YELLOWHEAD COUNTY GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE AGENDA Tuesday, February 16, 2021 9:30 AM Our Mission Statement Building a better community for present and future generations. Vision Statement A responsible and diverse community of choice where quality of life matters. Page 1 of 70 GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA COUNCIL CHAMBERS YELLOWHEAD COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, EDSON, ALBERTA FEBRUARY 16, 2021 Page 1.0 AGENDA 1.01 Adoption of the Governance and Priorities Committee Agenda That Council for Yellowhead County adopts the February 16, 2021 Governance and Priorities Committee Meeting Agenda as presented. 2.0 SCHEDULED PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS 2.01 Edson and District Homelessness Project - Shelterpod 4 - 11 Pilot - Presenters: Anne Auriat, Edson and District Recycle Society Manager Christian Delisle, S/Sgt, Edson RCMP Christine Gilham, Public Health Inspector, Alberta Health Services Erica Snook-Pennings, Registered Social Worker, Edson Friendship Centre 2.02 Foothills Recreation Management Association 12 - 28 Presentation and Budget Request - Presented (remotely on-line) by Aaron Jones, RPF, Registered Professional Forrester, Hinton Wood Products 3.0 GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES ITEMS 3.01 UFA request for variance to road/ parking lot standards - 29 - 35 Hamlet of Wildwood 3.02 Vista Coal - Topic for Discussion 36 - 39 4.0 STRATEGIC PRIORITY ITEMS 4.01 Campground Review 40 - 59 5.0 AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARD (ASB) Yellowhead County Governance and Priorities Committee Meeting Agenda February 16, 2021 Page 2 of 70 6.0 FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES BOARD (FCSS) 6.01 Social Transportation Opportunity 60 - 65 7.0 HERITAGE ADVISORY BOARD 8.0 RECREATION BOARD 9.0 MAYOR AND COUNCILLOR REPORTS 9.01 Division 1 - Councillor Cherniawsky 9.02 Division 2 - Councillor Giezen 66 9.03 Division 3 - Councillor Lowe 9.04 Division 4 - Councillor Russell 9.05 Division 5 - Councillor Berry 67 9.06 Division 6 - Councillor Williams 68 9.07 Division 7 - Councillor Mitchell 69 9.08 Division 8 - Councillor Olson 70 9.09 Mayor Eglinski 10.0 CLOSED SESSION 11.0 ADJOURNMENT 11.01 Adjournment of the Governance and Priorities Committee Meeting That Council for Yellowhead County adjourns the February 16, 2021 Governance and Priorities Committee meeting. LAUNDRY ITEMS Yellowhead County Governance and Priorities Committee Meeting Agenda February 16, 2021 Page 3 of 70 Edson & District Homelessness Project SHELTERPOD PILOT CHALLENGE The Town of Edson and Yellowhead County has a significant population of individuals who are experiencing homelessness. This number averages, at minimum, anywhere from 50 - 80 people throughout the year. Over that past 5 ½ years with the Housing Plus+ Program, it seems that these individuals are about 70% Town of Edson residents and 30% are County residents. Many of these people sleep outside in the elements; through rainstorms, thunderstorms, snowstorms and the frigid temperatures of our winters. They hunker down in a variety of available spaces they can find in hopes to survive through to the next day. This becomes particularly evident during the winter months. The Edson Friendship Center, Housing Plus+ program has seen an increase in their client base since the start of the pandemic. On a daily basis, the Edson Recycling Depot has individuals accessing bins for sleeping. Local schools have people sleeping in their outdoor recycle sheds, which they have requested be removed. Tents have been pitched and then removed on an ongoing basis on town property. There have been a variety of houses and properties within and outside town limits where multiple people have been removed for squatting or overcrowding. This population is hard to house, as many are affected by mental illness and/or suffer from substance abuse disorder, affecting their daily lives. These people need an emergency room or space where they can get out of inclement weather during the night and feel safe and secure. COVID-19 has hit this vulnerable population hard with government funding disappearing and shelters or halfway houses closing such as the McCollough Centre, in Gunn. It is expected that our homeless population will continue to grow as this pandemic and economic climate continues. The Edson area currently does not have a shelter or space to house this vulnerable population. Rural communities are in a unique situation where there is limited funding but a significant need for housing, especially emergency housing. Historically rural communities have attempted MAT programs to address the issue of homelessness during the cold weather months. However due to the high reliance on volunteer base and lack of funding, it would seem that these programs are not sustainable long term. Proposal We would like to propose a PILOT project that we have currently dubbed Shelterpod. This is a space where persons can access a safe private room when they are unable to find another solution. The Edson Recycling Board has approved for one of their buildings to be partially converted into five separate small rooms. These rooms will be large enough to house one person and will provide a safe, secure and warm location for them to sleep without the threat of personal violence, theft of belongings or freezing to death. Five rooms will be built in the “plastics” building located at the Edson Recycling Depot. Persons will access these rooms from first avenue. The rooms will be built in accordance with the Alberta Building Code and Alberta Health Services. Page 1 of 3 Page 4 of 70 Each room will be approximately 40 square feet (8x5) which meets the MMHS of 32 sq feet for sleeping quarters. These rooms will open directly to the outdoors and have keypad lock that can be changed after each use. They will have heat, ventilation and a light that the client can turn on and off. Each room will have a smoke detector. Each pod will have a sleeping mat that can be easily cleaned and sanitized. The construction of these pods will also allow for easy cleaning after the person vacates in the morning. The Recycle depot is already outfitted with both cameras and alarms, so that the premises are regularly monitored. The leasing of these rooms will be done daily and managed by the Shelterpod committee. Clients will call a posted phone number or press the intercom to access an on-call worker to receive a code to open the door of one of the rooms. There will be an individual on call 7 days a week to manage the use of the rooms. This is meant for emergency housing only and will not be for long term housing. There will be a universal code programmed in for access to the pods. RCMP will be able to access an available room should they find an individual in need of emergency shelter. Access to the rooms will be from 6pm to 9am. At 9 am all tenants will be required to vacate the building so that cleaning and disinfecting of the rooms can take place. If tenants have not vacated the premises and assistance is required, the Registered Social Worker on the committee will be called to assist with their removal. If the client is violent or non-responsive the RCMP or emergency services will be called. A portable heated bathroom will be located onsite so that clients can access these facilities from 6pm to 9am. The pods will also address the COVID-19 requirements of maintaining 6 feet distance, while still being able to provide space for 5 individuals. We are proposing the location of the Recycle depot for several reasons. There are already individuals who are accessing bins for sleeping purposes. The pods will be built into an existing building. The location is away from residential housing and most businesses, so should minimize NIMBYs complaints. The camera and alarm systems are already in place. COST Initial One Time Cost Estimated costs to build to turn key: Heat, electricity, building materials, private entrance, extra cameras, ventilation, fire retardant, heated bathroom Total Costs $64,000 Page 2 of 3 Page 5 of 70 Operational Cost Cleaning, sanitization, phone, utilities about $1500/month Annual Operating Cost $18,000 ($10 per pod/night) FUNDING The Edson Friendship Centre is a non-profit agency and able to provide tax receipts. The RSW will be handling the donations. We are actively seeking donations at this time. To date in the community, we have raised $57,700. The Town of Edson has approved our project and we have received our development permit. The Town has committed to a $64,000.00 grant to the project from their COVID-19 Recovery Reserve. We would like to ask the Yellowhead County Council if they would consider some financial support of the project as well. BENEFITS This project will hopefully provide sustainable long term, low cost emergency shelter for our vulnerable population. This idea utilizes minimal volunteers and provides clients with a private space where they can feel safe. Should this pilot prove to be successful, we want to operate this facility year-round. Should the project not be successful, the pods can be removed and returned to the original use. COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS The daily running and responsibility of the facility will lie with The Edson Recycle Depot and the Housing Plus+ program. In developing the proposal, we have collaborated with the Town of Edson, Alberta Health Services, RCMP and Reflections. These partners are committed to supporting the project. TIMELINE We had anticipated having the pods ready for January 2021. However due to the fact that this is a pilot in the province, we experienced delays in receiving the building permit. Construction is well underway and we are anticipating being operational by mid/end of this month. Page 3 of 3 Page 6 of 70 EDSEN SHELTERPODS Edson and District 5237 1 Ave Edson, AB Recycling Society 17225 - 102 Avenue Edmonton AB T5S 1J8 Canada T7E 1T2 T 780.486.6400 F 780.486.6401 www.aci-arch.com Page 7 of70 ARCHITECTURAL PRIME CONSULTANT MECHANICAL ELECTRICAL ACI ARCHITECTS INC.