Sidney staff are working on bylaw changes that would restrict overnight use of public facilities, picnic shelters, stages and public structures within town parks.
At the council meeting Monday (Jan. 22), Sidney council approved three readings of amendments to parks bylaws.
“This will come forward in a future meeting for consideration of adoption,” Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith said at the meeting.
Staff believe that signage will be required to allow RCMP to easily enforce the restriction. The town has no overnight shelters.
“The increased presence of individuals engaging in late-night activities or seeking overnight accommodation in public facilities, picnic shelters, stages and public structures within town parks is challenging to enforce,” a staff report said.
The amended bylaw would restrict the use of the structures within Sidney parks between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., but the town’s parks will continue to remain open at all times. The hours were chosen with the help of RCMP.
“I understand the rationale for the bylaw, but the unhoused or unsheltered in our community staying overnight aren’t going to be able to pay a ticket or a fine,” said Coun. Scott Garnett.
Staff said a fine would more likely be enforced in a situation such as if rowdy teens were refusing to leave a picnic shelter late at night.
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