Sarnia City Council is calling for improved communication with the county and more initiative from the provincial government regarding homeless encampments and where to temporarily offer shelter.
Councillor Bill Dennis' motion to issue an immediate letter to the premier to enact the notwithstanding clause to clear encampments was voted down during Monday night's virtual council meeting.
However, it did receive support from Councillors George Vandenburg and Anne Marie Gillis.
"It's a reasonable ask," said Gillis. "We are stuck. We are at an impasse and we can't keep doing this anymore."
Use of the notwithstanding clause would allow municipalities to take stronger measures, such as removing encampments, without potential legal ramifications.
Although 13 mayors from across the province -- including mayors of Chatham-Kent and Windsor -- have made such requests to the premier, 41 municipal councillors have asked for those letters to be rescinded.
"We need to save our city and the Rainbow Park neighbours, and the downtown community from the pure chaos in which they currently live," Dennis said.
Councillor Chrissy McRoberts said the number of homeless individuals at Rainbow Park has gone down because of current protocols in place with fencing and not being able to return once they've left.
"We are almost halfway of clearing out what has happened so that these folks who are neighbours of Rainbow Park get some relief out of that," said McRoberts. "Hopefully, the Ontario government steps up to have more jails put in place and more mental health clinics so that the people who need help can get it."
In the meantime, council approved Mayor Mike Bradley's motion to send correspondence to the Ontario government for encampments to be addressed as an urgent issue and for agencies to work together to come up with a comprehensive plan to tackle the issue.
The motion was previously unanimously adopted by Lambton County Council in May.
Bradley's motion also calls for Sarnia council to echo requests made by Ontario’s Big City Mayors to update the Mental Health Act and the Trespass to Property Act, to implement diversion courts, and to introduce legislation that prohibits open and public use of illicit drugs and public intoxications.
Meanwhile, Councillor Gillis questioned where homeless individuals will go during the winter as there has been negative feedback from residents who live near the current overflow shelter at the former Laurel-Lea St. Matthew's Presbyterian Church.
"The people want a voice and we all want to know when these things are going to be sprung on us because we are dealing with the consequence rather than the county," said Gillis.
Bradley said the city wasn't notified about shelters at the former Laurel-Lea or Central United churches until after the fact.
"We've been told that there are three or four locations under consideration for this winter," Bradley said. "I think we should pass a motion asking the county immediately to consult with city council on those locations so that you can have input on them before they occur."
Councillor Dennis, who voiced frustrations about the Laurel-Lea site during the last county council meeting, agreed, saying "you can't go wrong with transparency."
The motion, moved by Gillis, passed in an 8-1 vote. Councillor Terry Burrell voted against it.