At its December 8 council meeting, members reviewed a response letter sent by the Sagitawa Friendship Society following council’s decision to decline providing a letter of support for the Society’s Temporary Emergency Response Measures (TERM) funding application.
In the letter, Sagitawa requested a meeting with council to discuss concerns related to the decision, as well as a joint meeting involving council and the Government of Alberta. The Society stated the purpose of the proposed joint meeting would be “to ensure that all levels of decision-makers have a shared understanding of the issues and are able to work together toward effective solutions.”
Council previously voted at its November 10 meeting to decline Sagitawa’s request for a letter of support required to apply for TERM funding. The funding supports 24/7 shelter operations, and without a municipal letter of support, Sagitawa is unable to submit an application.
Following discussion in closed session on December 8, council directed administration to draft an additional response letter to Sagitawa outlining the reasons for its decision.
In the letter, council stated that declining the letter of support was based on its responsibility to balance the interests of the entire community. Council cited numerous complaints from nearby residents and businesses regarding nuisance and illegal activities in the area surrounding the shelter. These concerns have reportedly resulted in near-daily calls to Community Peace Officers.
Council also noted that downtown business owners and patrons have reported feeling unsafe, with some businesses locking their doors during operating hours. Additional concerns included unsightly property complaints related to the shelter, such as temporary structure construction and the accumulation of debris.
According to the letter, council stated that limited progress has been observed in addressing these concerns, noting that “it could not issue a support letter without greater assurance that existing operational challenges are being effectively mitigated.”
Regarding Sagitawa’s request for further meetings, council indicated it would like to see measurable progress on the identified concerns before considering additional discussions.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
