
Portions of the PILP are bluffs overlooking the Inlet which are safety hazards for individuals not of sound mind or even just careless. Should there be an incident, first responder containment is complicated by multiple egress paths around 360 degrees and complicated by two departments responsible for two different municipalities located within the park.
It short, PILP is an entirely unsuitable location for an overnight shelter.
It is requested that councillors take for action that Portage Inlet Linear Park (PILP) be added to paragraph 18.4 of the amendment bylaw no. 1095.
Jim & Vaurnine Powell 140 St. Giles Street
From: Terri Rodstrom Sent: December 5, 2022 5:26 AM To: Info Address info@viewroyal.ca Subject: Re: Homeless camping
On Mon, Dec 5, 2022 at 5:11 AM Terri Rodstrom wrote:
My son is homeless, I’ve gone though and continue to deal with huge issues, so I am compassionate, but isolated parks are a very dangerous disaster waiting to happen to single walkers or joggers like myself ! You put us at risk opening these spaces. A parking lot is a better semi controlled area , Easier to clean up, monitor and contain ! Visual awareness achieved for all and even a bit of accountability vs hiding out in bushes !! Please reconsider parks and think parking lots with toilets as temp homeless locations
From: Carol Weller Sent: December 4, 2022 4:59 AM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca; info@townofviewroyal.ca Subject: Camping in View Royal parks
Dear View Royal Council,
I request an amendment to remove Portage Inlet Linear Park (PILP) from the list of parks under consideration for overnight camping. I live in the St Giles Street/Chancellor neighbourhood, between PILP and View Royal Park, both of which your proposed bylaw designates for homeless camping.
My neighborhood is small, and my neighbors are primarily retired and elderly. The PILP is accessible only from residential neighborhoods, and the experience of other neighborhoods near homeless encampments leads me to believe that the quiet quality of life and sense of security that we currently enjoy will be seriously impacted.
While I have plenty of sympathy for the challenges of poverty and homelessness in our region, I don't believe that allowing overnight camping is a solution that should be considered.
Thanks,
Carol Weller 127 Saint Giles Street South View Royal
From: Patricia Gooch Sent: December 4, 2022 3:06 PM To: info@townofviewroyal.ca Cc: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Homeless people to sleep only in specific parks
Dear View Royal Council,
It has come to my attention that the agenda for this Tuesday Dec 6th discusses a bylaw to allow homeless overnight (7-7) camping in Portage Linear Park, View Royal Park, and Portage Park (adjacent to Town Hall), excluding all other parks.
I am writing to say that I am opposed to this motion. I do not want my retired elderly family members or my adolescent niece and nephew to be driven from the parks due to safety concerns, human excrement, trash, needles, etc. They walk in Portage Linear Park and Portage Park. It is good for their health, fitness, and wellbeing. Why should they be driven out? They have worked hard for their retirement and moved here in large part due to the lovely parks within walking distance to their condo. They pay taxes so that they can enjoy public amenities like parks. I also have a disability including blood pressure issues. I do not feel safe to have to walk through a tent city when I'm trying to get fresh air. I feel vulnerable enough as it is.
As someone who usually lives in Vancouver, I have seen how disgusting the parks get once tent encampments are allowed. People who are given permission to sleep overnight usually end up just staying all day and soiling the area. That has led to the millions of dollars spent on the remediation Crab Park, Strathcona Park, Oppenheimer Park, etc. People defecate, urinate, start fires, stab each other, etc. Some people also hide caches of weapons in the tents. You can read all about it in the news. One woman was even dragged into a tent, confined and tortured in there. I know one person who has been punched in the head randomly and another who was stabbed by a dirty needle near tent encampments. Police are often injured or killed trying to manage these concentrated camps of people. Mentally ill addicted homeless people need a warm place inside. Many people also have hepatitis, uncontrolled HIV, cellulitis, antibiotic resistant bacterial infections/cellulitis, tuberculosis, scabies, etc. Throwing them in random parks all winter will only make them sicker. Crime in nearby businesses is also likely to go up, so who is supposed to pay for the increased security and losses to theft that will be required at these businesses? Will council pay for this?
