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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe & Healthy - 2010-11-02SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 2, 2010 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:00 p. m. Present: Ms. K. Kwiatkowski, Chair Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Ms. S. Franzen, Ms. D. Ahluwalia and Messrs. D. Bellamy, P. Doherty, B. Pegg and B. Larkin. Staff: L. Palubeski, Manager of Program and Resource Services M. Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs J. Metzger, Crime Prevention Council L. Korabo, Committee Administrator KITCHENER TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN Mr. J. McBride, Director of Transportation Planning, advised that the City is preparing a Transportation Master Plan (TMP) that will provide an integral component towards a healthy, vibrant and sustainable community. The TMP will help define how the city grows over the coming 10-20 years and will look at methods to increase pedestrian movements, cycling and carpooling, in addition to transit network improvements, inter-city connections and higher order transit services. Mr. McBride advised that the firm of IBI Group has been retained to develop the TMP with a completion deadline of June 2011 to align with the City's Official Plan review. IBI has begun conducting consultation sessions with various groups, including some of the City's Advisory Committees, to obtain input regarding transportation issues. Ms. Kate Wills, IBI Group, led the consultation and requested that members provide input based on safety and health issues related to transportation within the municipality. Ms. Wills asked for feedback on general ease of travel around the municipality and identification of any difficult areas to navigate, including regional and provincial arteries. Members responded with input on the continual congestion on Highway 8 and Highway 7 entering /exiting the city, as well as traffic volumes on four-lane regional roads, difficulty in travelling from south end of the city and isolation of trail system in the area. A desire to have the Grand River bridge completed as soon as possible was expressed. Input was also requested on the following topics: existing trails and connections; enhanced transit system vs. reduced car usage; truck use along minor corridors; and, traffic along Fairway Road South. Mr. McBride thanked members for their feedback and requested that any additional information be provided to him directly at iohn.mcbride(c~kitchener.ca or by calling 519-741-2374. Ms. Wills and Mr. McBride left the meeting. FUNDING PROPOSAL -YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROJECT Marla Pender and Brianna Pilon, Youth Coordinators, attended to present information on the proposed Youth Engagement Project Team (YEPT) and request funding to assist with costs. An overview of the proposal had previously been circulated to members. Ms. L. Palubeski reminded the Committee that Youth Services staff had consulted with members as part of the information gathering phase preparing for the Youth Services Strategy (YSS). The YSS was approved by Council and staff is now working on an implementation plan. A determination was made that youth need to be involved in the implementation of the Strategy in order to ensure success and to also ensure that it is 'youth friendly'. Ms. Palubeski also referenced the tie-in with feedback received through the 'Who Are You Kitchener? 2' consultation indicating youth engagement is a priority. The proposed YEPT will implement the following recommendations from the YSS: 1. That the City of Kitchener outlines its commitment to engaging youth in meaningful ways and valuing them as contributing members of our community through the approval and completion of the actions identified in the YSS. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 2, 2010 - 21 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. FUNDING PROPOSAL -YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROJECT (CONT'D 2. That staff and the City of Kitchener affiliated groups are provided with general information, training and resources in order to support the provision of services to young people. The Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee was being presented with this proposal as it has a history of supporting grass-roots projects and the opportunity to participate in this project ties into the Committee's own work plan related to youth engagement. The Youth Engagement Project will run as a pilot project and will seek to employ six Youth Facilitators (YF) to conduct hands-on training with City of Kitchener staff and volunteers, affiliated groups and select partner organizations, as well as youth engagement and leadership audits at the corporate, department and community levels. Both university/college and high- school age youth will form the YEPT ensuring diverse backgrounds and perspectives are represented. The City's Youth Coordinators will train and support the YFs in conducting all aspects of the work, including; program development, delivery, administrative duties and evaluation. It is anticipated that this pilot project will take two years to complete. The project will have three phases: 1) City staff will support the YFs in training and corporation orientation; 2) the YFs will research, develop and conduct youth engagement and leadership audits to identify opportunities within the corporation where young people can be meaningfully engaged; and, 3) the YFs will combine current literature and promising practices, the phase 2 learnings and their lived experience to develop and lead training that is tailored to each group. Attendees will gain skills and confidence related to building relationships with youth and providing youth-friendly customer service and engagement opportunities. Additionally, the results of youth engagement and leadership audits will be reviewed and groups will be able to create action plans to assist them in implementation. Employing youth people to conduct with work is an innovative approach facilitating positive adult-youth interactions and demonstrates the City's 'youth friendly' organizational commitment. A proposed budget of $45,394.74 to complete all phases of this project has been developed. The City of Kitchener will provide in-kind support of $22,120.56 to cover the costs of the Youth Coordinators. A request for $23,274.18 in support is being sought to cover the Youth Facilitator wages and project administration expenses. The Committee being requested to provide funding as it clearly identified the need for adults to work better with young people and that youth do not always feel welcomed at City facilities during its YSS consultations. Support of this project will help staff conduct work in these areas. Following general questions from the Committee around timelines of the project and supportive comments on the proposal, it was noted that capital funds in the amount of $22,000. are available to fund this request. Members inquired regarding the use of high school students who will have school work to balance that of the project and it was clarified that the project's work will be approximately 10 hours/week and is after school hours. Ms. K. Kwiatkowski suggested investigating use of co-op students for one or more of the YF positions allowing for a good training opportunity and high school credit. Supt. B. Larkin expressed his support for the proposed program noting its tie-in to the Committee's mandate. Ms. M. Pender and Ms. B. Pilon left the meeting. The Committee discussed funding options, again clarifying available funding and any approvals that may be required. The Committee Administrator advised that as funding is available in a capital budget, no further approvals are required; rather the Committee can direct usage of funds as it sees fit and appropriate. A suggestion was made to investigate other funding avenues. On motion by Supt. B. Larkin - Itwas resolved: "That funding in the amount of $15,000. from the Safe and Healthy capital budget be approved for the Youth Engagement Project Team (YEPT) Pilot Project; and, That the YEPT be requested to seek additional funding sources as required for the completion of the pilot project; and further, SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 2, 2010 - 22 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. FUNDING PROPOSAL -YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROJECT (CONT'D) That the YEPT provide the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee with a project status report during 2011 at which time any additional funding requests related to the project's original scope will be considered." DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE Supt. B. Larkin advised that there is no new information to pass along. COMMITTEE THANKS -WRAP-UP Ms. K. Kwiatkowski thanked members of the Committee for their commitment and involvement during the past two years. Ms. L. Korabo clarified the procedure to re-apply for appointment based on the newly approved Terms of Reference. It was noted that one of the clarifications to be made during the new term will be the formalization of the role of the Community Prevention Council liaison through an amendment to the Terms of Reference. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:30 p. m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator