HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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