A review of the Downtown Nanaimo Community Safety Action Plan found the downtown area apparently feels safer and looks cleaner, but a lack of data makes it hard to determine if there is less social disorder.
The plan was launched in 2022 as a response to highly visible homelessness, open drug abuse, vandalism, and disorder.
Approximately two years later, the city engaged Deloitte to do an evaluation, which was presented to the Governance and Priorities Committee on Monday.
Deloitte interviewed key stakeholders, such as employees of Nanaimo, Community Safety Officers and Clean Teams members, service providers, neighbourhood associations, business associations, and members of the city’s vulnerable population.
The report says Community Safety Officers and Clean Teams, “made a notable impact on the perception of safety and cleanliness of downtown areas,” and though challenges remain, the area stakeholders say the situation would have been worse without the teams.
Deloitte found that of the 14 actions laid out in the plan, seven have been fully implemented.
They include private security for parkades, the Community Safety Officer Program, the RCMP Downtown Engagement Team, Enhanced Clean Team, a Vandalism Relief Grant, and cleaners for downtown parkades.
Four others were partially implemented, and one – the Downtown Ambassador Program – is incomplete.
Deloitte says all recommendations should be implemented, but the most important steps would be to increase CSOs and expand their hours and coverage area and expand the Clean Teams.
It also says Nanaimo should focus on outcomes that are clearly defined, within the control of those responsible for them, and measurable and based on a well-understood baseline.
Measurement of outcomes should include input from the public, interested and impacted partners, and stakeholders.
The Deloitte report also recommends the city work with organisations and groups that have overlapping mandates, and include truth and reconciliation, preventative measures, youth-specific measures, and housing or shelter infrastructure, such as warming centers operating around the clock.
Deloitte points out that the complex roots of the problems faced by Nanaimo cannot be addressed with a single organization and a multi-agency approach and joint strategy are required to deal with the underlying causes.
The Governance and Priorities Committee is recommending Nanaimo Council have a cost analysis done on the possible expansion of the Community Safety Officer and Clean Team programs.
Read the full report by Deloitte.
