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Home My WebLink AboutCSD-14-003 - Neighbourhood Association Affiliation 2014 REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: January 13, 2014 SUBMITTED BY: Mark Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs and Services 519-741-2200 ext. 7687 PREPARED BY: Debbie Campbell, Manager, Community Resource Centres 519-741-2200 ext. 7077 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: December 9, 2013 REPORT NO.: CSD-14-003 SUBJECT: NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION AFFILIATION 2014 RECOMMENDATION: That the list of Neighbourhood Associations attached to Community Services Department report CSD-14-003, dated December 9, 2013, be approved for affiliation with the City of Kitchener for 2014. BACKGROUND: In July 2002, Kitchener City Council approved the introduction of an Affiliation Policy for Kitchener Neighbourhood Associations (NAs). This policy and approval/ renewal process was developed in collaboration with staff and NA representatives. Its purpose is to ensure that Neighbourhood Association groups on the official list receive access to City of Kitchener supports and resources. As well, the policy clarifies the role and responsibilities of the NAs and the City. As outlined in the policy, Neighbourhood Associations will: Be a voluntary, not-for-profit, non-partisan, non-denominational group based in a geographic neighbourhood within the borders of the City of Kitchener. Be inclusive of and responsive to the needs of the community within the specific geographic area defined by the group. Be open to the public and make this known through communication to the residents of that neighbourhood, by at a minimum, publishing a contact number or through other means such as a newsletter. Have some level of activity with, at minimum, a contact person. Have some structure for accountability. The City of Kitchener provides Affiliated Neighbourhood Associations: Coverage by a commercial General Liability Insurance Policy provided through the Waterloo Region Municipalities Insurance Pool. Access to facilities, program grants, staff assistance and printing for newsletters, minutes and flyers (subject to guidelines and budgetary availability). 1 - 1 REPORT: Annually, the affiliation of Neighbourhood Associations is approved and/or renewed for the following reasons: To ensure that Neighbourhood Associations on the list are active and continue to meet the criteria for affiliation; To ensure that the contact information for affiliated NAs is current; and To obtain permission to release contact information to the public and staff. Similar to 2013, thirty Neighbourhood Associations are being recommended in 2014 for affiliation renewal. Volunteers from these Associations contribute countless hours to enhance the quality of life in their neighbourhoods by: i) planning and implementing recreation programming in community centres, schools and churches across the city; ii) offering special events reflecting resident interests and/or celebrating significant milestones; and/or iii) responding to neighbourhood issues in areas such as planning, heritage, safety and social needs. Collaborations among neighbourhood associations, such as Mill Courtland, Highland Stirling and Cedar Hills; Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance; and Chandler Mowat, Alpine and Country Hills are occurring as these groups recognize and respond to opportunities to work together to achieve mutual goals. Please find attached a list of thirty Neighbourhood Associations who are being recommended for affiliation with the City of Kitchener in 2014 (see Appendix A). ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: The City of Kitchener has a rich history of citizen involvement and volunteerism. The emergence of Neighbourhood Associations began as early as 1953, and since that time more than 35 neighbourhoods have benefitted from the involvement of resident volunteers who have initiated events and activities and responded to local needs. Cumulatively, these Neighbourhood Associations have been active and contributed more than 827 years of service. Collectively, Neighbourhood Associations have contributed to the community vision of building an innovative, caring and vibrant Kitchener with safe and thriving neighbourhoods. Neighbourhood Associations contribute to quality of life of City of Kitchener residents through provision of programming, special events and engagement in issues of importance to neighbourhood residents. Moreover, Neighbourhood Associations promote neighbourhood- based opportunities for leadership and community engagement. Neighbourhood Associations support the creation of a culture of safety through social development and through increasing the capacity of residents to discuss, define and address their shared concerns. The diversity of neighbourhoods is reflected in the variety of community-based programs, services and initiatives undertaken annually by Neighbourhood Associations. A short list of Neighbourhood Association highlights for 2013 is attached in Appendix B. