HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-04SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
OCTOBER 4, 2012 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:00 p.m.
Present: Mr. P. Doherty, Chair
Councillors S. Davey and P. Singh, Ms. J. Metzger, Ms. K. Kwiatkowski, Ms. K.
Doherty-Masters, Mr. M. Garner and Mr. A. Darmon
Staff: Mr. J. Willmer, Chief Administrative Officer
Ms. S. Weare, Strategic Initiatives Associate
Ms. L. Korabo, Committee Administrator
SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE – FUTURE DIRECTION
1.
Jeff Willmer, CAO, attended to provide information on feedback gathered in discussions with
various stakeholders regarding the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee (SHCAC)
and to facilitate an open discussion about a possible different future for the Committee.
J. Willmer noted that, in light of the City’s ongoing search for efficiencies, and a renewed focus
on core services, questions had arisen about whether the SHCAC was still as relevant as it
used to be, and whether the outcomes of the Committee’s work were adding sufficient value to
justify the resources being invested in it.
He commented on three areas of focus that had come to his attention during stakeholders
discussions being: safety; healthy community initiatives; and advisory function. Categories,
such as safety, appear to overlap with other initiatives underway via various organizations and
it was suggested that the broad focus that has been the mandate of the committee in the past
has not allowed it to focus efforts on the healthy community’s aspect. With respect to the
advisory function, J. Willmer noted that advice has been sought and given to staff concerning
various topics, but there has not been a great deal of advice provided to Council in the recent
past. An additional matter for discussion this date is the capital budget allocation which has
been approved for the Committee’s use.
J. Willmer invited Committee members to provide comments and feedback on the three areas
of focus previously noted, and advised that he will take all comments into consideration when
preparing his report for Council’s consideration on the future of this advisory committee.
Members of the Committee were grateful for the opportunity provided to them and made
significant commentary on all three identified areas of focus.
Following this roundtable, J. Willmer spoke to the capital funds that have been available for the
Committee’s discretionary use to promote or support safe and healthy initiatives across the
community. Mr. Willmer acknowledged that funds have been provided for many worthwhile
causes but noted that concern had been expressed by stakeholders that the review process
for funding requests might not be rigorous enough and thereby, the value being received may
not be the highest or best. It was noted that the City of Kitchener has Tier 2 grant funding
available for community organizations for ‘one of’ events and programs and staff have been
directing community groups to apply to receive funds from this source so that all applications
may be reviewed against established criteria.
Members spoke in favour of establishing stricter criteria and guidelines for the granting of
capital funds or the possibility of pooling these funds with the Tier 2 grants in order to create
only one process.
It was suggested that if the Committee continued to entertain applications for funding, that a
deadline to apply be established. Providing a deadline would allow all applications to compete
with each another. Members generally agreed with this model but also suggested that some
funds be set aside to allow for flexibility in granting a worthy cause outside of process
deadlines.
J. Willmer thanked all members for their candid comments and feedback, and advised he will
be presenting a report to the Finance and Corporate Services Committee at its November 26th
meeting with a recommendation going forward for Council’s final decision on December 3,
2012. A draft copy of the report will be made available for the SHCAC to review at its
November 2012 meeting.
SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
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OCTOBER 4, 2012 - 21 - CITY OF KITCHENER
ADJOURNMENT
2.
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
L. Korabo
Committee Administrator