Council discusses purchase for shelter but item doesn’t make open agenda

City Hall is looking into buying the former Champions Centre location, potentially providing a route for plans to build an overnight homeless shelter that were stalled this summer.

Neighbouring businesses on N. Railway Street objected to the shelter and municipal planning commission members voted to table the proposal by the Mustard Seed, asking for more discussion between the two sides.

Shelter operators eventually withdrew the application, but indicated that if city staffers or commissions wanted to only temporarily approve a shelter while planners study compatibility, the city should provide a building.

A potential offer for the city to acquire the building on N. Railway Street was discussed in closed session prior to Tuesday’s regular council meeting. The details and discussion are protected under freedom of information rules, according to the city clerk’s office, though no formal action flowed on to council’s “open” agenda, where council must transact official business.

Council members also do not discuss “in-camera” items.

Last week, administrators told the public services committee a potential shutdown of shelter services this winter — as the current building is now listed for sale by the owner — was a high-priority issue.

The minutes from the public services committee read:

“Management is working with stakeholders: the (landlord) Salvation Army, the Mustard Seed (operator) and the Government of Alberta (which funds the service) in an effort to find viable options for continued availability of emergency shelter services.”

It arrives months after a plan to convert the storefront was debated and officials of the Mustard Seed stated a shorter than two-year development permit would be problematic considering the investment involved.

Mustard Seed executive director Colette Eirich made the statement at the end of the June 22 municipal planning meeting commission meeting, stating her group would have to re-evaluate its investment to buy and renovate the space.

The Mustard Seed declined comment on the current shelter situation when asked by the News.