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: There are currently no financial implications. Services to Neighbourhood Associations are provided through the Community Programs and Services budget and printing process. However, as the population of the City of Kitchener increases and new neighbourhoods emerge, the current funding and support available to NAs may need to be reassessed to maintain the vibrancy and level of support to Kitchener neighbourhoods. 1 - 2 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Staff has consulted with Neighbourhood Associations in regard to the affiliation process for 2014. Moving forward, Community Programs and Services staff will inform NAs about their affiliation status. Information and collaboration will occur as appropriate with emerging neighbourhood groups in regard to the process for affiliation. The approved 2014 affiliation list will be shared with internal divisions such as Information Technology, Clerk’s, and Communications to maintain updated information for access by the public, Council and staff. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO, Community Services Attachments: AppendixA-CommunityProgramsandServices 2014NeighbourhoodAssociationsandWard Councillors AppendixB-2013CityofKitchenerNeighbourhoodAssociation Highlights 1 - 3 APPENDIX A COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES 2014 Neighbourhood Associations and Ward Councillors WardWard Councillor Neighbourhood Association Bridgeport Community Association WARD ONE Scott Davey Stanley Park Community Association Centreville-Chicopee Community Association WARD TWO Berry Vrbanovic Stanley Park Community Association Deer Ridge Estates Social Club WARD THREE John Gazzola Grand Hill Village Neighbourhood Association Kingsdale Neighbourhood Association Pinegrove Community Association Settler’s Grove Association Caryndale Neighbourhood Association WARD FOUR Yvonne Fernandes Doon Pioneer Park Community Association Lower Doon Neighbourhood Association WARD FIVE Kelly Galloway-Sealock Williamsburg Community Association Alpine Neighbourhood Association WARD SIX Paul Singh Chandler-Mowat Neighbourhood Association Country Hills Recreation Association Boardwalk Neighbourhood Association WARD SEVEN Bill Ioannidis Forest Heights Community Association Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association WARD EIGHT Zyg Janecki Forest Heights Community Association Greenbelt Neighbourhood Association Victoria Hills Neighbourhood Association Westmount Neighbourhood Association Cedar Hill Community Group WARD NINE Frank Etherington Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association Highland-Stirling Community Group Mill-Courtland Neighbourhood Association Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance (VPNA) Auditorium Neighbourhood Association WARD TEN Daniel Glenn-Graham Central Frederick Neighbourhood Association Mt-Hope Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association Olde Berlin Towne Neighbourhood Association Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance Mayor: Carl Zehr 1 - 4 APPENDIX B 2013 CITY OF KITCHENER NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION HIGHLIGHTS ALPINE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Community Cleanup day, April 2013 Published a quarterly newsletter Volunteer support to Movie Night (held at CHCC) joint collaboration between Chandler Mowat, Alpine, and Country Hills areas – Ward 6 Movie Night AUDITORIUM NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION Worked closely with the City’s operations staff regarding upgrades to Knollwood Park. Embarked on a very successful community fundraising drive to enhance upgrades to Knollwood Park. BOARDWALK NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION Neighbourhood Association launch party in April Community BBQ – held at the Boardwalk at Ira Needles Blvd. Sponsored and organized a neighbourhood family movie experience at Empire theatre BRIDGEPORT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Successfully held 15 community/special events (including child dances, movie matinees, holiday party). New programs added each season with an increase in registered participants. CARYNDALE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Involved community through BBQs, Games Night, and Community Cleanup CEDAR HILL COMMUNITY GROUP Continue to increase the number of participants in our free 10 week Spring Soccer Program at Courtland School. CENTRAL FREDERICK NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION Some of the events include the successful Hohner Ave. Porch Party, Little Library Launch, Fall Festival in Weber Park, and the Games Night at Brubacher Green. CENTREVILLE-CHICOPEE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Expansion of the COPS program to 2 additional Neighbourhood Associations. The introduction of Saturday programming, which has been very welcomed and successful. Free Family Movie Matinee/Evenings have been a huge hit and people are already looking forward to the next ones. Addition of new programs such as karate, dance and guitar lessons. 