Nanaimo city council will soon decide whether to erect a fence around the perimeter of the property to protect staff from the near-constant chaos at an adjacent overdose prevention site.The staff report is set to be considered by councillors on July 16.If passed, "robust decorative wrought iron fencing" would be erected around the south side of the city's Service and Resource Centre parking lot, thereby "fully enclosing it and eliminating vehicle/pedestrian access from Wesley Street," as well as around city hall's south parking lot. Two vehicle gates would be installed to ensure only authorized people enter the premises. Proponents are seeking an exemption to Nanaimo's fence height bylaw to allow the barrier to sit at 1.83 metres tall.The project, which includes a number of other minor site improvements, would cost around $412,000..According to the report, since the overdose prevention site relocated from 437 Wesley St. to 250 Albert St., the situation has gradually spiralled out of control. Staff have reported open drug use and trafficking at all hours of the day, as well as "vandalism and property damage to HVAC systems, fencing, and landscaping." They have also been subjected to "intimidation and harassment," and forced to deal with "frequent hit-and-run incidents and vehicular damage."The site is full of fire hazards, including "unauthorized fires set near doorways and building perimeters," and there is rampant "graffiti, litter, human waste, and general deterioration of site conditions.""The overdose prevention site serves a highly vulnerable and marginalized population," the report notes."Clients who access the site are often individuals experiencing multiple and complex challenges, including substance use disorder, homelessness or unstable housing, untreated trauma, and co-occurring mental and physical health conditions. Many live in extreme poverty and face significant barriers to accessing traditional healthcare and support services. The City continues to monitor the area in coordination with local partners and provides ongoing enforcement, maintenance, and harm reduction supports to manage the complex and evolving impacts of the OPS and broader community challenges."
