Councillors Question Purpose And Outcome Of Upcoming Public Meeting
“What’s the purpose?” is a simplified response at least one member of Council had when it comes to an upcoming public meeting focused on shelters, addiction services and safety in the City of Moose Jaw.
During Monday afternoon’s regular meeting of Council a report was presented about the upcoming July 29th meeting.
The meeting was approved by Council at their July 8th meeting after the City Clerk’s office ruled a 1,928 signature petition - submitted by the Good Neighbours Group (GNG) to force a public meeting - failed to meet the five percent of electors (approximately 1,683 voters) threshold as set out by the Cities Act to force a public meeting.
The City Clerks office had ruled 620 of the signatures on the 200 page petition were invalid and therefore the petition did not meet the requirements of the Act.
In Council on Monday afternoon Councillor Dawn Luhning - who works in the Downtown - questioned what the purpose of the meeting was and what would it - if anything - accomplish.
Councillor Dawn Luhning at a recent Council meeting - MJ Independent file photo
“There are no answers to this,” Councillor Luhning said.
“What is our goal for this meeting? What, what is our outcome going to be from this meeting? I understand the people involved in the petition want to be heard and I get that,” she said, adding “however I just think we are all busy people and we need to have some kind of a goal at the end of this. What’s the next step because quite frankly I think it’s going to be an evening where it’s a little combative.”
Councillor Luhning said she was not interested in attending a lengthy meeting that is full of complaints.
“I’m not much interested in sitting through a meeting where everybody is going to be complaining saying we are not doing this and we’re not doing that and blah, blah, blah.”
City Manager Maryse Carmichael said the meeting’s purpose was to “learn and share about a specific topic.”
Carmichael said she did not know what the City could take away from the public meeting.
“I think it’s a chance for everyone to discuss how important it is and what we can take away from it can be I don’t know. We’ll see if we have some residents come with new ideas and suggestions and to see the support for all of the different services currently in the city,” she said.
As of Monday afternoon’s Council meeting ten people were registered to address the meeting.
Councillor Luhning cautioned the meeting is not going to result in a solution. A solution she said was a long way off.
“If anybody thinks we are going to come up with a solution after this or a couple of meetings after this I think you’re sadly mistaken,” she said.
“I look at this as there are so many issues, there are so many complicated issues out there that there is not a cookie cutter solution to this.”
She went on to say if there were just ten people in the room there were a multitude of different issues each requiring a different solution.
Councillor Luhning said it would take time “to come up with some solutions for this. And I’m very interested to see what we are going to hear on Monday night…and then what the next steps are.”
Councillor Heather Eby, an ally of Councillor Luhning, said she was hoping the meeting would be solution based and not just personal gripes.
“I really hope that this, when people are speaking, is solution based and not anecdotal…to go and just hear everybody talk about who did what and what they saw that’s not going to be helpful,” Councillor Eby said.
“If this is a solution based meeting, as we’re told it’s going to be, I really think that needs to be enforced because I’m not interested in sitting in another meeting like that again.”
People sleeping in an ATM vestibule earlier this year - MJ Independent file photo
It needs to be noted this will be the first public meeting held by the City but the GNG Grouo has held their own public town hall as well as a private non-media invited smaller event for downtown businesses.
Councillor Eby is the City’s rep for the downtown Moose Jaw business group. It is unknown if she attended the smaller more private meeting.
“It’s not helpful anymore. I know. I get it. We know it’s bad. We’ve heard the stories but that’s not going to help us get to the solution which is what I think the petitioners are wanting.”
“If it’s solution based I’m all for it. If it goes sideways I’m not interested,” Councillor Eby said.
Councillor Crystal Froese said she was hopeful something positive and collaborative would result because of federal and provincial politicians attending the meeting.
“If the levels of government don’t take responsibility and look to make some changes we are just going to be back here again you know next year or next week or whatever talking about the same issues and the same problems,” Councillor Froese said.
Councillor Kim Robinson said the meeting has come about because a wide swath of Moose Jaw residents are feeling their concerns are not being heard.
“I think this is a way our residents are feeling that they are not being heard. I don’t see this as going to be very contentious,” Councillor Robinson said.
He quoted Margaret Meade to “never doubt a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has” to make the point the meeting and the concerns coming forward do have a purpose.
“I commend this (GNG) Group for getting this off of the ground. I mean nothing is happening at least we’re getting together and listening,” Councillor Robinson said.
He commended city manager Carmichael for putting together “what appears to be a very rounded public meeting.”
The public meeting’s cost is $7,600 being funded by the City’s contingency budget which has $40,000 allocated on an annual basis.
The public meeting will be held:
Monday, July 29, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre – 2nd floor meeting room.
Eligible voters wishing to speak at the meeting are asked to register with the City Clerk’s Office. You may email: cclerk@moosejaw.ca, call 306-694-4426, or visit the City Clerk’s office, 2nd floor Moose Jaw City Hall, between 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.
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