The public consultation, which opened today, will help inform Council's new, over-arching Community Safety Plan.
Feedback can be provided on a range of topics including the Community Safety Roundtable report recommendations noted at last night's Council meeting.
Councillors voted unanimously to continue following up several Roundtable recommendations which fit within existing policies and budgets, such as enhancing existing partnerships and developing a protocol with Victoria Police and key service providers to further support a coordinated response.
Community members can also comment on a potential Local Laws amendment allowing Council to designate encampment "hotspots", which are raising amenity or safety concerns, as temporary no-camping areas.
This potential change would only be considered as a last resort if offers of housing and health care by social service providers were not taken up by people experiencing homelessness.
People experiencing homelessness and people with complex needs would retain the current exemption allowing them to camp on Council land with the exception of designated no-camping areas. The potential change does not involve fining them.
A protocol with police and service providers setting out everyone's agreed responsibilities would be a pre-requisite if Councillors agreed to proceed with this potential change after considering a report.
Mayor Louise Crawford stressed the only decision made was to consult on the potential amendment to help interrogate whether it would be effective and fit-for-purpose.
"The majority of Councillors felt this potential option should go to consultation to give our community the opportunity to comment. We will carefully consider their views as part of the assessment of whether we should progress further - or not," she said.
Diverse views expressed by community members and Councillors showed how challenging it was to find a way forward on this complex issue.
"It was very clear from the discussions, however, that we all have the same goal of everyone feeling safe in our City. It is important to find a way forward that is both effective and compassionate."
The consultation follows police asking Council to make changes to its Local Laws relating to encampments.
