REGINA - The City of Regina provided an update this week on the fencing put up on the grounds in front of City Hall, and word is they are expected to stay a while.
The fences had been put up three weeks ago after the homeless encampment in front of City Hall was decommissioned. The encampment had been cleared out on orders from Regina Fire following a number of fires at the location.
At the time, the city had stated the fencing was to stay in place until property repairs were completed. But on Wednesday City Manager Niki Anderson said to reporters she did not have a timeline for when the fences might be removed.
Anderson said that she had “no money in this year’s budget to redo the front of City Hall.”
“The work plan for park staff has been set for the summer. So we’ve tried to make sure that it’s fenced off in a way where residents could still easily enter the building, there are some picnic tables and fountains still there, but I do not have a date in which the fencing will be removed.”
When asked if they were looking at next year for the work there to be done, Anderson said “potentially yes.”
Anderson did not have a specific number for the cost of repairs and cleanup but did say it was estimated at $60,000.
When asked about the options for administration in the budget to address it, Anderson responded “when we are looking into next year‘s budget, frankly, you allot what’s there next year to what needs to be done. I would also reinforce that it is also about prioritization of work that we already committed to, frankly, for the rest of the residents here in Regina.”
