CITY TO TAKE SECOND LOOK AT ADDICT HOUSING

City councillors decided Monday a committee should establish the
criteria for the location of a $4.5-million homeless housing project
and seek public input.

However, the new committee, to be composed of staff representatives
from the city, Interior Health and B.C. Housing, along with members of
the general public, will have only 90 days to report back to council,
which wants the suggested criteria back in 30 days.

At the end of a nearly two-hour debate Monday, planning director Ron
Mattiussi promised to report back to council at next Monday's meeting
on possible committee members and the timeline, in recognition of the
impending Christmas-New Year's holidays.

The public representatives will likely be from the three town centres:
downtown, Rutland and South Pandosy, since residents of the 30-unit
apartment should be close to services such as public transit,
training, employment, health and retail stores.

The downtown representative(s) won't necessarily be from St. Paul
Street, where a four-storey commercial/residential building was
proposed by the three partners on Nov. 21.

Council approved Coun. Robert Hobson's list of principles the
committee should use, including: the three partners will recommend the
best location with city council having the final say; it reaffirmed
the city's support and role, not as a proponent but as a participant
in the search for a site; and the IHA and B.C. Housing should answer
all questions about the housing project's operation.

"We couldn't have asked for a better outcome," commented Jim Carta,
spokesman for the St. Paul Street business area, outside the council
chambers.

"Our concern has always been the legitimacy of the process," said
Carta. "Council sent a message it wants input from the public.
Frankly, I think everybody wins."

Mayor Sharon Shepherd, presiding over her first official council
business meeting, commented afterwards: "I'm not sure if (St. Paul
Street) is the right location; I'm not convinced we've evaluated all
the options. It may turn out to be the right location; I honestly
don't know what the solution is."

She nodded when asked by reporters if Monday's decision to seek public
input should have occurred earlier.

"We're going to learn something from this process. I'm excited about
how the community is engaged, but I think there will be concerns
raised no matter where it is."

Her comments echoed those of David Shipclark, the city's real estate
manager. He indicated at the onset of the discussion that if a dart
was thrown at a map of Kelowna 10 times to pinpoint 10 potential
locations, the response would be the same in each neighbourhood: some
would support it and some would not, principally due to the location.

As of Friday, the city had received 156 responses to its plans -- and
more flooded in Monday. "They range from `Move it out of town' to
outright support," he said, and every opinion in-between.

Ashley Chester from B.C. Housing told council he met Friday with 12
non-profit organizations interested in operating the supportive
housing project for men and women 19 years of age and older who will
be involved in IHA counseling programs on addiction and mental health.

The organizations have until Feb. 2 to submit detailed proposals with
a decision on the operator by the end of February. The goal is to
retain a design team, plan the programming and make the details public
in late spring. Construction is expected to begin in early 2007, with
completion and occupancy by the end of 2007.

At this time, there is no specific deadline to start or finish the
project.