I feel very strongly that dumping homeless, drug addicted, mentally ill people into these parks is a public health and safety problem. It is short sighted and does not give homeless people the support they need. Their mental health issues then become contagious when unsuspecting members of the public become traumatized themselves. For example r example, the woman I know who was randomly stabbed with a dirty needle now has PTSD and is afraid to go outside. I myself have had people throw beer cans at me and threaten to rape me. I do not want to encounter this when I am trying to relax in nature.
Please do not pass this motion. Homeless people should not be rounded up and sent to designated tent places overnight. They need proper support like warming shelters where they can be supervised and have access to healthcare resources. Why not open the community hall up for them to sleep indoors? Also, many people will likely be too high or "down" or "nodding" to pack up tents and leave by 7am anyway. Do you think they will set an alarm clock and break camp by then? I don't. Then the policing costs will likely increase as altercations arise at/after the 7am cutoff. Please try to find a better solution, for everyone's sake. If people do need to sleep in parks, please do not concentrate them all together like this. Let them choose where they want to sleep so that the number of tents can be diluted across the entire area and the housed residents can all deal with having a few tents each in their respective neighbourhoods.
Sincerely, Patricia Gooch
From: Dale Sent: December 4, 2022 3:45 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Proposal to allow homeless overnight camping in Portage Linear Park, to be discussed Dec. 6th council meeting
We are writing this letter to state our concerns for this proposal. We live right on St Giles Street which is a dead end street and we are just steps away from the opening to the park. We are very fearful, because we are all aware of the history of homeless campers. We have watched the news and heard the complaints of neighbours adjacent to parks - Beacon Hill is one of many examples. Homes are broken into, drugs, needles, noise, fires and violence etc. will be right on our door steps. Costs are incurred by the destruction - will our taxes pay for that - not to mention the extra policing it will require . It is difficult to impose the 7 -7 rule. Once it becomes a bylaw, it is almost impossible to move them on once they are settled. We are both seniors who have been living peacefully and this proposal leaves us very nervous and unsettled. What will happen to the value of our properties with the homeless camp right on top of us. We have a full view of the park from our windows so not looking forward to that!!!. So we are begging you , PLEASE DO NOT PASS this bylaw. Thank you for considering our urgent request .
Sincerely: Audrey and Dale Snowdon
John and Barbara Munton 100 Chancellor Ave Victoria BC V8Z 1R4
Mayor and Members of the View Royal Town Council
Re Proposed View Royal Bylaw – 1095 –Addressing Camping in Parks
I apologize for short notice in respect of my input on this issue. However, my wife and I both feel strongly that the impact on the Portage Linear Park (PLC) that is left as the exception in this By-law would, if implemented as written, be very detrimental to both the park and it’s dedicated users.
As other jurisdictions have found, managing camping and overnight camping in Parks is especially difficult and staff consuming. It also has almost certainly removed most areas of even larger parks from the use of residents and other users that would normally have used these resources. That has been particularly so for “residential camping” in the case of homeless populations.
In the case of the PLC, the shape & path layout, and beach areas are resident in an environmentally sensitive area which make conforming to proposed rules and allowing normal access of area residents and other users extremely problematic or in the jargon of the current era particularly challenging.
Further, most users who include; children from the western side of View Royal who use the paths to attend Spectrum and other schools, Seniors like myself and dog walkers who use the paths daily for exercise and social contact, all would be forced to avoid using the PLC due to safety concerns.
As stated above, because of the shape and size of the PLC, there isn’t anywhere in the park where a camper would not be within the 100 meter restrictive distance listed in 18.3 b of the proposed Bylaw from foot paths, beach areas and sensitive environmental areas. In fact, since the park is generally less than 100 meters wide, campers would probably be within less than 10 meters from any of these areas. This is a recipe for provoking confrontation between campers and users.
For all of the above reasons, we strongly recommend that the PLC not be shown in any proposed Bylaw to be a place where camping, especially overnight camping, could be considered an option.
Respectfully submitted John and Barbara Munton
From: Deanna Ayala Sent: December 4, 2022 4:13 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Dec 6 Agenda re: overnight camping at Portage Park and reduced speed limit
Dear View Royal Council and Mayor,
I would like to express my concern about the proposal to sanction overnight camping in Portage Park. From what I understand, the ruling under which this is being considered legalizes overnight camping from 7pm-9am in public spaces/parks. If the town must work within that framework I would ask - how will the town enforce this rule? What parameters would be put in place to roll back the campling allowance if the time frame is not being followed or enforced? As I'm sure you are aware, Portage Park is mostly covered in thick trees so the open space for tents is quite limited, mainly near the children's playground, and the potential for covering a large percentage of the green space is not insignificant. At what point does it cease to become a "park" in that case? I also echo concerns about safety both from a trash/needles perspective and also from a personal violence perspective particularly for children and females who wish to use the park, as I do nearly every day. The park is not well lit which already makes individual citizens more vulnerable.
With regards to the Motion "THAT, with a view to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Committee recommend to Council that a speed limit policy for neighbourhood streets be established to reduce the speed limit from 50 kilometres/hour to 30 kilometres/hour. (PREAC-03-22)" I assume this is targeted at Island Highway as "neighborhood streets" already have reduced speed limits? As such, I would like to voice dissent with this proposal. Island Highway is a 'highway' and should not be reduced to 30km/hr. The highway is already a major choke point and reducing speeds would exacerbate this problem and one could imagine negatively impact not only greenhouse gases but also residents along that corridor into perpetuity. As for pedestrians, there are ample overpasses for them to cross, sidewalks as well as intersections that give right of way to pedestrians. Most cyclists use the E&N trail which intersects with the Highway. If the Council wishes to reduce traffic perhaps a "congestion charge" could be levied on non-residents during peak hours?
Many thanks for your consideration, Deanna
From: DEANNA TREMBLAY Sent: December 4, 2022 7:13 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Proposed camping in Portage Inlet Linear Park.....
Dear Mayor and Council:
I can't imagine that if either park area was off the street that you lived on, that you would even consider having homeless put up tents so they could camp overnight there. And to make it worse, there is no running water for them to use or TOILETS to use. Is the DISTRICT going to be cleaning up the poop / toilet paper / sanitary supplies, etc. used by these people on a DAILY basis? Will there be larger garbage cans / recycle bins put in? Depending on how many campers are allowed in each area, they will need to be emptied on a daily basis. Are you going to be putting up security cameras at both ends of the park and throughout the park so campers follow the rules and regulations and know they are being observed at all times? When the campers leave at 7:00AM in the morning where are they going to put their tents and belongings during the day? What will be done if they do not take their stuff with them? Are campers going to be INFORMED of all the rules and regulations that they must adhere to if they stay in the park? Will they be INFORMED of any and all consequences if they do not follow the rules and regulations?
I also question whether the police will be available to provide the people who live in the immediate area help if their property / vehicles are broken in to QUICKLY? Is the DISTRICT going to cover the costs of possible insurance deductibles since it is because of their actions that a claim had to be filed?
I hope you have thought of these possible problems...... This will definitely be a serious and bad decision on your part if campers are allowed in these areas.
I have walked my small dog in the park for 17 years and will be hard pressed to find another suitable place to walk her safely on a daily basis. This park is used by a lot os seniors who use it because they feel reasonably safe now but will not use it in the future if campers are present.
Thank you for your time.
Deanna Tremblay
From: Kitty Chavarie Sent: December 4, 2022 7:33 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Re: Tenting in park bylaw
On Sun, Dec 4, 2022 at 6:28 PM Kitty Chavarie wrote:
If we allow temporary tents in our community parks who cleans up behind tents and where will you find staff who are qualified to move people off lands everyday at 7 am I worry for all the children, daycares and families who use these parks frequently that this will be the beginning of the end of us feeling safe here in our nice town of view royal No services here to control this No policing for just plain old speeders ripping up and down Island Highway how will increased crime be handled ?? I know this is just one citizen saying “ not in my backyard” but I know I have thousands agreeing just by talking in the loved playgrounds and parks while I care for my young grandkids
Sincerely a worried Nanny kitty
Sent: December 4, 2022 9:31 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Camping at View Royal Park
Hello Mayor and Council:
I would like to share my concern regarding camping in View Royal Park.
- Too many places for tents to “hide”
- Too close to the elementary school
- Tenters may be at risk of aggressive dogs in the off-leash area
- Off-leash dogs may be at risk if they approach an unfriendly tenter (I have heard of at least one dog owner who was threatened if they didn’t get their dog away from the individuals tent)
- If needles are left by tenters there is a huge risk to pets who are off-leash
I personally think that tenters should be allowed at town hall or in wide open parks where they can be easily seen and won’t startle anyone and also where bylaw officers can easily see them if there is a need to move them along.
Thank you for your consideration.
Della Credicott
From: Ina Sembaliuk Sent: December 5, 2022 12:52 AM To: info@townofviewroyal.ca; Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Bylaws for people without homes
Good evening or good morning to whoever reads this!
This email is regarding a post I just saw in the View Royal Community Connection group on Facebook. I have only lived in View Royal for 1.5yrs but I have lived in Victoria/Vic West/Esquimalt/Langford my entire life, so that's my qualifications for having an opinion on this.
Judging by the majority of comments on the post I just saw (regarding the Dec 6th meeting about the bylaws) you will most likely get several emails from people who are super anti-homeless. I'd like to add my voice to try and balance that out! I also voted for our current mayor so maybe that'll give me some brownie points.
Please do something about the human beings in our community who don't have a place to live. Human beings who are being deprived of basic needs because of PROFIT. Children are living on the streets. Disabled and chronically ill people, people in PAIN, are living on the streets. Rape and assault survivors are living on the streets. Queer people who had their homes taken because of their identity are living on the streets. Veterans and people with brain injuries from trauma are living on the streets. Without homes and without dignity. Being shamed and insulted on social media by people who've never had to experience a tenth of the pain and suffering and unfairness that they have.
Privileged people on Facebook are sitting and spewing hate and ignorance from their keyboards about people they've never met before. About people who lost their homes due to circumstances out of their control. It is incredibly alarming to watch my community have these opinions. I've always had a place to live and I'm super grateful for that. I've never known someone actively living on the streets but I can't help but feel so distraught that we have empty homes and empty lands and an abundance of resources and we choose to do nothing, or the bare minimum to avoid scrutiny.
View Royal has the resources to help. If not to house people then at least to support them and educate those who are against them. It is your duty to protect your community. We need more affordable housing, SHELTERS, and resources for people. Instead of boomers on Facebook complaining about human beings shitting in the parks how about we have more outhouses around the community? How about we stop harassing and bullying people who come into businesses to use the washroom without buying anything. These are human beings! They are you and me.
Anyway I'm pretty miffed at the audacity of the people who live in this municipality! The classism and superiority is sickening. Please PLEASE do more about the "housing crisis" aka corporations and individuals price gouging! It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, everybody should have a place in our community.
So please respond to anti-homeless rhetoric with fact, logic, and empathy. And please do more for people who don't have a place to live. For people who can't work but deserve health and joy anyway. Thanks for reading, I'm an angry youth that's tired of seeing old people on Facebook clutching their pearls and complaining about drug addicts and park shitters while actively contributing to the problem themselves by making their tenants pay their mortgage while blatantly ignoring real world causes for homelessness.
It can't be that hard to let them sleep in our parks. My taxes go to those parks. I want people to be allowed to sleep in the parks!
The end. Thank you.
- Ina Sembaliuk (They/Them)
From: June Haynes Sent: December 5, 2022 9:50 AM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Homeless overnight camping
Mayor and Council Here are my concerns. Overnight camping by homeless individuals in parks must be monitored to make sure it doesn’t become 24/7 camping. Also someone will need to do regular needle pick ups in the designated parks. Residents should expect an increase in home and vehicle break ins.
June Haynes View Royal
From: Marc Cittone Sent: December 5, 2022 10:12 AM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Camping in Parks
Dear Mayor and Council,
I understand that you are considering where and how to permit temporary camping in town parks by those without stable housing.
I hope you will approach this discussion with compassion for all involved - people currently without housing, people recreating in parks, and our bylaw offices and others involved in keeping things safe and clean. In addition to what I'm sure you'll consider re: distance to playgrounds, etc., I'd advise us to consider:
- a less draconian approach than making people with nowhere to go pack up wet tents at 7am in winter, exploring how other municipalities are addressing this is and 24-hr camping can be permitted during winter;
- opportunities for access to personal hygeine, washroom facilities, etc. perhaps in partnership if needed;
- a clean-up plan
A couple years ago, I had the chance to join a facilitated conversation with unhoused people. What struck me was how difficult it is to maintain dignity. People were forced to pack up wet tents at 7am, and with no safe place to keep their things had to transport them around town. I heard the expression "street feet" to describe the aches from being always on the move. It struck me that when we put people in this situation, how can we possible expect them to focus on their health and re-entering society?
With median rents well over $1,000 a month for the simplest accommodation, and many applicants for every available rental letting landlords pick and choose, it is all too easy to become unhouses in our society. We also know we have far too little social housing (not to mention market rental housing). We hear that many unhoused people also have mental health challenges, but in hearing what it is like to be unhoused, I can't imagine that any of us would not struggle with mental health if put in the same situation.
I hope we will approach this issue with compassion so campers, park users, and bylaw officers can remain safe and that unhoused people have the chance to improve their situation rather than just deal with a day-to-day struggle. And I hope we will welcome future construction of social, affordable and rental housing in our community as the Province invests in housing and supports.
Thanks, Marc Cittone 26 Demos Place
From: Mary Worth Sent: December 5, 2022 10:41 AM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: A copy of my facebook letter of yesterday: re camping in parks
Dear Mayor and Team, Please consider this next step very carefully. This is a cliff we in society are foolish to follow the buffalo over. It is pretty much straight over the edge, with no way back.
Sincerely, Nori Hemsworth
From: shelly holob Sent: December 5, 2022 11:21 AM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Camping in Portage Road Linear Park RECIEVED FOR ACTION PLEASE
December 5th 2022
Dear Sirs and Madams,
I am writing in response to the news of the possibility of allowing overnight camping in Portage Linear Park. Although I don’t live in View Royal, I do live on Portage Road and use the park to walk for exercise and to exercise a dog.
My number one reason to be against this is the fact that there is no accessible area 40 feet from the water as the bylaws demand, between the pathway the water and the highway and also the fact that it is a protected area for salmon, and wild birds and native habitat. Those reasons alone should be enough to not allow this to happen.
We all know that as soon as people camp overnight, there will be trampling of vegetation, garbage and food waste as well as the possibility of toxic substances left on the site. There is no facilities near by for people to use. They would be moving their belongings at 7AM every morning, and 7PM in the evening down either Portage Road or Chancellor, both right now very quiet residential streets. These streets are home to a number of retired folk who are happy to have a safe place to enjoy some exercise and fresh air, as well as a housing unit for families who often bring their children here to ride their bikes, as it is a safe place to practice. I am sure I am not alone in being concerned about my safety and my property.
I don’t want to sound like a “not in my back yard”. But I guess I am not wanting this in my back yard. I do hope that counsel will see fit to remove the choice of the particular park, Portage Linear Park, there has been a lot of work done on the park this fall to help with the conservation of the area, I would hate to see this ruined.
Thank you for your time,
Shelly Holob -resident on Portage Road
From: Chelsea Richardson Sent: December 5, 2022 11:36 AM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Letter against camping in parks
Dear View Royal mayor and council,
I am absolutely appalled that you are trying to pass a bill that would allow camping in Portage Park and other nearby parks. I wonder if the mayor and councillours live next door to any of these parks- as I do? If the situation is so bad that people have nowhere to go or to live, this is no solution at all, and we have seen from other recent examples of allowing camping in parks that you would only be worsening a growing problem. I live on the ground floor at 1450 Glentana Rd. and I already see a number of people weekly go by my place towards Portage Park. These people all appear to be in various states of intoxication. I have also seen them in the park. Already, I am not super comfortable walking in that park as a single person (even with my dog) - and people camping in there will make it less safe. If you make a law allowing camping in parks, instead of helping people who are underhoused, I believe you would be attracting more underhoused people. I’m all in favour of homeless people and underhoused people being supported - but this is definitely not the way to do it. Where is the collaboration with other municipalities to build better housing solutions? That is what we actually need.
Have we not learned from the state of Beacon Hill park and many others during the pandemic? It was an absolute no-go zone for most of a year. I was scared to walk there because it was no longer a park - it was a homeless encampment. Drug paraphernalia and other garbage lying about and people who need support of various kinds doing unpredictable things is a huge public safety hazard (not to mention that it is not helping the people who need our help).
Portage Park and the other parks in your bill are all in high density areas that are full of families and young children. If you encourage this, you are risking needles and other paraphernalia being left in the forest. There is already a bunch of garbage along the rail line trail from homeless camping. I moved back to View Royal because of the relative safety of my neighbourhood and the park next door is a major draw. The park won’t be a safe space anymore for me and my little dog - or the families that use it.
I am happy to discuss this further.
Chelsea Richardson Owner, suite 101 1450 Glentana Rd.
To View Royal Mayor and Council
Re: a bylaw to allow homeless overnight (7-7) camping
It is time for some constructive solutions for unhoused persons from all levels of government.
Recognizing that there are many issues from mental health, drug addiction, lack of affordable housing and those who choose to move to a warmer climate where there is the promise of free and unlimited social programs.
Allowing camping in parks is not a solution, nor does it help the underhoused or the taxpaying residents.
Our parks are funded by taxes for the benefit of all residents including children, seniors, disabled and should be safe for all.
A look at any area that has been ‘camped’ in will show piles of garbage and Bio- Hazards that need to be cleaned up. Unfortunately, the no-trace rule does not resonate with many campers.
There have also been a number of incidents of unsafe interactions between residents and non- View Royal residents, plus break-ins in our neighbourhoods.
Instead of parks, allow camping on the grounds of the old youth detention center on Talcott Road. The Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre has a very large grassed area where people could be housed with room for porta potties to be set up, as does William Head. I understand the last two suggestions are not in View Royal but would provide a safe outdoor space for tents plus these are places that families and parks would not be impacted.
If a bylaw to allow tenting in parks is being considered, then there should also be accountability.
All tenters need to be required to register with town hall and obtain a permit. This would be a way to connect with people and know who is in our community and what services they may need in the future.
There would also need to be daily patrols to make sure the tents are taken down in a timely manner and all belongings/garbage removed. Bathrooms are also a must, and these need to be cleaned and serviced daily.
The Town’s liability in this issue also should be discussed with consideration to confrontations, Bio Hazards or disease.
Below is a link to an article from Chek News Dec 4th, 2022
https://www.cheknews.ca/island-health-quietly-declares-rare-bacterial-outbreak-affecting-the unhoused-1119671/
Regards,
D. Thurlbeck and J. Grieves - View Royal home owners and Taxpayers