Downtown safety concerns are (almost) debated by City Council

Concerns about recent security issues downtown finally made it to Sault Ste. Marie's City Council chambers Monday night, only to be derailed, at least temporarily, by an unusual procedural move by Ward 1 Coun. Sandra Hollingsworth. 

Council was about to start discussing a resolution from Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Shoemaker and Ward 4's Rick Niro calling for increased security patrols or surveillance when Hollingsworth rose on a point of order.

She and former Ward 2 Coun. Susan Myers had introduced a similar resolution in 2017, she said.

So far, nothing had been done about their resolution.

"We had something almost exactly the same," Hollingsworth said.

"This resolution was actually put forward by Coun. Susan Myers and myself in 2017."

City staff and other councillors seemed taken aback by what Hollingsworth was telling them.

It was finally decided to postpone the discussion until the next City Council meeting on Nov. 9.

Hollingsworth said she wanted "to see what work has already been done by staff, so we don't have duplicate work going on."

"I worked closely with the mayor on this motion," Shoemaker said.

Last week, the board of the Downtown Association sent a letter supporting the resolution, pointing out that recent issues downtown include safety, property crime, vandalism, graffiti, mischief, persons struggling with addictions, police presence, access to social services and lack of treatment programs.

"In order to make the downtown vibrant and have citizens want to visit and reside downtown and feel safe while doing so, the issues that are being raised by our membership and the general public need to be addressed," the business group said.

"You have the full commitment of our association and board of directors to assist in finding ways to support our downtown and the health of our community as a whole. The Downtown Association and board of directors want to contribute to any task force or committees that are struck from this resolution with the goal to improve the safety and wellbeing not only for our downtown but our city at large."

The following are exact wordings of the two resolutions in question, the first introduced by Hollingsworth and Myers in December 2017, the second by Shoemaker and Niro last week:

Downtown safety strategy  

Mover: Coun. S. Hollingsworth
Seconder: Coun. S. Myers  

Whereas City Council is investing significantly in supporting the downtown development strategy; and  

Whereas creating a safe community is important across the community and in particular should be given the utmost consideration and inclusion in the downtown development strategy; and  

Whereas development of options that increase the feeling of safety in the downtown area at all hours will have a positive economic effect as people may remain in the area longer;  

Now, therefore, be it resolved that a downtown safety strategy be identified and included as part of the downtown development strategy; and  

Further, be it resolved that such a strategy be developed in consultation with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, the Downtown Association, and other related community groups seeking to increase public safety.

Downtown Security

Mover: Coun. M. Shoemaker
Seconder: Councillor R. Niro

Whereas the 2016 downtown strategy has a vision that includes seven vision pillars for an improved downtown, one of which is to create a “safe place”; and

Whereas businesses have recently expressed frustration at increased petty crime, which is on the rise across the city, but is acutely present downtown in the off-business hours when many buildings are unoccupied; and

Whereas to create a safe downtown, the city must invest in technology or resources to create the “safe place” our downtown strategy strives for;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that staff be requested to investigate and report on options to create a “safe place” downtown, which option could include either surveillance in the downtown core or security patrols in the downtown core during non-core hours and determine if partnerships with downtown merchants or the Downtown Association can facilitate whichever option is recommended.