You can ask questions at the four community dialogues on homelessness the city has scheduled for October.
Just don’t think you can stand on your soapbox and ramble on forever about the issue and how to fix it.
Maple Ridge city announced the dates for the four sessions on Monday.
They’ll be Oct. 20, 26, Nov. 3 and 9 at the Genstar Theatre in the Arts Centre Theatre.
The intent is to inform the public about the issue by having a keynote speaker and a panel of experts at each of the dialogues, or meetings.
“I just want to be clear about that … that is what the sessions are for, to raise the awareness level,” said Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read.
The theatre can accommodate about 250 people, so pre-registration is required. But for those who can’t make it, the meetings will be livestreamed.
Council also will invite a limited number of politicians from other cities.
“We want this to really inform people on the issues,” said Coun. Bob Masse.
The first of the four dialogues is titled W5: The Who, What, When, Where and How of Homelessness.
The second dialogue is called Jurisdictional Matters: Challenges and Opportunities, and will discuss legal issues.
Understanding Mental Health and Addictions is the topic of the third and Housing Solutions is the fourth.
The meetings will precede the rezoning application around the property at 21375 Lougheed Hwy. that is being proposed as a housing complex and homeless shelter.
That process will entail B.C. Housing following the normal rezoning which involves a developer’s information meeting followed by four readings of the bylaw amendment, including a public hearing.