Task force chair concerned that homeless get needed supports

By Toyin Obatusin - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on November 16, 2024.

The Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force was approved by city council in November of 2023, and established a month later.
A sub-committee to the Safety and Social Standing Policy Committee, the task force was set up to aid in keeping the City of Lethbridge true to the vision of improving residents’ quality of life, meeting the community’s changing needs and fostering a prosperous local economy.
Hunter Heggie, chair of the task force, is owner of King of Trade along 5 Street downtown in an area where homelessness, drug abuse and graffiti greatly affect businesses.
Heggie, who is on the Lethbridge Police Commission and the board of the Downtown Business Revitalization Zone, grew up just outside Lethbridge and says “I think that I’ve got a pretty good pulse on what’s happening. I’ve been fairly involved in the community for my whole life, not just in business, but with being involved for public initiatives like the Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force, I’m on the police commission for the City, as well, which gives me another point of view of this situation, I’m on the BRZ board.”
Hunter reiterates the fact that having a diverse group of people as board members with different backgrounds has given the task force success as there are multiple points of views, and occupational/educational backgrounds.
Safety concerns are not just surrounding the downtown, although businesses there have been greatly impacted financially and emotionally by the circumstances that surround the area.
Hunter’s main concerns are that homeless people loitering in front of storefront receive the support that they need, as well as the safety of his customers and staff members coming in and out of the business.
The task force’s focus is to “identify the symptoms and depth of lawless behaviours and their impacts in our city, identify stakeholders to strategize on responses and resourcing requirements, work collaboratively with stakeholders to identity solutions, provide recommended solutions to the membership organization for action, develop a joint communication plan for this task force and its member stakeholders, consider how any recommendations from the task force can support and/or integrate with existing encampment, shelter and housing strategies developed and being implemented by the City of Lethbridge.”
The needs of the community have been thoroughly evaluated by the many stakeholders within the task force and they were able to come up with a plan, as well as simple solutions that can be handled by non-police members.
Changes are coming to the task force which is being transitioned to an administrative committee with current members having the option to join it.
After a meeting of the Governance Standing Policy committee recently, several recommendations were developed and will be sent to council for consideration.
They include:
• Approve the task force Summary and Recommendations document as a guide in principle and resource to inform future updates of a Downtown Clean and Safe Strategy (DCSS).
• Refer this matter to Administration to develop an administrative committee and consider updates to its terms of reference.
• Disband the task force after the administrative committee is struck. Current members will have the option to join the updated committee.
• Refer the funding request for a two-year term Community Safety Coordinator position, to expedite any future work on the DCSS, to the Nov. 13 operating budget review deliberations.
On Wednesday, the Economic and Finance SPC, as part of an omnibus motion, voted to recommend council approve a budget initiative for the community safety coordinator for $122,500 in 2025 and $123,000 in 2026 with funding from City operating reserves as a one-time allocation.
A report to the SPC on Wednesday said that a dedicated safety role reinforces the City’s commitment to safety which could enhance public trust and support.

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