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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-05 SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 5, 2015 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m. Present: Mr. D. McKlusky, Vice-Chair Councillor S. Marsh, Councillor D. Schnider, Ms. E. Clarke, Ms. J. Nicholls, Ms. L. Roberts, Ms. J. Metzger and Messrs. A. Bieronski, S. Grande, C. Letizi, J. Pelich, C. Roy and W. Rahimi. Staff: Mr. M. Hildebrand, Director of Community Programs and Services Ms. D. Campbell, Manager of Community Resources Centres Ms. L. Korabo, Committee Administrator NEIGHBOURHOOD STRATEGY 1. Mr. M. May, Deputy CAO – Community Services, provided a status update on the work leading to the development of a Neighbourhood Strategy, which is a corporate-wide project in the City’s current business plan. For the benefit of new members, Mr. May noted he had attended two previous meetings to introduce the project. He then provided a comprehensive overview of work done to date, as well as other departmental projects underway to help build and support neighbourhoods. A Powerpoint presentation entitled “Focusing on Kitchener’s Neighbourhoods” was shown. The proposed objectives of the Neighbourhood Strategy are as follows: Create a comprehensive strategy that will help the municipality, citizens and community groups coordinate their efforts in planning, building and supporting safe and thriving neighbourhoods; and, Create a framework for a citizen-led approach to placemaking in neighbourhoods that will engage citizens. Mr. May advised that work in 2015 will include the design and implementation of a citizen engagement process that will ask people to create a vision for the role of a neighbourhood and to also list strengths supporting the vision and gaps negatively affecting it. Staff will also conduct research into best practices in citizen-led neighbourhood placemaking. Finally, a framework on how to guide and support citizens in the creation of action plans will be developed. Once developed by the neighbourhood, each action plan will be presented to Council for approval and, if necessary, discussions will be held regarding any budgetary implications associated with it. Mr. May noted staff is unsure regarding the length of time needed to establish neighbourhood action plans; however, will be working to identify how best to become involved, how to involve members of Council and will also create neighbourhood asset maps. The Committee was provided with information regarding the governance structure to oversee the Strategy being: Michael May (Project Champion) and a Project Team consisting of a combination of staff and citizen representatives, including the Chair and an additional member of the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee (SHCAC). Mr. May remarked the Project Team will have more citizen representatives than staff, allowing them a greater role in the planning of the Strategy. In addition, he pointed out the SHCAC has been identified as the advisory committee connected to the Strategy, meaning the Project Team will provide regular updates and seek input at major milestones. The proposed governance structure also lists key community partners, all of whom have been personally approached by Mr. May regarding their contributions / participation in engaging residents during Phase 1 of the Strategy (e.g. hosting neighbourhood summits); however, it would be the responsibility of the Project Team to determine how best to work with each community partner, leveraging their individual networks for the greatest benefit. Mr. May opened the floor to receive any final comments / feedback from the Committee on the proposed recommendations to be incorporated into the report being presented to Council on March 9, 2015. Members of the Committee raised questions concerning possible related costs, and provided input on the importance of including the value of the Strategy, engagement opportunities and engagement content. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 5, 2015 - 4 - CITY OF KITCHENER NEIGHBOURHOOD STRATEGY (CONT’D) 1. Councillor D. Schnider commented that Council appreciates the advice provided by its advisory committees and looks to their support and feedback when making final decisions on matters. On motion by Ms. E. Clarke – it was resolved: “That the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee supports staff’s recommendations related to objectives, governance and work plan to guide the development and implementation of a Neighbourhood Strategy.” Mr. M. Hildebrand and Ms. D. Campbell left the meeting. COMMUNITY CENTRE REVIEW 2. Ms. K. Woodcock, Manager of Service Coordination & Improvement – Community Services Department, advised an internal service review of the City’s community centres is currently being undertaken to ensure that centres are meeting the needs of the community through efficient and effective operations. Ms. Woodcock advised she is meeting with various stakeholder groups to obtain feedback on the centres’ operations / services and circulated a brief confidential survey for completion. Ms. Woodcock noted that information gathered via the surveys will help identify the positive aspects of the centres as well as clarifying existing service gaps. She advised responses will be grouped into main themes and will be reviewed with the City’s Internal Auditor. Following completion of the survey, members also provided additional verbal feedback regarding community centres. Mr. M. Hildebrand and Ms. D. Campbell re-entered the meeting. VOLUNTEER RESOURCES POSITION - PROPOSAL 3. Mr. M. Hildebrand advised staff is required to submit a document outlining funding requests for any new annual projects. For the 2015 budget, Community Services Department staff is requesting funding for a new part-time position to assist with the engagement of volunteers. He noted that, in 2010, Council approved a Volunteer Strategy; however, recommendations contained therein have not been implemented due to a lack of staff resources. He further advised that demographics indicate a drop in anticipated future volunteer times, therefore, staff feel additional effort is required to compensate for these changing trends in where, how and why people volunteer, and specifically, that a more proactive approach is required moving forward. Current staffing levels do not allow for this additional work. The Committee was advised that Councillor S. Davey had asked that this funding request be brought to the attention of the Committee for their review / support. Mr. Hildebrand noted he would include any comments or recommendations made by the Committee in his update to Council on Budget Day. In response to specific questions regarding volunteering trends, Ms. J. Ouellette, Facilitator of Volunteer Resources, commented that volunteers within the community have indicated they will be volunteering differently and / or less regularly, a trend that is being seen across North America. Ms. Ouellette advised there is currently one full-time Coordinator of Volunteers position. She stated that, if the part-time position were approved, responsibilities will include re-designing volunteer work, outreach to potential new volunteers and investigating how to make the volunteering process easier. Mr. M. Hildebrand stated the addition of this part-time position will have an impact the City’s Operating Budget; however, he clarified the Committee’s requested support is just one component of additional information being provided to Council and will be considered with other priorities on Budget Day. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 5, 2015 - 5 - CITY OF KITCHENER VOLUNTEER RESOURCES POSITION – PROPOSAL (CONT’D) 3. On motion by Mr. J. Pelich – It was resolved: “That the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee supports the request for a new part-time Coordinator of Volunteers position as outlined in Operating Budget Issue Paper SI06.” COMMITTEE BUDGET 4. Mr. M. Hildebrand circulated a copy of the Committee’s 2014 budget, noting all expenditures during the year including allocated funds under the Inclusion / Belonging grant. Mr. Hildebrand advised that pending final budget approval by Council, an additional $10,000 will be available for the Committee’s use in conjunction with the year-end variance shown. 2014 NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM DEBRIEF 5. The Committee was provided a summary of notes and discussions from the Joint Neighbourhood Forum session held on November 18, 2014. Mr. D. McKlusky advised there was good representation from the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo as well as neighbourhood representatives from the City of Cambridge. Mr. McKlusky reviewed the purpose of the event, being: To share stories of success from each municipality; To envision a future with greater neighbourhood and municipal collaboration; and, To create a Declaration of Possibility. The Committee was advised the Neighbourhood Forum’s planning committee will meet on March 5, 2015 to debrief and discuss next steps. Mr. McKlusky advised that this matter is currently reflected on the draft work plan; however, a fuller discussion on future actions will be required. Mr. M. Hildebrand suggested the possibility of using the information contained in the ‘Declaration of Possibility’ as a launching point for identifying themes to be investigated either individually or jointly by the three area municipalities. ACTIVE LIVING CHARTER 6. Mr. D. McKlusky circulated a proposal by the Waterloo Region Active Living Network (WRALN) to establish an Active Living Charter, noting direct ties to a safe and healthy community. He advised that focus groups are being conducted across the Region and asked the Committee to participate. Mr. McKlusky requested time on the next agenda to allow attendance of a representative of the WRALN to gather feedback on this proposal. The Committee Administrator noted the March agenda is already heavily committed, however, Mr. M. Hildebrand suggested staff could consider extending the meeting time to accommodate this request if timelines are tight. Mr. McKlusky agreed to contact the WRALN and determine timelines for conducting focus groups and would then advise staff. ADJOURNMENT 7. On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator