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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe & Healthy - 2003-06-10 SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 10, 2003 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m., Chaired by Ms. L. Korabo, Committee Administrator, with the following members present: Ms. J. Breithaupt, Ms. S. Fohring and Messrs. P. Doherty, K. Chalk, A. Bender and D. Hoch. Others Present: Ms. J. Dean. This meeting of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee was conducted without a quorum present. 1. APPOINTMENT OF ACTING CO-CHAIR The Committee Administrator informed members that neither of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee's Co-Chairs were available to attend today's meeting and, therefore, it was necessary to appoint an Acting Co-Chair. Ms. Korabo opened the floor for nominations for an Acting Co-Chair and Mr. D. Hoch volunteered. No other nominations were forthcoming and all members present voted in support of Mr. Hoch who then assumed the Chair. APPROVAL OF MINUTES On motion by Ms. J. Breithaupt - it was resolved: "That the minutes of May 6, 2003, as mailed to the members, be accepted." SAFE AND SOUND PROJECT - KINGSDALE NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION Ms. L. Doric, Kingsdale Neighbourhood Association, attended and advised that the Waterloo Region Community Safety and Crime Prevention Council put forth a funding proposal to the National Strategy for Crime Prevention for a pilot project entitled 'Safe and Sound'; a project for crime prevention through social development at the community level. The funding proposal was approved and neighbourhoods throughout the Region were invited to submit proposals to participate. Four neighbourhoods in the Region were chosen by a selection committee with Kingsdale being the Kitchener neighbourhood selected. Each neighbourhood had three years of funding to work with a hired facilitator to increase safety and reduce crime through social development. Goals were set based on individual community needs and desires for a safe and healthy community. An advisory committee comprised of the four neighbourhoods met monthly to share experiences. It was noted that a common theme of concern was for youth aged 15 to 25 and the provision of positive growth opportunities permeated throughout all participants. Each of the participating neighbourhoods made this concern a priority, bringing it to the attention of their municipal councils through delegations presenting recommendations for adoption. Ms. Doric noted a presentation had been made to Kitchener Council on November 4, 2002 and at that time, the following four recommendations were presented for consideration: That the City of Kitchener develop a unique range of partnerships which will allow all interested neighbourhoods to offer locally-based, youth drop-in programs for free, thereby ensuring full accessibility and affordability. · That the City of Kitchener as part of its commitment to community development, consider hiring staff for the youth drop-in from within the neighbourhood whenever possible. · That the youth drop-in programs include an outreach component, emphasizing safety and fun, to increase the involvement of isolated or at risk youth. That the City of Kitchener provide all neighbourhoods offering youth programs, with the opportunity to come together once a year to share ideas and promote high quality, consistent programming throughout the City. JUNE 3. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES 10, 2003 - 16 - CITY OF KITCHENER SAFE AND SOUND PROJECT KINGSDALE NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION (CONT'D) Mr. D. Hoch advised that the recommendations presented by the Kingsdale Neighbourhood Association in November 2002 had been referred to this Committee for consideration and recommendation. Questions were raised concerning: results of the pilot project and availability of a final written report; and, the hiring of local youth to provide mentorship to participants. Mr. D. Hoch then questioned the delegation as to what commitment and/or response the organization was requesting from the City. Ms. Doric stated that they were interested in organizing affordable, accessible programming at the neighbourhood level and itemized the following needs: · a drop-in centre with no fees · funding to hire qualified staff · funding for staff to provide an outreach component as part of the project · establishment of a networking infrastructure for drop-in centres to meet and share ideas Ms. J. Dean advised that a draft of the Youth Opportunities Plan would be available for consideration at the Committee's August meeting and members could see how the recommendations of the 'Safe and Sound' Project had been incorporated into the Plan. Ms. L. Doric left the meeting. UPDATE - YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR SAFETY AND SUPPORT PROJECT (YESS) Ms. S. Gassim and members of the Ethno-Cultural Safety Network (EFSN) attended to provide an update on the Youth Empowerment for Safety and Support Project (YESS). Ms. Gassim advised that the focus of the YESS project was to provide activities free of charge for ethnic youth aged 13 to 18 and circulated a brochure which had been developed to provide program information, noting it had been translated into 14 languages. These brochures are being distributed through community centres. As noted in previous presentations, the target areas for the YESS program are the Chicopee and Mowat-Chandler neighbourhoods of Kitchener. Ms. Gassim spoke of the challenges being faced by ethnic families in adapting to a new country and the difficulties encountered by children to climatize. She noted that cross-cultural sensitivity is an important component of the Program. Ms. Gassim stated that the EFSN has enlisted the assistance of English as a Second Language teachers who are willing to support the program by speaking to parents of ethnic children concerning the opportunities available for them. In closing, Ms. Gassim noted that the EFSN was looking for help in obtaining access to soccer fields in the Mowat/ChandlerNVestmount area and Ms. J. Dean offered to investigate ownership of area soccer fields and provide information concerning contact, fees and availability to Ms. Gassim. The delegation left the meeting. WORK PLAN 2002-2003 At past meetings of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee, members had been requested to sign up for various sub-committees established relating to action items in the 2002-2003 Work Plan. A listing of the current sub-committees was circulated with the agenda. Ms. J. Dean questioned if there were any additional sub-committees members wished to sign up for. She noted that the presentation made by the YESS Committee and their request for assistance could be the first task undertaken by the 'Access to City Facilities and Schools Sub- committee' which has three members assigned to it. She also suggested that the 'Social Isolation in Vulnerable Communities Sub-committee' could begin their work. The members who had volunteered to serve on these two sub-committees were in agreement with beginning their processes and will meet over the summer and begin their research. Mr. K. Chalk left the meeting. JUNE 6. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES 10,2003 -17- CITY OF KITCHENER NEXT MEETING - AUGUST 12, 2003 The Committee was reminded that the next meeting of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee will be on August 12, 2003. NEW BUSINESS Ms. J. Dean advised that the Kitchener Downtown Community Collaborative is hosting a forum on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 beginning at 8 a.m. at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel. Members of the Committee are invited to attend and listen to the outreach worker who has been hired to speak regarding his experiences in co-ordinating an outreach program in Vermont. Mr. D. Hoch, appointed to the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee as a representative of the Downtown Advisory Committee (DAC), briefly provided highlights of discussions held by DAC on the following topics: Approval in principle for the establishment of a Wellness Centre in the former St. Mary's High School building in conjunction with the relocation of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board offices to that location. He noted the Wellness Centre could be open by 2005. A Social Planning Council project entitled 'Neighbourhood Indicators' in which the Community University Research Alliance (CURA) will undertake a detailed housing study/inventory in the core area. · Downtown Evolution Showcase being held in the Rotunda on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. · Centre BIockdevelopment opportunities. Redevelopment of the former Arrow Shirt factory into loft apartments. Phase 1 of the project, retaining the existing 4-storey factory building and the addition of the 4-storey complex will provide a total of 145 rental loft apartments. · Kaufman factory redevelopment to be one-half commercial, one-half residential. · The Strategic Plan for Victoria Park. · Downtown Community Collaborative - Job Caf~ Program. · Road construction schedule. · Light Rail Transit and its relation to the former Epton site. Mr. D. Hoch advised that he had requested that the staff report entitled 'Lodging House Licences - Public Notification' prepared by Shayne Turner, Director of Enforcement, be circulated to members of the Committee for discussion this date. He advised that the report is being presented at the Finance and Corporate Services Committee on Monday, June 23, 2003. For the benefit of new members, Mr. Hoch provided background information concerning the history regarding lodging houses and noted his personal involvement in the process for the past two years. He commented that the licensing process, which used to be vague, is now more formalized and the staff report outlines how a process will be established to deal with licence renewals. The report contains recommendations concerning the implementation of a public notification and comment process for the renewal of lodging house licences beginning with the 2004 renewal year. Further, it proposes that the City investigate the feasibility of establishing a Licensing Review Committee and report back at a future meeting of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee. Mr. Hoch noted that currently all lodging house licences are renewable annually but noted that many of the lodging houses in existence throughout the City are not licensed. Specifically, he noted that there are 23 licensed lodging houses in Kitchener and compared that figure to the 1,100 in Waterloo. The regulations for public SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 10, 2003 7. -18 - NEW BUSINESS (CONT'D) CITY OF KITCHENER notification surrounding the renewal process are for the protection of neighbouring homeowners as well as the owners of the lodging house. Ms. J. Breithaupt suggested that the process allow for the owner of the lodging house to respond to any concerns that are expressed by neighbouring homeowners during the renewal process and it was noted that this has been built into the process. INFORMATION ITEMS The Committee was in receipt of the following information items: · Guidelines for Delegation Presentation - clarification · Safe City Co-Ordinator's Report · Unfinished Business List ADJOURNMENT On motion the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Linda Korabo Committee Administrator