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Home My WebLink AboutCSD-20-001 - Neighbourhood Association Affiliation 2020REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING:January 13, 2020 SUBMITTED BY: Mark Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs and Services, 519-741-2200 ext 7687 PREPARED BY:Steve Roth, Manager, Community Centres, 519-741-2200 ext 7077 WARD (S) INVOLVED:All DATE OF REPORT: December 19, 2019 REPORT NO.:CSD-20-001 SUBJECT:Neighbourhood Association Affiliation 2020 ___________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION: That the list of proposed Neighbourhood Associations, as attached to Community Services Department report CSD-20-001,be approved for affiliation for the year 2020 and added to the City of Kitchener’s third party liability insurance program. BACKGROUND: In July 2002, Kitchener City Council approved the introduction of an Affiliation Policy for Kitchener Neighbourhood Associations (NAs). This policy and approval/renewal process was developed in collaboration with staff and Neighbourhood Association (NA)representatives. Its purpose is to ensure thatNAgroups on the official list receive access to City of Kitchener supports and resources. As well, the policy clarifies the role and responsibilities of the NAs andthe City. As outlined in the policy, NAs will: Be a voluntary, not-for-profit, non-partisan, non-denominational group based in a geographic neighbourhood within the borders of the City of Kitchener. Be inclusive of and responsive to the needs of the community within the specific geographic area defined by the group. Be open to the public and make this known through communication to the residents of that neighbourhood by, at a minimum, publishing a contact number or through other means such as a newsletter. Have some level of activity with, at minimum, a contact person. Have some structure for accountability. The City of Kitchener provides affiliated NAs: Coverage by a commercial general liability insurance policy, provided through the Waterloo Region Municipalities Insurance Pool. Access to facilities, program grants, staff assistance and printing for newsletters, minutes and flyers (subject to guidelines and budgetary availability). *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994for assistance. 1 - 1 REPORT: Annually,the affiliation of NAs is approved and/or renewed for thefollowing reasons: To ensure that NAson the list are active and continue to meetthe criteria for affiliation; To ensure that the contact information for affiliated NAs is current; and To obtain permission to release contact information to the public and staff. Thirty Neighbourhood Associations are being recommended for affiliation in 2020, including a group who has been re-establishedin Ward 3 (Grand Hill Village Neighbourhood Association) and a new group known as The Downtown Kitchener Neighbourhood Association. Residents of a Downtown Kitchener neighbourhood contacted the City of Kitchener in 2018 with an expressed interest in forming a Downtown Kitchener Neighbourhood Association(DTKNA). Over the course of 2018, the Downtown Kitchener resident group met with current neighbourhood associations that bordered the proposed Downtown Kitchener Neighborhood Association boundaries. Through these meetings the group was able to identify that their needs are different from the existing surrounding neighbourhood associations; many residents are renters or living in condo style buildings. All of the existing neighbourhood associations were supportive of the development of DTKNA. The boundaries for this proposed Neighbourhood Association would be Joseph Street to Victoria Street to Weber Street to Scott Street, with a small jut-out down Benton to Courtland and back up Queen to Joseph.This area is comprised of 1639 households. In the early months of 2019, the residents hosted three community meet-ups within the downtown core. The purpose was to learn more about the residents of the downtown core and how they want to create community. Out of these meetings, three residents confirmed their interest in continuing the pursuit of an official neighbourhood association. In August 2019, the residents received funding through the City of Kitchener to further engage and advertise the DTKNA through a targeted post card mailer and develop a website. In September 2019 members of the downtown core partnered with Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association to host the Gaukel Street Pop Up. The purpose of the Downtown Kitchener Neighbourhood Association is to enhance and animate community spaces, plan and run social and community-building events, and provide support to programming run through the DNA. Grand Hill Village Neighbourhood Associationhas been in operation for 55 years. This group holds holiday parties, tea socials, neighbourhood clean ups, and Christmas Light competitions. Through these smaller scale events, they connect neighbours and deepen community. As leadership transitioned, GHVNA’s affiliation with the City lapsed in 2017.As new members joined the association, GHVNA sought to be re- affiliated with the City. The reasons they are seeking affiliation are: (1) Staff Support (2) Recognition onCity’s Website (3) Insurance. Both organizations arevoluntary, not for profit, non-partisan, non-denominational groups and haveall of the require characteristics as outline in the affiliation policy for City of Kitchener Neighbourhood Associations. 1 - 2 Thirty NAs are being recommended in 2020 for affiliation.Volunteers from these Associations contribute countless hours to enhance the quality of life in their neighbourhoods by: i) planning and implementing recreation programming in communitycentres, schools and churches across the city; ii) offering special events reflecting residentinterests andcelebrating significant milestones; and/ or iii) responding to neighbourhood issues in areas such as planning, heritage, safety and social needs. Please find attached a list of thirtyNAs being recommended foraffiliation with the City of Kitchener in 2020(see Appendix A). Staff iscurrently working on modificationsand updates to the Neighbourhood Association Affiliation agreement. We anticipate bringing a draft of this policyto council in May of 2020. If approved, we anticipate keeping the existing policy in place for the rest of 2020, with a formal roll out of the new policy for 2021, while engaging all Neighbourhood Associations on the new policyfor its roll out in the new year. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: The recommendation of this report supports the achievement of the city’s strategicvision through the delivery of core service. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: There are currently no financial implications. Services to NAsareprovided through the NeighbourhoodPrograms and Services budget and printing process.However, as the population of the City of Kitchener increases and new neighbourhoods emerge,the current funding and support available to NAs willneed to be reassessed to maintain thevibrancy and level of support to Kitchener neighbourhoods. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Staff hasconsulted with NAsconcerning the affiliation process, and will confirm affiliation status for 2020, once approved. Information sharing and collaboration will occur as appropriate with emerging neighbourhood groups in regard to the process for affiliation. The approved 2020affiliation list will be shared with internal divisions such as Information Technology, Clerk's, and Communications to maintain updated information for access by the public, Council and staff. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO, Community Services 1 - 3 APPENDIX A Community Programs and Services 2020 Neighbourhood Associations and Ward Councillors WardWard CouncillorNeighbourhood Association Bridgeport Community Association WARD ONEScott Davey Stanley Park Community Association Centreville-Chicopee Community Association WARD TWODave Schnider Stanley Park Community Association Kingsdale Neighbourhood Association WARD THREEJohn Gazzola Grand Hill Village Neighbourhood Association Settler’s Grove Association Caryndale Neighbourhood Association WARD FOURChristine Michaud Doon Pioneer Park Community Association Huron Community Association WARD FIVEKelly Galloway-Sealock Williamsburg Community Association Alpine Neighbourhood Association WARD SIXPaul Singh North Six Neighbourhood Association Country Hills Recreation Association Boardwalk Neighbourhood Association WARD SEVENBill Ioannidis Forest Heights Community Association Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association WARD EIGHTMargaret Johnston Forest Heights Community Association Greenbelt Neighbourhood Association Victoria Hills Neighbourhood Association Westmount Neighbourhood Association Cedar Hill Community Group WARD NINEDebbie Chapman Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association Downtown Kitchener Neighbourhood Assoc. Highland-Stirling Community Group Mill-Courtland Neighbourhood Association Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance Auditorium Neighbourhood Association WARD TENSarah Marsh Central Frederick Neighbourhood Association Downtown Kitchener Neighbourhood Assoc. King East Neighbourhood Association Mt-Hope Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association Olde Berlin Towne Neighbourhood Association Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance Mayor: Berry Vrbanovic 1 - 4