HomeMy WebLinkAboutCompass Kitchener - 2022-06-01
COMPASS KITCHENER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JUNE 1, 2022CITY OF KITCHENER
The Compass Kitchener Advisory Committee metelectronicallythis date, commencing at 4:05p.m.
Present:Ms. J. Stephens-Wells –Chair,Ms. L. Terry, Ms. K. Williams,Ms. L. Trumper, Ms. M.
Goveas, Ms. L. Gazzolaand Messrs.O. Samadand J. Orbegoso.
Staff:A. Fritz-Walters, Engagement Program Manager –Strategic Planning
L. Korabo, Committee Administrator
1.DEBRIEF -ALL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING RESULTS
Compass Kitchener membersshared their feedbackregarding use ofMural softwareduring the
recent All Advisory Committee Meeting for Chairs and Vice-Chairs;comments ranged from
finding the software difficult to use to support for the program’sabilityto capture input from many
people at the same time. Asuggestionwas made to allow participants a longer periodto add
ideas to the Mural board if the software was to be used in the future.Input was also shared on
thevaluable collaboration/discussions that occur in smaller break-out groups.Committee
members also noted thatfor some attendees the up-front use of the ‘doughnut economics’ model
presented more challenges than benefits in terms of promoting dialogueandinputfrom
attendees.
Ms. A. Fritz-Walters advised that feedback aboutthe doughnut model wasshared with the
consultants,and it has been decided to not use this model as an education piece when doing
public engagement; rather, the model may be used as a method to display information. In lieu
of this, public engagement will focus on asking the question ‘What is important to you?”.
Compass Kitchener was in receipt of results from the exercises conductedduring the All
Advisory Committee meeting for Chairs and Vice-Chairs.A summary of results is provided
below.
Exercise #1focused on engagement techniques and best practices and feedback was provided
outlining a desire to use a variety of methods to reach an expanded list of stakeholders. A desire
to ensure there are no barriers to engagement wasalso shared (e.g. provide paper copies for
older community members)along with a request to ensure that information /invitation to engage
issent to invitees at least one week in advance. Regarding the work to design engagement,
feedback was provided to ensure accessibility and a meaningful connect to the stakeholder
group. There was a broad indication from participantsthat facilitated engagement was
considered a very useful tool.
RegardingExercise #2on co-developing engagement opportunities, feedback shared by
participantsidentified where committees intersectedwith different dimensions of the doughnut
(e.g. good health, housing, sense of community and access to culture) andexplored potential
engagement opportunities.
2.STRATEGIC PLAN –PROPOSED DETAILS ENGAGEMENT PLAN
Compass Kitchener was provided with a summary table of input to the Environics survey results
from both Committee members and City Council. The summary identified seven themeswhere
more learning was desired:
Environment/sustainability;
Housing affordability;
Services for vulnerable populations, mental health,and wellbeing;
Transportation/roads;
Taxes and affordability;
Publicengagement; and,
Core services.
After Ms. A. Fritz-Walters reviewed thislist and associated questions, Committee members
provided additional commentary, requests for clarity in some areas and input regarding actions
which would be beneficial to include in the public engagement component. Examples of clarity
questions were definingwhat is meant by ‘sustainability’; are questions related to taxes and
affordability driven by the current high level of inflation or more historical context;and
differentiating between affordable housing andhousing affordability.
COMPASS KITCHENER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JUNE 1, 2022-12-CITY OF KITCHENER
2.STRATEGIC PLAN –PROPOSED DETAILS ENGAGEMENT PLAN(CONT’D)
Ms. Fritz-Walters advised the Committee that when this information was recently shared with
the Corporate Leadership Team, they requested some additional analysis by Environics and
identified areas of interest. Environics will be requested to undertake this additional work, the
results of which will also be shared with Compass Kitchener.
Ms. Fritz-Walters then shared the themes tobe surveyed during Phase 1 engagement scheduled
to commence shortly and run untilthe municipal election in October. Selected themes are
generally those previously listed: environment/sustainability, housing affordability, mental
health/services for vulnerable populations, transportation/urban development, public
engagement/ affordability/taxes/user fees.Some members raised concern regarding obvious
areas not identified for engagement andwere advised that other documents (e.g. MIK2.0)
already exist andfocus on specific areas like arts & culture and the business community.
Following some additional discussion, the Committee agreed with moving forward with the
identified topics to gather public input.
Ms. A. Fritz-Walters shared the engagement plan tactics for Phase 1 which will include a series
of questionsfor each of the theme areas. The hope is to create a community conversation
around these topics and understand why they are important to citizens. Phase 1 will include both
digital (e.g.EngageWR platform) and in-person connections (e.g. focus groups and popups). A
list of priority outreach groups has been prepared and it was noted that each will receive an
invitation to thepublic engagement process. The invitation was prepared with the assistance of
the Equity, Anti-Racism,and Indigenous Initiatives team to ensure inclusivity and appropriate
messaging.
Committee members were requested to share input and/or support for the Phase 1 engagement
proposal and were also requestedto consider assisting at events insupportofstaff. Ms. J.
Stephens-Wells askedthat consideration be given to how to best include input from areas not
specifically targeted for public engagementevents(e.g. arts & culture, economic development).
Members were advised that approval has been obtained to employ a street team of three staff
to work on community outreach by attending neighbourhood events and other planned
gatherings. Itwas suggested that public engagementactivitiesbe held at community centers
and designed/timedtoreach out to those accessing food sharing programsas these are
residents whomight not otherwise participate in the public engagement activities.Committee
membersexpressed support for the breadth of public engagement eventsand modes of
gathering input beingconsideredandnoted the challengewill be in findingthe right mechanism
for effectivelyrecording the range of ideas and input received.
Committee members will be provided with a list of engagement opportunities and were
requested to consider their availability to attend and assist with public engagement. Members
were also reminded to share any known engagement opportunities or community connections
not already known with A. Fritz-Walters.
Ms. A. Fritz-Walters then provided preliminary information regarding engagement planning for
Phase 2 which is scheduled to run from November 2022 until development of the draft Strategic
Plan in February2023. Thisphase willtake a more collaborative approach to developing the
strategic goals and actions than has been used in the past. Previously, Compass Kitchener
developed the draft list of community priorities based on public feedback with this list then
provided to staff to develop the strategic actions and goals. The list of draft actions and goals
was then shared back with the Committee and eventually, the community. For the new Strategic
Plan, it is proposed that Compass Kitchener becomeinvolved and hosta group of community
volunteers to be part of the planning process to identify the goals and actions and help craft the
Strategic Plan: a more hands-on approach. Todo this, volunteerswho are representativeof
the community’s diversity will be recruited to work collaboratively with the Committee, facilitated
by Refocus Consultants. The results of the collaborative work willbe a draft Strategic Plan which
could then be shared with the broader community to receive feedback.
Compass Kitchener members were wholly supportive of this collaborative approach to
developing the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.
COMPASS KITCHENER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JUNE 1, 2022-13-CITY OF KITCHENER
2.STRATEGIC PLAN –PROPOSED DETAILS ENGAGEMENT PLAN(CONT’D)
In terms of next steps. Ms. A. Fritz-Walters will be connecting with the Committee prior to the
next regular meeting to provide engagement date opportunities and to also share available raw
survey data withthe Committee.
3.REVIEW OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
The minutes of the May 4,2022,All Advisory Committee Meetingwere circulated.
4. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at5:30pm.
L. Korabo
Committee Administrator