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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-12-01SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 1, 2011 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:02 p. m. Present: Mr. P. Doherty, Chair Councillor D. Glenn-Graham, Ms. J. Metzger, Ms. D. Etmanskie and Messrs. K. Euler and M. Garner. Staff: S. Weare, Strategic Initiatives Associate L. Korabo, Committee Administrator DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN -PRESENTATION Mr. P. Doherty, Co-Chair, congratulated Mr. M. Garner, Executive Director, Kitchener Downtown BIA, and Mr. C. Bluhm, Manager, Downtown Community Development, on the recent announcement that the City of Kitchener's King Street Redevelopment Project was the recipient of the Gold Award for Urban Design at the recent Design Exchange Awards. Mr. M. Garner provided an overview of the proposed Downtown Strategic Plan which is the result of information gathered during various public consultations asking what citizens / businesses would like to see in the downtown core. The information obtained was then streamed into three core areas of focus, being: Focus #1 - An Amazing King Street Experience -turn King Street into `the place to be and be seen' Focus #2 -New Urban Neighbourhoods -plan for up to three new neighbourhoods that redefine urban living. Where urban living is seen as one of the best ways to live. Focus #3 - An Innovation District - rebrand and foster the Warehouse District as one of the province's premiere multi-disciplinary centres of innovation. Mr. Garner provided details concerning proposals for each of the three focus areas and also displayed images of current successes and assets in the Downtown, all of which have come online since 2004. Examples are: Kaufman Lofts, Le Marche residences, WLU School of Social Work and the award-winning King Street streetscape project. Future projects include the Arrow Lofts development, re-development of the Mayfair Hotel, the new consolidated Courthouse and the clean-up of Victoria Park Lake. He advised that all advisory committees are being asked to provide input into the Plan. This information will be consolidated with input received from the universities, neighbourhood associations and from citizens via an online survey. Mr. C. Bluhm noted that each group has been asked how to make King Street experiences better and this committee specifically is being asked to consider the question from a safe and healthy perspective. Members were also asked to consider how to make residential intensification safer and healthier. Mr. Bluhm advised that staff is looking at how development will look when the LRT launches rather than taking a reactionary approach. A roundtable discussion was held. In addition to commenting on what was positive about the downtown core, Committee members provided feedback on how to make King Street safer and healthier, including: make it more `artsy'; more shopping with bigger stores; making street cleanliness (no gum on sidewalks) a priority; creating a courier bay on Queen Street to eliminate traffic bottlenecks; encouraging more visual connections with the Market area; adding more parks /green spaces; introducing more ethnic foods choices; supporting more mixed housing; establishing independent stores like a butcher and bakery. Following the information gathering session, Mr. Bluhm advised that next steps for the Downtown Strategic Plan are to finish the consultations and pull the information together into a report to be presented to Council in early 2012. Staff will draft a recommendation for Council's consideration that outlines how to implement the recommendations contained in the Downtown Strategic Plan over afive-year period. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 1, 2011 - 26 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. CHAIR /VICE-CHAIR APPOINTMENTS Ms. L. Korabo, Committee Administrator, reminded members that the current Co-Chairs and Vice-Chairs had been selected on an interim basis at the beginning of the current term of the Committee. At that time, it was agreed that the appointments would be interim in order to permit staff time to consider the committee vacancies and bring forward names of suitable candidates for appointment. Some of these vacancies have now been filled and it would be appropriate to appoint a Chair and Vice-chair for the remainder of the Committee's current term which expires on November 30, 2012. In response to a question raised, Ms. Korabo advised that most advisory committees have only one chair and one vice-chair, with a member of Council generally serving as vice-chair. Mr. P. Doherty advised that he would like to continue as Chair of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee and by agreement of all members in attendance, he was asked to continue in this role. Councillor D. Glenn-Graham noted that he would like to take on the role of Vice-chair. Mr. K. Euler noted that he too would like to be considered for the Vice-chair position. Members of the Committee were in agreement with continuing with two Vice-chairs for the remainder of the current term. On motion by Ms. J. Metzger, it was resolved: "That Mr. Pat Doherty be appointed as Chair of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee; and, That Councillor Dan Glenn-Graham and Mr. Karl Euler be appointed as Vice-chairs of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee; and further, That these appointments be for a term expiring November 30, 2012." DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE -REPORT Mr. M. Garner advised that the Downtown Advisory Committee held its consultation regarding the Downtown Strategic Plan at its last meeting. CHANGING PERCEPTIONS: 2011 WATERLOO REGION AREA SURVEY Mr. Anthony Piscitelli, Supervisor, Planning & Research, Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council (CPC), attended to provide information on results of a survey recently conducted on the topic of `fear of crime'. In 2009, the CPC committed to monitoring fear of crime within Waterloo Region on an on-going basis and the survey results are the first follow-up since that time and compare previous data examining fear of crime with results from the 2011 survey. Survey results show a general reduction in perceptions of crime within Waterloo Region and a significant decrease in the number of people that think crime had increased in Waterloo Region and in their own neighbourhood. Survey questions asked for feedback on feelings of safety in homes or walking in your area after dark and results showed that residents felt safer in Waterloo Region than residents in other parts of the province and country. Results were also measured concerning fear of crime in downtown areas and a dramatic drop was noted, region wide. Finally, Mr. Piscitelli outlined responses received which related to crime prevention approaches to address a variety of issues. WORKPLAN REVIEW Ms. S. Weare circulated a revised version of the Committee's 2011-2012 work plan. She reviewed the plan and noted that excellent progress has been made in a number of areas. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 1, 2011 - 27 - CITY OF KITCHENER WORKPLAN REVIEW (Cont'd) Timelines for some of the projects have been shifted to 2012. A question was raised regarding next steps for the Safe Neighbourhoods Strategy and members were advised that a discussion will be held regarding the Committee undertaking a safety audit. A copy of the revised workplan will be provided to those members who were unable to attend today's meeting. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:35 p. m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator