HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-14-105 - Information to Public about School Designations and School Boundaries Staff Report
��c ti R Community Services Department wmkitchene►:ca
REPORT TO: Community & Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: November 10, 2014
SUBMITTED BY: Alain Pinard, Director of Planning
Mike Seiling, Director of Building/CBO
PREPARED BY: Della Ross, Manager of Development Review -
519-741-2200 ext. 7327
Tim Benedict, Manager of Building - 519-741-2200 ext. 7645
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Wards
DATE OF REPORT: October 21, 2014
REPORT NO.: CSD-14-105
SUBJECT: Information to Public about School Designations and
School Boundaries
RECOMMENDATION:
That staff be directed to update the City of Kitchener webpage to provide direct
links to school boundary information and direct links to contact information for
the four (4) school boards; and
That staff be directed to add a condition to the standard Sub-Division Agreement
to include a requirement for the developer or builder to list the contact
information for the four (4) School Boards in all offers of purchase and sale and
rental agreements.
REPORT:
At the August 25th Council Meeting, the following recommendation was made,
"That staff be directed to provide a report to the November 10, 2014 Community
and Infrastructure Services Committee meeting regarding the possibility of
having a school(s) designated prior to submitting building permits in a new
subdivision, and further,
That the report also include information as to the possibility of requiring
developers and the school boards to work together to notify residents who have
purchased homes in new subdivisions but may not live there yet, regarding any
school boundary meetings affecting their area."
7 - 1
City staff does not typically comment on school boundaries and locations as they are a
direct school board responsibility. Staff does want to ensure that residents get the
correct information on school boundaries and locations as we know it is a very important
factor in deciding on a house purchase. Therefore, staff recommends that some
additional measures be put in place to assist with providing the public with school board
contact and school boundary information.
The first part of the recommendation requested staff to review the designation of
schools prior to Building Permit issuance. Building staff advise that this requirement is
not applicable law and therefore building permit issuance cannot be withheld should
school board boundaries not yet be established.
However, the City's current internet site provides direct links to all four (4) School
Boards that serve the residents of the City of Kitchener. Once you have arrive at each
webpage, it is possible to find school locations and boundaries but in some cases the
sites are difficult to navigate. Staff suggest that direct links to school boundaries be
added to our webpage to assist residents to go directly to the information they are
looking for. We could also provide direct links to contact information at each of the
school boards to make it easier for residents to get the correct contact if they have
questions or concerns.
To address the second part of the recommendation, Planning staff proposes a condition
of draft approval that would require the developer to provide school board contact
information to first time home buyers. The information would be required to be included
in all offers of purchase and sale and rental agreements. This will ensure that the
purchasers have information on who to contact at the school board about school
boundaries, locations and any upcoming information meetings.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, there are some steps that staff can take immediately to assist with
providing the general public and new homeowners with school board contact
information including updating our web site to provide user friendly links. We can also
include a condition of draft approval requiring school board contact information to be
included in the offer of purchase and sale or rental agreements for new house
purchases.
This will ensure that residents are connected with the appropriate school board contact
that can provide the most current and accurate information on school locations and
boundaries.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
This report aligns with Community Priority: Leadership and Community Engagement
which states "The city continues a strong tradition as a leader in community involvement
— regularly engaging citizens through the sharing of information..."
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
7 - 2
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in
advance of the council / committee meeting.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO Community Services Department
7 - 3