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Home My WebLink About2012-03-01SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 1, 2012 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m. Present:Mr. P. Doherty, Chair Councillor S. Davey, Mr. K. Euler, Supt. A. Darmon, Ms. K. Kwiatkowski and Ms. J. Metzger. Staff:J. Young, Manager, Special Events S. Weare,StrategicInitiatives Associate L. Korabo, Committee Administrator HEALTHY FOOD POLICY 1. Ms. K. Doherty - Masters, Healthy Active Living Consultant, Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB), attended to present information on the WCDSB’s Food and Nutrition Policy and request the Committee’s consideration of how the City can improve convenience foods offered at its various facilities. Ms. Doherty - Masters advised the board adopted a ‘School Food and Nutrition Policy’ in 2009 in advance of standards mandated by the Ministry of Education which became effective September 2011. The WCDSB’s policy addresses when and what foods / beverages are available during the school day and initially used a 70 / 30 rule (70% of foods sold and available must be healthy). She advised that Ministry guidelines introduced an 80 / 20 rule and were implemented in response to the growing number of obese and overweight children. The WCDSB has now switched to the 80 / 20 guideline. Ms. Doherty - Masters provided details of the impacts on learning and health if poor eating habits are observed. She further commented that having a policy in place provides consistent and accurate nutrition messaging that: the health of students is taken seriously; nutritious foods are available; supports parents in making healthy choices; and, provides a positive role modeling for students. Using a Powerpoint presentation, photos depicting vending machines in area schools were compared to vending machines found in city facilities (arenas, pools and community centres). It was noted that City facilities offer limited healthy choices. Ms. Doherty - Masters asked the Committee to consider a role it could take to improve upon this issue. Members of the Committee asked questions concerning the impact on sales once only healthy choices were made available in schools and the corresponding drop in revenue. Ms. Doherty - Masters acknowledged there was an initial drop in sales / profits but numbers did recover to previous levels over a 4-year period. Councillor S. Davey suggested the next step might be determining if the City currently has a policy and investigating making changes to foods offered in vending machines at City facilities. Staff was requested to investigate what, if any, policy the Corporation currently has in place governing the sale of vending machine food at facilities. Councillor Davey requested that a copy of the WCDSB’s Food and Nutrition Policy be circulated to Committee members. EVENTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2. Mr. Jeff Young, Manager of Special Events, presented an overview of the Special Events Strategic Plan. The presentation was identified as part of the Committee’s current work plan under the community priority of ‘Downtown’ and the ‘Perception and Reality’ strategic direction. Mr. Young provided a listing of highlights from the Plan, namely: • Formalized an internal collaborative group to develop a work plan with priorities; meets throughout the year to review progress, discuss events and opportunities; • Continues to deliver the current inventory of City-owned major festivals and events; SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES March 1, 2012 - 6 - CITY OF KITCHENER EVENTS STRATEGIC PLAN (CONT’D) 2. • Continues to support the Downtown Kitchener Action Plan through lunch hour Civic Square performances and introduction of a lunchtime music / food pilot (Taco Tuesdays); • Development and implementation of urban vitality by scheduling events throughout the year and holding meetings with other organizations to discuss potential opportunities; • Continues to support 3rd party event organizers (i.e. Ribfest); • Support the Kitchener 100th Celebration of Cityhood with launch of dedicated website and events throughout the year; • Provides event support to the Kitchener Market; and, • Developing an online direction for Special Events (website) and using social media. In addition to the above list, Mr. Young advised Events staff handle rentals for public facilities at City Hall (447 rentals in 2011) and the Victoria Park Pavilion (290 rentals in 2011). Supt. A. Darmon noted the Waterloo Regional Police are able to do a better job of preparing for and debriefing from larger events when they have advance knowledge of details. He requested to be involved in pre-planning of large-scale events and to be advised if events are anticipated to grow in size. Councillor S. Davey inquired if City-owned / sponsored events are required to become revenue neutral and self sustaining once City funds have been initially provided. Mr. Young noted that as City-sponsored events grow, it is staff’s goal to assist event organizers to obtain sponsorship money to help offset costs. Once this occurs, funds previously directed to the event can be re-directed as seed money for another. He further advised that 3rd party events are eligible to apply for a Tier 1 grant. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP 3. Ms. S. Weare advised that an application has been received to fill one of the at-large vacancies on the Committee.She further advised the Committee has seven vacancies and this is preventing the forward movement of work plan items such as the Safe Neighbourhoods Strategy. On motion by Ms. K. Kwiatkowski – it was resolved: “That Vesna Pavkovic be appointed to the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee (at large) for a term ending November 30, 2012.” Ms. Weare stated that she has spoken with Ms. J. Ouellette, Facilitator of Volunteer Resources, about investigating methods of recruiting volunteers to serve on the Committee. Ms. Ouellette had suggested filling vacancies on the Committee rather than recruiting for Steering Committee membership for the Safe Neighbourhood Strategy. A general discussion was held regarding the overall process of recruitment for advisory committees and a question was asked if there could be an open application process, allowing applications at any time during the term. The Committee Administrator spoke of the need for deadlines to facilitate the vetting of applications and presentation of a list of qualified applicants for Council’s appointment and approval. It was noted that Advisory Committees have the opportunity to put forth names of individuals to fill vacancies as they occur, as this Committee has done on several occasions. Ms. Weare commented on the various methods of recruitment that she discussed with Ms. Ouellette and advised she will continue to follow-up on leads of interested individuals. SAFE NEIGHBOURHOOD STRATEGY 4. The Committee was provided a revised statement on the City’s role in neighbourhood safety incorporating feedback given at the January meeting and was requested to endorse same. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES March 1, 2012 - 7 - CITY OF KITCHENER SAFE NEIGHBOURHOOD STRATEGY (CONT’D) 4. On motion by Mr. K. Euler – it was resolved: “That the Statement on the City’s Role in Neighbourhood Safety required to develop a Safe Neighbourhood Strategy, be endorsed.” Staff advised they will prepare a report to Committee / Council for endorsement. Once obtained, the statement may then be used when recruiting stakeholders for the Committee. Ms. S. Weare noted that this recruitment will be somewhat delayed while additional members for the Advisory Committee are sought. In the interim, she suggested that an environmental scan be undertaken to develop an inventory of what is already being done to ensure / enhance community safety. The scan would be done through conducting interviews with staff and other organizations. Ms. J. Metzger volunteered to assist with interviews. Ms. Weare thanked the members for their continued support of the process and indicated that she would begin to lay out some next steps for consideration at an upcoming meeting. 2012 JANE’S WALK 5. Ms. S. Weare reminded the Committee of the successful inaugural Jane’s Walk conducted in 2011 wherein the Committee partnered with the Waterloo Regional Crime Prevention Council to sponsor and lead the event; 60 participants registered and participated. The date for the 2012 event has been set for May 5-6, 2012 and will again focus on ‘community safety’ as a theme. There was general consensus that the Committee would once again participate in organizing this event. Supt. A. Darmon suggested that Community Resource Officers could be enlisted to assist. A suggested was also made that Mark Garner of the Kitchener Downtown BIA should be involved in the planning stages. Ms. K. Kwiatkowski and Ms. J. Metzger volunteered to assist with the planning of Jane’s Walk. ADJOURNMENT 6. On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator