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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Svcs - 2003-08-11COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 11~ 2003 CITY OF KITCHENER The Community Services Committee met this date Chaired by Councillor G. Lorentz, commencing at 3:40 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors C. Weylie, M. Galloway, B. Vrbanovic and J. Smola. Officials Present: Ms. P. Houston, Ms. L. MacDonald, Ms. S. Adams, Ms. C. Legault, Ms. A. Grafstein, Ms. S. de Moree, Ms. J. Billett and Messrs. G. Stewart, K. Baulk, R. Weber, D. Chapman and S. Berry. The following new employees were introduced and welcomed by those in attendance this date: Ms. Saskia de Moree, Assistant City Solicitor and Messrs. Scott Berry, Manager of Operations Support and Analysis and Greg Hummel, Manager of Parks, Planning, Development and Operations. CSD-03-117- RENEWAL OF PARK LICENCE - ONTARIO REALTY CORPORATION (FORMERLY HYDRO ONE NETWORKS INC.) -PART LOT 20, GERMAN COMPANY TRACT VICTORIA HILLS COMMUNITY The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-03-117, dated July 21, 2003 requesting authorization to renew a licence agreement respecting lands in the Victoria Hills Community. On motion by Councillor J. Smola - it was resolved: "That subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute a Licence Agreement Renewal (5 years) with Ontario Realty Corporation (formerly Hydro One Networks Inc.), relating to lands in the Victoria Hills community, more particularly described as Part of Lot 20, German Company Tract, giving the City a licence to use and allow the public to use the lands." CSD-03-119 - AUTHORITY TO SIGN AGREEMENT DOORS OPEN WATERLOO REGION AND THE CEMETERIES FREE CHURCH (BRIDGEPORT) The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-03-119, dated July 22, 2003 requesting permission to enter into an agreement respecting participation in the Doors Open Waterloo Region program which celebrates local heritage and architecture. On motion by Councillor J. Smola - it was resolved: "That subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, the Manager of Cemeteries be authorized to sign an agreement regarding participation in the Doors Open Waterloo Region program scheduled for September 20, 2003." CSD-03-120 - VAULT SUSPENSIONS AGREEMENT - CEMETERIES - SUPERIOR VAULT COMPANY LIMITED AND SUPERIOR STONE CO. LIMITED DESIGNATION OF SIGNING AUTHORITY The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-03-120, dated July 22, 2003 concerning agreements to allow vault suspensions at City-owned or operated cemeteries. On motion by Councillor J. Smola - it was resolved: "That subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute agreements with Superior Vault Company Limited and Superior Stone Co. Limited allowing for vault suspensions at City-owned or operated cemeteries; and further, COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 11~ 2003 3. CSD-03-120 - 53 - CITY OF KITCHENER - VAULT SUSPENSIONS AGREEMENT - CEMETERIES - SUPERIOR VAULT COMPANY LIMITED AND SUPERIOR STONE CO. LIMITED DESIGNATION OF SIGNING AUTHORITY (CONT'D) That the Manager of Cemeteries be the designated signing authority for future vault suspension agreements with vault suppliers and that prior to execution, the agreements be subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor." CSD-03-121 - LICENCE AGREEMENT - THE WORD ON THE STREET CANADA INC. The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-03-121, dated July 22, 2003 requesting permission to enter into an agreement respecting the second annual Word on the Street festival. On motion by Councillor J. Smola - it was resolved: "That subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, the Special Events Facilitator be authorized to sign a license agreement with The Word on the Street Canada Inc., as attached to Community Services Department report CSD-03-121 ." 5. CSD-03-127 REVISIONS TO MUNICIPAL CODE - CHAPTER 210 (FACILITY - CEMETERIES - MUNICIPAL) -CHAPTER 213 (FACILITY COLUMBARIA AND MUNICIPAL CEMETERIES) MAUSOLEA IN The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-03-127, dated August 1, 2003 outlining revisions to Chapters 210 and 213 of the Municipal Code to reflect changes made in the day to day operations of the Cemeteries unit. On motion by Councillor J. Smola - it was resolved: "That Chapter 210 (Facility - Cemeteries - Municipal) and Chapter 213 (Facility - Columbaria and Mausolea in Municipal Cemeteries) of the Municipal Code be amended to reflect revisions, as set out in Community Services Department report CSD-03-127; and further, That staff be directed to give appropriate notice and forward the amending by-law to the Registrar appointed under the Cemeteries Act (Revised)." 6. BLUES, BREWS AND BARBEQUES - AUGUST 8 & 9, 2003 Mr. Don Chapman attended to provide an overview of the Blues, Brews and Barbecues special event held this past weekend. He advised that the festival was successful with approximately 12,000 to 14,000 in attendance over the 2 day event and plans to expand to a 3 day festival in 2004 (including a Gospel Blues component) will be presented at a future meeting. 7. DELEGATION PRESENTATION - KITCHENER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY - UPDATE Mr. Bruce MacNeil, Kitchener Horticultural Society, listed as a delegation respecting Item 6 of the Committee's agenda, did not attend the meeting this date. DELEGATION PRESENTATION - OPEN EARS FESTIVAL - UPDATE Mr. Peter Hatch, Artistic Director, and Ms. Cheryl Ewing, Brava! Special Events Arts and Management and Ms. Marianne Leach, K-W Symphony, attended to provide an overview of the 4th annual Open Ears Festival held in Downtown Kitchener on May 7-11, 2003. Mr. Hatch highlighted successes and challenges of the 5 day event, commenting on the National media COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 11~ 2003 - 54 - CITY OF KITCHENER coverage and economic benefits to downtown businesses and venues utilized during the festival. DELEGATION PRESENTATION - OPEN EARS FESTIVAL - UPDATE (CONT'D) He advised that volunteers have formed an 'Open Ears Enthusiast' Committee; new partnerships have been achieved with the Canadian Hearing Society and Kitchener Public Library; and grant funding was provided by the Canadian Heritage Foundation for the first time. Mr. Hatch noted that extensive community involvement and the unique diversity of programming have contributed to the success of the event. He then distributed promotional material related to the festival. Members of the Committee thanked Mr. Hatch for his presentation and extended congratulations to the organizers on the success of the festival. 9. CSD-03-125 - NEEDS ASSESSMENT - KINGSDALE NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department information report CSD-03- 125, dated July 25, 2003 concerning a request from the Kingsdale Neighbourhood Association (KNA) to have the City undertake an immediate review of community needs in the Kingsdale area. Ms. Laura Doric attended on behalf of the KNA in support of their request. She advised that since installation of the portable unit at the Kingsdale Community Centre there has been an overwhelming response to services and programs offered and accordingly, the Centre is of the opinion it is not feasible to wait until a proposed review in 2006. She pointed out that the Centre lacks access to a gymnasium and therefore cannot offer certain types of programming and is limited by lack of space in the numbers it can accommodate in the programs they do provide. Ms. Doric commented that the Centre has concluded use of alternative space, such as rental of school facilities, would not be cost effective. In response to Councillor G. Lorentz, Ms. Doric advised that costs associated with use of alternative space would have to be passed on in increased user rates which could prove to be cost prohibitive to potential program participants. In response to a further question, Ms. Doric agreed that subsidization of alternative space may provide a solution and suggested that it be explored as part of the requested review. Mayor C. Zehr commented that a number of similar requests are being received and suggested that all should be considered together. In this regard, he questioned the timeline for a comprehensive review of all Community Centres. Staff advised that the Leisure Facilities Master Plan will be sent out for tender as of August 18, 2003 and expected the study to be underway in September. Councillor G. Lorentz requested that pending completion of the Master Plan study, staff explore options to subsidize use of alternative spaces for the KNA and report back to the Committee in approximately one months time. Councillor M. Galloway asked that the Mowat - Chandler Community Centre also be included in the short term assessment. It was agreed that the requests of Councillors Lorentz and Galloway be taken as direction to staff. 10. CSD-03-118 - WINTER MAINTENANCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-03-118, dated July 25, 2003 outlining a policy for Winter Maintenance and Procedures for delivery of services within the Region of Waterloo. Mr. Scott Berry provided a brief overview of the development of the proposed policy, noting that road salt reduction was targeted by Environment Canada in 2001. A subsequent Regional Road Salt Management Study identified several potential measures to reduce the use of road salt. The new policy, drafted in 2002 in consultation with all area municipalities, will replace the City's existing policy and will provide a uniform approach to winter maintenance procedures across the Region. In response to Councillor B. Vrbanovic, staff provided clarification of road classifications and criteria under the draft policy and commented on the standard to clear snow within 16 hours of an 8 cm snowfall. Ms. C. Legault advised that within the City average snowfalls are of less than 5 cm; however, Councillor Vrbanovic pointed out that several consecutive days of 5 cm of COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 11~ 2003 - 55 - CITY OF KITCHENER snowfall can quickly accumulate to more than 8 cm. He asked that staff consider measures to 10. CSD-03-118 -WINTER MAINTENANCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES (CONT'D) address this issue as the majority of citizen complaints stem from such incidents. Councillor M. Galloway requested that staff provide a comparison between the City's existing policy and the draft uniform policy to provide better understanding of the differences in service levels. Ms. C. Legault advised that the City currently meets and / or exceeds the proposed standards and levels of service will not decrease. She noted that a full review of the City's operations is being undertaken and staff intend to provide the Committee with further information in time for the next winter season. In response to Mayor C. Zehr, Mr. S. Berry advised that currently GPS systems are utilized in approximately 1/3 of salting units and due to cost it would appear more appropriate to target specific units rather than outfit the entire fleet. Mr. Berry further noted in response to Councillor C. Weylie, that at this time it is not known how many new km of roads have been added to the City's inventory. Councillor G. Lorentz questioned the intent of the objective to identify winter maintenance environmentally sensitive areas. Ms. C. Legault advised that use of new technology permits the amount of road salt used to be minimized and as sensitive areas are identified, alternative winter maintenance techniques will be applied to maintain the objective of the policy. Councillor Lorentz reiterated a previous request to modify snow plowing routes to alternate starting points and Ms. C. Legault advised that this request will be looked at during the operations review. On motion by Mayor C. Zehr - it was resolved: "That the Winter Maintenance Policy and Procedures for the Municipalities of the Geographic Region of Waterloo be adopted, in principle." 11. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m. Janet Billett, AMCT Committee Administrator