Proposed Cambridge sheltering bylaw shelved until the spring

CAMBRIDGE — The city’s proposed overnight sheltering bylaw — which would allow tents on unmaintained parkland, dusk until dawn — is shelved until spring.

That’s a sound move, according to Angela Raposo.

“I think it was good to defer and not to sign a bylaw right away,” the city resident of 20 years said on Wednesday, a day after city council opted to put off a decision on the controversial bylaw for four or five months.

“I know there may be people in need, but I think we need to do it the proper way and not just slap something down and call it done.”

Public meetings, the first on a bylaw that’s been in the works since homeless encampments were discovered on a trail between Preston and Hespeler in August, will be scheduled.

“Cambridge is trying to do its part,” said Raposo, who spoke at city council on Tuesday.

“We need to look at it more closely on how it’s going to impact everyone and bring in some stakeholders such as the police department and some more social services — and talk to the public, which they haven’t done yet.”

Those were also the orders for city staff as council passed the deferral. The bylaw, as it stood, was found lacking.

“There are lots of unanswered questions,” Coun. Mike Mann said.

Raposo said the bylaw forbade going to the bathroom while overnight sheltering but didn’t say if portable toilets or fresh water would be supplied. Fines for breaking the bylaw would start at $245.