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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe & Healthy - 2003-08-12SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 12, 2003 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m., Chaired by Mr. D. Schnarr, with the following members present: Ms. J. Breithaupt, Ms. S. Franzen, Ms. S. Fohring and Messrs. A. Bender and D. Hoch. Constable J. Davis representing Superintendent K. Chalk, Waterloo Regional Police, was also in attendance. Others Present: Ms. J. Dean and Ms. L. Korabo. This meeting of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee was conducted without a quorum present. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES On motion by Ms. J. Breithaupt - it was resolved: "That the minutes of June 10, 2003, as mailed to the members, be accepted." 2. DRAFT YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES PLAN Ms. M. Davis, Youth Co-©rdinator, was in attendance to present the draft Youth Opportunities Plan (YOP). Ms. Davis stated the Plan is the result of 8 months of collaboration between 30 - 40 local agencies as well as members of the Kitchener Youth Action Council (KYAC). A copy of the Plan was circulated with the agenda so that members of the Committee could review and provide feedback. The Plan identifies what the City of Kitchener's priorities should be concerning youth and provides guidelines on how to respond to these priorities. It was pointed out that tabletop discussions and questionnaires were used to gather input and an inventory of existing youth services was also compiled. Ms. Davis advised that she is looking for comments from the Committee on the draft Plan as well as suggestions on how the Committee can become involved. The 7 identified priorities of the Youth Opportunities Plan are: · more and better recreational and cultural activities · build a community for all · get the word out about what's going on for young people · make services and programs more accessible · end discrimination · provide more emergency and prevention programs for youth · address the challenge of youth employment The YOP answers the question 'what can the community do to improve the quality of life for youth'. It is meant to provide a way for the community, as a whole, to focus its efforts and also advise on how to integrate existing services. Ms. Davis commented that the Plan advocates the involvement of young people in their own development and that of the community, in partnership with adults, to make use of their talents and increase their investment in community life. She advised that the Plan will be presented to Council for approval to prepare an action plan for the purpose of determining a direction for the Plan and that a request would be made for funding at that time. She noted that the organizations which had been involved in preparing the draft Plan will be invited to join a Steering Committee to be established to prepare an action plan and budget. Mr. D. Schnarr stated he could visualize a link between the Committee and the Youth Opportunities Plan and requested that the Committee be kept informed as the Steering Committee moves forward. Ms. Davis stated that she would also prefer a recommendation of support to be forwarded by the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee to City Council. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 12, 2003 - 20 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. DRAFT YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES PLAN (CONT'D) Ms. J. Dean suggested that the Steering Committee review the inventory of existing services to check what services are already available to youth prior to beginning discussions on an action plan. Transportation was noted as a key issue facing youth and a question was raised on whether the Plan provides examples on how to deal with the requests and needs of the community's youth. Ms. Davis advised that the Plan includes feedback from various youth and community groups for each of the 7 priorities and some ideas are noted. Ms. J. Breithaupt commented that she would like to ensure that the Plan is both appropriately vetted and well organized to ensure appropriate linkages with existing services in the community and suggested the City of Kitchener's website provide a listing of youth services. Finally, she suggested the Youth Opportunities Plan needs to be more refined and produce more accurate budget information prior to a funding request being made to Council. Ms. Davis noted that a meeting of the Steering Committee to begin discussions on the action plan is scheduled in the near future. Following that meeting, she will report back to the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee regarding future direction as well as provide information on budget requests for the Plan. Ms. M. Davis and Constable J. Davis left the meeting. 3. WORK PLAN 2002 - 2003 - UPDATE Ms. J. Dean circulated a revised listing of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee working groups which have been established to deal with the 4 identified priorities in the current Work Plan. Members of the Committee reviewed the working groups and a question was raised on whether people from outside of the Committee could be brought in to work with Committee members. It was noted that this would be a possible option. A discussion was held concerning appointments and consolidations of some of the groups in order that they may begin meeting and report back to the Committee at its September 2003 meeting. It was agreed that the Social Isolation in Vulnerable Communities working group would combine with the Staff and Community Education of Social Isolation, Diversity and hold a meeting on September 8, 2003 at 5:00 p.m. Mr. D. Hoch commented that the Lodging House working group would not be required as the policy regarding lodging houses had been completed by City staff. Further, he noted that the working group regarding Neighbourhood Plans could act in a reporting capacity regarding work on neighbourhood indicators undertaken by the Community University Research Alliance (CURA). Under the priority of Safe City, it was agreed that Mr. D. Hoch would be added to the Improved Downtown Perception working group, and that an update on the Sex Trade Workers and Track Report would be provided at the September 2003 meeting. Finally, under the Youth Category, Mr. D. Hoch was added to the working group regarding Violence in Sports and Community, the Mentoring Program working group was put on hold and those members who have already completed their work regarding Youth Grants and Awards were asked to continue to meet and assist with organization of the Annual 911 Golf Tournament. 4. DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORT 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: Downtown Wellness Centre in the former St. Mary's High School building - it is proposed that the City of Kitchener take over 29,000 square feet of the building owned by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board to run a community centre to be shared by 7 area neighbourhood associations. · Regency apartment building - construction almost completed. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 12, 2003 - 21 - CITY OF KITCHENER 4. DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORT (CONT'D) · Children's Museum - scheduled to open September 2003. · New Kitchener Market - scheduled opening delayed. · Centre Block - ongoing discussions with the Kitchener Public Library. · Purchase by the Multicultural Centre of 102 - 104 King Street West. SAFE AND SOUND PROJECT - KINGSDALE NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION Members of the Committee were reminded that City Council had directed the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee consider the recommendations of the Safe and Sound Project and forward a recommendation to the Community Services Committee. On motion by Mr. D. Hoch - it was resolved: '¥Vhereas the recommendations contained in the Safe and Sound Project of the Kingsdale Neighbourhood Association were presented to City Council on November 4, 2002, and subsequently referred to the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee for consideration and recommendation; and, Whereas a presentation was made by the Kingsdale Neighbourhood Association to the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee at its meeting of June 10, 2003; and, Whereas the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee noted that the 4 recommendations of the Safe and Sound Project are being incorporated into the draft Youth Opportunities Plan scheduled for presentation to City Council in the near future, Now, therefore be it resolved that the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee recommends that no action be taken on the recommendations of the Safe and Sound Project, as presented to City Council on November 4, 2002." INFORMATION ITEMS The Committee was in receipt of the following information items: · Safe City Co-Ordinator's Report · Unfinished Business List ADJOURNMENT On motion the meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Linda Korabo Committee Administrator