Councillor wants permanent police or security presence downtown

Nine weeks after resigning unexpectedly as a city representative on the police services board, Ward 2 Coun. Lisa Vezeau-Allen is pushing for a permanent police or security presence downtown.

On Monday, Vezeau-Allen and Ward 2's Luke Dufour will present a resolution calling on city staff to investigate options for continuing downtown security patrols for the remainder of 2023 once the Sault Ste. Marie dynamic police patrols end after the summer.

The following is the full text of the Vezeau-Allen/ Dufour resolution.

Monday's city council meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.

Downtown Security Patrols

Mover: Coun. L. Vezeau-Allen
Seconder: Coun. L. Dufour

Whereas from 2020 to 2022, the Downtown Association undertook overnight downtown security patrols in their business improvement area; and

Whereas in 2022, the City of Sault Ste. Marie took over responsibility for the cost of the downtown security patrols as a six-month pilot project, (known as the Downtown Security Pilot Program – or DSPP); and

Whereas the DSPP was not funded on a permanent basis when it expired in the fall/winter of 2022; and

Whereas the cost of continuing the DSPP on an ongoing basis was $105,378 per annum, as set out in the council report of Dec. 12, 2022, with a contribution from the Downtown Association; and

Whereas dynamic patrols undertaken by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service have been successful since implemented in June 2023, but are only expected to be conducted throughout the summer months; and

Whereas the success of the downtown police dynamic patrols has highlighted the need for a permanent security or police presence in the downtown; and

Whereas the presence of police or security in the downtown area will assist in the feeling of safety residents have when in the downtown, and encourage more people to patronize downtown businesses;

Now therefore be it resolved that staff be requested to bring forward a report, by Aug. 28, 2023 including:

• options for in-year funding of the downtown security patrol for the remainder of 2023 once the dynamic police patrols end
• recommended hours of operation for the downtown security patrols
• the Downtown Association’s willingness to participate in and fund a portion of the patrols;
• a referral of the ongoing cost of the program to the 2024 budget