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By Sadie Hunter

In the Loop

HUNTER: Decorum, respect key to new Kamloops council getting off on the right foot

Nov 15, 2022 | 10:36 AM

TODAY, THE NEWLY MINTED CITY COUNCIL will get to work with the first business meeting since the inaugural meeting two weeks ago.

I’m genuinely curious to see how the meeting unfolds with so many newbies on board, many who have little-to-no experience with Robert’s Rules of Order, including the mayor who chairs the meeting.

Robert’s Rules are a parliamentary procedure designed to conduct orderly and fair meetings. While not required legislatively by the Community Charter, it is required under the City of Kamloops Council Procedure Bylaw which regulates the general procedure of council and council committee meetings.

Robert’s Rules are often the standard process adopted by municipalities, regional districts and boards because the rules encourage all members to use the same language and participate in deliberation and debate in the same manner, which helps to keep meetings orderly and efficient.

I might have already lost you because this sounds really boring and dry. Fair enough. When I started on council, I was handed a guidebook on Robert’s Rules to read, and it put me to sleep. I had to read it while riding an exercise bike to stay awake.

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The reason I think the procedure will be important is because this council has already started off with some internal conflicts. For a meeting to stay on track and debate to happen respectfully and effectively, there needs to be some order. Otherwise, the meetings will be chaotic with people talking over each other and little will get done. Robert’s Rules force you to keep your emotions in check and present your thoughts and ideas coherently.

The real test will come when council is discussing hot-button issues like the current winter shelter situation in today’s meeting. This is when process will be key in keeping the discussion from devolving.

I mean, I’m frustrated with the current winter shelter situation. There was a lot of work done by both the previous council and staff to proactively ensure winter shelter space was in place far in advance. All this work flew out the window when one of the key operators stepped down from the role right as the first cold snap hit Kamloops.

My frustration is insignificant in all of this though. What really matters are the lives lost due to exposure to the elements. When we lost community members last winter, there was a collective effort to make sure it didn’t happen again – yet here we are.

At the May 31, 2022, closed council meeting, council authorized administration to establish short-term facility licenses with BC Housing for temporary winter shelter use at Stuart Wood and the Yacht Club between November 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.

In October 2022, BC Housing mobilized and prepared both sites to be ready for a November 1 opening. BC Housing also identified an operator who, on October 19, 2022, informed BC Housing and the city they would not take on any additional shelters this year.

I’m grateful to Out of the Cold who has stepped up to operate the 25-bed temporary winter shelter at Stuart Wood until March 31. I’m also grateful to The Mustard Seed who came forward to help operate the 19-bed extreme weather response shelter at the Yacht Club, confirming yesterday they will continue to operate this location for the rest of the season.

ASK Wellness (who is also appearing as a delegation at today’s meeting) also stepped up to operate two 24/7 warming centres at Spero House on the North Shore and Crossroads on the south shore as long as there is staff available. Which brings me to another important point – capacity limitations.

It’s probably safe to say most service agencies in the city are experiencing staffing shortages. It’s extremely difficult for these agencies to meet the demands for short-term staffing requirements when they are often understaffed to begin with. This is something I think the provincial government needs to keep in mind when allocating resources.

If the same operators are expected to offer these services every year, then they need the certainty and continuity of ongoing funding. These agencies simply can’t recruit and staff programs with very little notice or under the constraints of project-specific funding. To retain staff, the agencies need ongoing operational funding to ensure they have enough staff to meet demands, whether the demand is an emergency shelter or providing additional outreach.

What these agencies, and their staff, also need is community support. Can you imagine wanting to work for an employer who is constantly under fire and the target of public extreme anger – even threats?

This environment only makes it even more difficult to hire employees. People need to feel appreciated for the incredibly hard work they are doing and the services they provide. So, while we might not be able to solve all of the challenges around the winter shelter crisis, we can vocally support and respect the agencies on the ground doing the work.

This respect starts with the tone set by our elected leadership. This tone is set by how business is conducted, which is framed by following the process and procedure in the council meeting bylaw.

So, yes Robert’s Rules are dry and boring. They are also critical to civility and respectful discourse in council chambers, which sets the tone for the entire community.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.