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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-05 SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 5, 2014 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:04 p.m. Present: Mr. A. Bieronski, Chair Councillors P. Singh and S. Davey, Ms. D. Chapman, Ms. D. Christiaen, Ms. N. Bird, Ms. K. Porritt, Ms. J. Metzger and Messrs. P. Doherty, D. McKlusky, S. Grande, B. Sheehan, A. Rahimi and C. Roy. Staff: Mr. M. Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs & Services Ms. D. Campbell, Manager, Community Resource Centres Ms. R. Willms, Supervisor of Administration, Community Services Ms. L. Korabo, Committee Administrator 1.CSD-14-047 – KITCHENER NEIGHBOURHOOD STRATEGY Mr. M. May, Deputy CAO – Community Services, presented a proposal for the creation of a Kitchener Neighbourhood Strategy (KNS), advising the development of a formal strategy had been identified in various strategic documents, namely: the Leisure Facilities Master Plan (2005); the Leisure Facilities Master Plan Update (2013); and, the Growth Management Strategy. With the use of a Powerpoint presentation, he outlined the purpose of the proposed KNS, being: To create an overarching strategy for the future of Kitchener’s neighbourhoods that will assist the municipality and community groups in coordinating efforts geared towards the common goal of creating safe and thriving neighbourhoods; and, To design and implement a citizen-led approach to placemaking, which will engage residents to define the identity of their neighbourhoods and to outline actions to be taken to contribute to its health. Mr. May advised next steps include engaging community residents through the use of various media to gather input on the objectives, scope, governance and process to be utilized. From this input, staff will draft a project charter outlining timelines, scope, objectives, etc. for the Kitchener Neighbourhood Strategy, with launch of the project set for the first quarter of 2015. As an initial step, staff is considering various methods to ensure the project is manageable and will result in tangible outcomes. It is being proposed the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee act as a project advisory group thereby, allowing staff to bring all related information before it at regular intervals for review and feedback. Members made clarification inquiries and provided considerable input regarding many aspects of the draft report. Mr. May thanked the Committee for its feedback and offered to return at a future meeting to have a more in depth discussion on the KNS and to also meet with members one-on-one to discuss any aspect of the report. INCLUSION / BELONGING GRANT - UPDATE 2. Ms. N. Bird advised City staff has circulated grant application information to all neighbourhood associations. Two applications have already been submitted and more are anticipated within the next few days. In order to consider granting some funds in time for summer activities, the sub-committee is proposing to set an application deadline in the latter part of June, allowing time to review applications and bring recommendations to the full committee for consideration at its July meeting. In response to the Committee’s request, Ms. D. Campbell agreed to circulate a copy of the th final application / guidelines. Further, she proposed an application deadline of June 20 for initial consideration and advised applications received after this date would be considered by the sub-committee in September. Councillor P. Singh inquired if consideration had been given to leveraging available funds with sponsorship from other organizations in order to allow for greater benefit to applying groups. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 5, 2014 - 14 - CITY OF KITCHENER INCLUSION / BELONGING GRANT – UPDATE (CONT’D) 2. Mr. M. Hildebrand advised staff does investigate all options for funding and referred specifically to a report on a proposed Community Matching Funds Grant to be considered by Council in the near future. Councillor Singh suggested that leveraging as it relates to the Inclusion / Belonging Grant be revisited in a year’s time. JOINT MUNICIPAL SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMITTEE MEETING - UPDATE 3. Mr. D. McKlusky advised that municipal representatives continue to meet and develop a th framework for a proposed joint municipal safe & healthy forum. Tuesday, November 18 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. has been selected for this event and staff is investigating location options within Kitchener. He noted the Committee may be asked to expend some of its funds, if required, to pay some related costs. Mr. McKlusky confirmed invitations will be extended to the members of both municipal Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committees as well as community representatives from the City of Cambridge. In addition, members of Council who serve on the committees as well as municipal staff will be invited to attend. This initial forum will be solely committee driven; however, if successful, citizens may be invited to participate at future events. AUGUST 2014 COMMITTEE MEETING 4. Mr. A. Bieronski opened the floor for a discussion on the possibility of cancelling one of the monthly meetings during the summer months, noting the tendencies of other advisory committees to not meet during July / August. Given the timing of the grant considerations, the Committee confirmed its desire to meet on rd July 3, and to also have a further discussion, at that time, concerning the need for a meeting in August. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - TERMS OF REFERENCE 5. REPORT Mr. M. Hildebrand advised a staff report on the revised Terms of Reference, which also th includes his evaluation of the Committee as a whole, will be considered at the June 9 Community and Infrastructure Services Committee meeting. The report recommends the Committee’s continuation, outlines the work completed to date and identifies gaps to be addressed as part of its ongoing work plan. WORK PLAN DEVELOPMENT 6. Mr. M. Hildebrand reviewed the current work plan, noting actions that are considered to be ongoing (e.g. Jane’s Walk, grant administration, etc.). Further, he reminded members of the following work plan items which were tabled for consideration at the last meeting: establishment of a new Canadian committee; research into issues related to homelessness in the core area; and, development of a neighbourhood strategy (as previously presented this date). At the Committee’s last meeting, members were asked to consider if there were any other actions to be added to the work plan, discuss actions / milestones for the suggested items and formulate a revised work plan for the new term of the Committee. Members agreed to add the following two activities to the 2015-2016 work plan: consider the establishment of a new Canadian citizens committee; and, research the identified service gap for homeless people between 3 – 7 p.m. daily. A sub-committee for the possible formation of a new Canadian citizens committee was established: D. Christiaen; D. Chapman; S. Grande; and, A. Rahimi. With regard to the establishment of a sub-committee to research service gaps for homeless individuals, more members than the limit of four volunteered, therefore, Mr. M. Hildebrand SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 5, 2014 - 15 - CITY OF KITCHENER WORK PLAN DEVELOPMENT (CONT’D) 6. advised he would speak with the Deputy City Clerk regarding how to move forward with this subcommittee and report back at the next Committee meeting. ADJOURNMENT 7. On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:52 p.m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator