A Campbell River councillor is prepared to hit the city’s safe injection site in the pocketbook to see improvements in the downtown core.
Ben Lanyon says he’ll be pushing to designate the facility on Dogwood Street a public nuisance.
The site in Unit 5 at 1330 Dogwood Street is run by the Vancouver Island Mental Health Society.
“If we don’t have any local powers to move it or restrict its operating then it comes down to just financial penalty to improve operations. Not to punish what they are doing but perhaps the choice of location as to where they did it and to incentivize a move,” Lanyon explained.
A possible designation would open up the door to fines under the public nuisance bylaw ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.
Lanyon also wants to know the costs for the fire department and RCMP to respond to the site. He says the cost to business is so much more.
“I thought about how we can get that. It’s not even feasible. I’ve asked various business owners to put together estimates, they’re like ‘It’s so much!’…but we know, like, this is intuitive, the effect on its neighbours is catastrophic,” he said.
Lanyon’s suggestion came up during last night’s council meeting after the city received a letter from a frustrated business owner.
Troy Roblee of Downtown Tyee Chevrolet Buick GMC explained how a man was using drugs, pulled down his pants and urinated while he was with a customer and their children at his car dealership.
Roblee’s letter is the latest in a line of downtown businesses who’ve complained about the vandalism and actions from the safe injection site clientele.
Mayor Kermit Dahl plans to meet with Kristi Schwanicke, the Campbell River housing manager for the Vancouver Island Mental Health Society, after she returns from vacation on March 25.
The city is also sending Roblee’s letter along with a letter from the mayor to BC Housing, Island Health and the VIMHS’ board of directors expressing their concerns.
City Manager Elle Brovold indicated the city has received a legal opinion they’ve been “reviewing the last few weeks” and “we’ve been looking at a variety of options.” Staff and city council are expected to meet in private to discuss it.
