THUNDER BAY — On Monday night, city administration will resubmit recommendations for some of the distancing guidelines regarding homeless encampments around Thunder Bay.
On July 15, administration was tasked with looking at increasing the guidelines that focus on trails, sidewalks and parking lots from five metres to 10 metres.
Rilee Willianen, a city policy and research analyst, will participate in the presentation to city council.
Administrations recommendation is not to expand the current guideline of five metres to 10 metres surrounding sidewalks, trails, parking lots, and bridges.
She noted there are significant concerns and various impacts that might occur if these specific guidelines are expanded.
"There was three main reasons that were identified as to why that we are advising against it," Willianen said.
"First reason being, there's going to be an impact on occupied and unoccupied already compliant locations.
"Also, what may happen is you're going to have people that move further into open green spaces, which are typically in residential neighbourhoods, or people are going to move further into wooded areas or bushy areas and that creates access concerns for emergency services."
Willianen said the intent is "not to include or exclude any locations within these guidelines."
The policy analyst detailed that an internal software program is used to determine the impacts of different distances on proposed locations and areas of the city.
"[City administration is] certainly hopeful that they'll heed our recommendation. That's why we make recommendations, but ultimately, it's their decision," said Willianen.
Katie Nicholls is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter with Newswatch