1 - 5 CHANDLER MOWAT NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION Recipients of Festival of Neighborhoods Grant and launch of Accessible Community Garden. Valuable programs offered for children, youth and 50+ i.e. Chandler Youth Crew, Osteo Moves etc. Community events along with partners include Eid celebrations, Summertime Multicultural B.B.Q., Children’s Holiday party 100-150 participants. CHERRY PARK NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION CPNA – another successful Cherry Festival; community clean-up saw record numbers or participation; annual Plant sale. COUNTRY HILLS RECREATION ASSOCIATION On-Line Registration (2013) Ward 6 – Movie Night in partnership with two other Associations Backpack Program (a partnership with the Family Outreach worker at CHCC) Family Fun Day (Spring 2013) DEER RIDGE ESTATES SOCIAL CLUB Involved community residents through Christmas Food/Toy Drive, Summer Party, Earth Day, Community Garage Sale DOON PIONEER PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION On-Line Registration (Fall 2013) Community events include Christmas Miracle, Annual Volleyball Classic, Earth Day Clean up, Youth Dance, Family Fun Nights, Doon Mobile Skate Park DOWNTOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD ALLIANCE Started many new and successful programs for children and adults in 2013. Very successful drop in programs for children, youth, adults and families. FOREST HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Family Fun Day BBQ, Community Garage Sale, Annual Pizza with Santa Party, Ballroom Dance and Tea GRAND HILL VILLAGE NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION Celebrated 60 year milestone as a neighbourhood association GREENBELT NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION Recognized for long service. 1 - 6 HIGHLAND STIRLING COMMUNITY GROUP Very successful Neighbourhood Market. Downtown East project – Human Trafficking Coalition was formed with WRPS and other agencies. KINGSDALE NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION KNA board member Marie Morneau won the first ever “City of Kitchener Mayor’s Challenge.” th 2014 The KNA will host a free family move day on Feb 17 from 1:30-3:30. The COPS program was expanded to Kingsdale youth this summer. LOWER DOON NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION Annual Town and Gown BBQ in conjunction with Conestoga College and COK Celebrated 10 year milestone as a neighbourhood association MILL COURTLAND NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION Continue to support free programs and initiatives for youth. Engaged youth in Earth Day Cleanup, Aussie X event, COPS Program, We Day. Provided many neighbourhood activities and events throughout the year for the families in the community. MT. HOPE-BREITHAUPT PARK NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION Started to run an array of programs out of the Breithaupt Community Centre ranging from sports, to cooking, to Lego. Continued excellent communication to residents re: events, updates, general information and concerns via a blog and bi monthly public meetings with city officials. Started again with community newsletters. OLDE BERLIN TOWNE NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION The OBTNA has been working really hard to install banners in their neighbourhood as part of the Festival of Neighbourhood grant. OBTNA came together in April to clean up and beautify a local green space and also hosted their annual BBQ and potluck and a Family Movie Night at the DCC. PINEGROVE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Various neighbourhood social activities SETTLER’S GROVE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Annual Neighbourhood Holiday Party Community Cleanup 1 - 7 STANLEY PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Held their first Hoedown, a very popular event with 95 adults of all ages attending. An instructor taught line dancing to the group and many people in attendance are hoping that this event will run again. Together with the Stanley Park Optimists, SPCA ran their second Bike Safety Fun Day. The day included a bike safety course, bike inspections, entertainment, face painting, visits from local police officers and fire fighters and other family friendly activities. VICTORIA HILLS NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION VHNA – Community Vegetarian Pasta Dinner; Annual holiday party; Volunteer Social to thank their volunteers; recognized for long service. VICTORIA PARK NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION Collaborated with CPNA to organize the Animate the Trail Festival and the Henry Sturm Festival. VPNA partnered with the Waterloo Region to host a Breast Feeding Buddies program at the DCC. WESTMOUNT NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION N/A WILLIAMSBURG COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION The WCA celebrated its 5 year anniversary. WCA organised some new events: a Volunteer Appreciation event over the holidays, Jane’s Walk around the community and the Longest Day of Play. 1 - 8