Penticton city council to once again discuss emergency homeless shelter in special meeting Wednesday

Photo: Colin Dacre

Penticton city council has called a special council meeting, with one item on the agenda being the contentious winter shelter issue, just before the city’s temporary use permit expires at midnight on April 1.

The agenda includes discussion of a response to the province on the Victory Church emergency shelter at 4 p.m. Wednesday, including a public question period over Zoom.

A motion is set for council to discuss “send[ing] a letter to BC Housing and Interior Health that the City is willing to enter into negotiations with both agencies to form a long term strategy to house the homeless in Penticton,” according to the agenda.

Philip Cooper, communications manager with the City of Penticton, told Castanet through email that ‘an announcement will be provided near the end of tomorrow’s meeting’ in regards to the shelter and whether the City plans to take legal action against the Province, which has indicated they will use paramountcy powers to keep the shelter open past its municipal permit date.

Also on the agenda for the special meeting will be the discussions on the final design and approval to proceed for the Lake to Lake Cycling Route, the Skaha Lake Park East Plan for the marina, and seeking community opinion for the appointment of a Chief Election Officer and Deputy Chief Election Officer for the upcoming by-election to replace retired Coun. Jake Kimberley.

Find the Zoom link to the meeting here tomorrow afternoon.