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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe & Healthy - 2004-01-13 SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 13, 2004 CITY OF KITCHENER The Sate and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:15 p.m. Present: Chair, Councillor B. Vrbanovic J. Breithaupt, S. Fohring, S. Franzen, A. Bender, B. Thomlison D. Hoch and P. Doherty (in attendance for part or the meeting) Staff: J. Dean, Safe City Co-ordinator L. Korabo, Committee Administrator This meeting of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee was conducted without a quorum in attendance. Councillor B. Vrbanovic called the meeting to order and undertook introductions. 1. APPOINTMENT - CO-CHAIR Councillor B. Vrbanovic advised that Mr. D. Schnarr, who was in unable to attend this meeting, has indicated his willingness to let his name stand as Co-Chair. Mr. Schnarr was nominated for the appointment and no other nominations were forthcoming. On motion by Mr. P. Doherty- it was resolved: "That Mr. Dennis Schnarr be appointed Co-Chair of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee, for a term expiring November 30, 2004." 2. MEETING DATES - PROPOSED 2004 COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE A proposed 2004 meeting schedule for the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee was listed on the agenda as follows: February 3; March 2; April 6; May 4; June 1; August 3; September 7; October 5; and November 2. Councillor B. Vrbanovic requested that the September meeting date be changed to September 14 in order to resolve a meeting conflict. By general consent the dates, as amended, were accepted. FESTIVAL OF NEIGHBOURHOODS - FINAL REPORT AND GRANT REQUEST Mr. John MacDonald attended on behalf of the Festival of Neighbourhoods Organizing Committee to present the final report on the 2003 Festival of Neighbourhoods. A draft report including the final 2003 budget, dated November 30, 2003, was attached to the agenda. For the benefit of new Committee members, Mr. MacDonald advised that the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee (SHCAC) provided a grant of $5,000. to the Festival to fund a part-time contract Co-ordinator's position and at that time requested that a report be received outlining how the Committee's objectives were supported through the funding award. An interim presentation from the Organizing Committee was given at the Committee's October 7, 2003 meeting outlining increased participation and noting that a student had been hired to work with the Co-ordinator on an outreach component. Mr. MacDonald advised that the Committee's financial support had greatly contributed to the Festival's successful 10th year anniversary. He spoke of the goals of the Festival which closely reflect objectives of the SHCAC, including: personal safety and crime prevention; community mobilization; and, community programs and services affecting programs / facilities. Regarding the 2004 Festival, Mr. MacDonald commented that the Organizing Committee had made a grant request of $16,000. to City Council to permit the continued grow[h of the Festival and build on gains made in 2003. It was felt that a part-time Co-ordinator should be hired earlier in the year and a youth component be included in 2004. He further commented that if approved, the funding will provide future financial stability and in addition, sponsorships will be pursued. Councillor B. Vrbanovic advised that Council referred consideration of the Festival's grant request to SHCAC for comment and recommendation. He further advised that City staff are SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 13, 2004 - 2 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. FESTIVAL OF NEIGHBOURHOODS - FINAL REPORT AND GRANT REQUEST (CONT'D) recommending a grant of $4,823. Mr. J. MacDonald clarified that the $16,000. is a one-time request to accommodate a specific goal to hire a Co-ordinator for 9-10 months. He also noted that the Festival's Organizing Committee is agreeable to working with a sub-committee of SHCAC to discuss additional ways to promote the Committee's mandate through upcoming Festivals. During discussion, Ms. J. Breithaupt left the meeting. On motion by Ms. S. Fohring - it was resolved: 'That the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee supports the request of the Festival of Neighbourhoods for a 2004 annual operating grant in the amount of $11,177. over and above the staff recommended grant of $4,823. (total of $16,000.), being a one- time contribution to assist with the Festival's 2004 operations.' Councillor B. Vrbanovic advised that pursuant to Council direction, this recommendation will be forwarded directly to the January 26, 2004 Council meeting for consideration and invited Mr. MacDonald to attend as a delegation. He then thanked Mr. MacDonald for his offer to work with the SHCAC, noting that the Committee will discuss this matter at a future meeting and advise. UPDATE - YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR SAFETY AND SUPPORT PROJECT (YESS) Ms. S. Gassim and Ms. B. Burner, Ethno-Cultural Family Safety Network (EFSN), attended to provide an update on the Youth Empowerment for Safety and Support Project (YESS). Ms. Gassim advised that Ontario Trillium Foundation funding for the YESS project concludes in April, 2004 and noted that a funding application had been submitted to the National Crime Prevention Council; however, no response has yet been received. It was noted that the EFSN has established partnerships with the Cities of Cambridge and Waterloo as well as Regional Police and the local Crime Prevention Council, and efforts will be made to continue the work undertaken to the fullest extent possible without funding. Ms. Gassim provided an overview of the accomplishments of the YESS program, including: · access to recreational activities for ethnic youth; · 90% success rate in encouraging ethnic parents to enrol children in City programs; · translation of recreational program application forms into various languages; · provision of a bi-weekly youth drop-in; and · establishment or an outreach program / support group for ethnic fathers with a goal to boost self esteem. Mr. D. Hoch entered the meeting at this time. 5. WORKPLAN 2003-2004 Councillor B. Vrbanovic advised that he will discuss with staff potential workplan items to be tabled for consideration in 2004 and asked that this matter be added to the February 3, 2004 Committee agenda. Mr. P. Doherty left the meeting. DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORT Mr. D. Hoch, Downtown Advisory Committee (DAC) representative, advised that discussions had been held at a recent DAC meeting regarding the possibility of establishing joint working groups with the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee (SHCAC) as some of their mandates appear to overlap. He noted that the strength of the SHCAC is in the projects it successfully undertakes and felt that this energy could be shared in a joint working group, to be formed on an ad hoc basis. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 13, 2004 - 3 - CITY OF KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORT (CONT'D) DAC's initial suggestion was to form a working group to review Downtown safety and security. Mr. Hoch advised that he would like to receive input on this proposal from Committee members and noted that it was the opinion of members of DAC that any joint recommendations be forwarded to Council show solidarity. Ms. J. Dean commented that the issue or lack or safety and security in the Downtown has been a long-held perception and suggested that the Kitchener Downtown Community Collaborative could be of assistance to DAC on this matter. Councillor B. Vrbanovic requested that Mr. Hoch provide a written outline of this proposal for consideration by SHCAC. 7. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m. Linda Korabo Committee Administrator