HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-11-05
SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
NOVEMBER 5, 2015 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:00 p.m.
Present: Mr. D. McKlusky – Vice-Chair
Councillors S. Marsh and D. Schnider, Ms. D. Christiaen, Ms. J. Nicholls, Ms. E. Clarke,
Ms. L. Roberts and Messrs. W. Rahimi, S. Grande, J. Pelich, C. Roy, and C. Letizi.
Staff: Mr. M. Hildebrand, Director of Community Programs and Services
Ms. D. Campbell, Manager of Community Resource Centres
Mr. J. Watkins, Service Improvement Facilitator
Ms. L. Thompson, Planning Technician
Ms. M. Drake, Project Manager
Ms. L. Korabo, Committee Administrator
PRESENTATION – CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED)
1.
Mr. D. McKlusky advised the sub-committee on Physical Environment and Safety believed the
Committee would benefit from an informational presentation on Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design (CPTED). He advised that both the City of Kitchener and Waterloo
Regional Police Service (WRPS) have staff members trained in CPTED and will be providing
overviews of how each organization utilizes CPTED principles to make our community safer.
Cst. Peter Barbuto, Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS), advised that he conducts
neighbourhood safety audits and provides CPTED training sessions for groups and
organizations as required. Cst. Barbuto noted that CPTED is based on four main principles,
being: access control; surveillance; territorial reinforcement; and, maintenance. Using a
Powerpoint presentation, he presented an overview of how the WRPS makes use of CPTED to
help reduce crime in the community and to increase the safety and security of residents and
then provided photo examples of how each principle can be implemented.
Ms. L. Thompson, Planning Technician – Site Development, advised the City of Kitchener has
taken a proactive approach by making CPTED a formal part of the development review
process since 2008 and by providing education on CPTED to the local consulting /
development industry. Where requested, a CPTED report must be submitted by the
developer’s consultant and is reviewed and approved by City staff. This approved report
becomes part of the development approval registered on title, ensuring that the strategies
implemented in the project are maintained for the life of the development.
Ms. Thompson noted that CPTED information is included as part of the City’s Urban Design
Manual and showed several examples of positive CPTED usage. She noted that proactive
CPTED work is beneficial as it will:
Reduce the need for expensive retrofit measures;
Provide for better urban design;
Ensure safer communities;
Reduce policing time and costs;
Result in insurance savings; and
Reduce or eliminate costs for repair of vandalism, graffiti, etc.
The Committee questioned if CPTED is also embedded in subdivision development
applications, and Ms. Thompson noted that this is currently not the case. At this point in time,
staff focuses their expertise on commercial and institutional development; however, she did
advise that individual developments within subdivisions are reviewed on a piecemeal basis.
CONSULTATION – DIGITAL KITCHENER
2.
Mr. J. Watkins, Service Improvement Facilitator, attended to conduct a consultation on the
City’s proposed Digital Kitchener Strategy which will identify and align corporate information
technology priorities over the next five years as well as pursue new opportunities to use and
promote technology by working with external community partners. The purpose of consulting
with the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee is to gather feedback on ideas for
digital inclusion to improve the lives of all residents.
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CONSULTATION – DIGITAL KITCHENER (CONT’D)
2.
Members were divided into two groups and participated in a table-top exercise to brainstorm
on the following two questions:
How might we develop a more digitally-evolved city?; and,
What can we do to increase technology skills and access and how can this make
neighbourhoods stronger?
Following the brainstorming session, each group reported on their top three ideas.
Mr. Watkins thanked the Committee for their input and noted that next steps will see all
information from various consultations pulled together and analyzed to identify broader themes
and concepts for inclusion in the draft strategy. He advised he will attend another Committee
meeting in the Spring of 2016 to share an update ahead of the Strategy being finalized for
presentation to Council. Mr. Watkins encouraged members to forward any additional thoughts
to him via the City’s webpage at www.kitchener.ca/en/insidecityhall/digital-kitchener.
NEIGHBOURHOOD STRATEGY
3.
Ms. M. Drake, Project Manager – Neighbourhood Strategy, utilized a Powerpoint presentation
and provided an update on Neighbourhood Strategy activities since her attendance in June
2015. She advised that 2,000 neighbourhood surveys were distributed and 1,308 were
collected.
Members of the Committee had previously been provided with a copy of an Infographic which
was created following all public consultations. This Infographic summarizes responses to the
questions asked on surveys distributed at the 27 events attended by Neighbourhood Strategy
Project Team members.
Ms. Drake advised these results were previously shared with members of the Project Team
and the staff committee. Feedback gathered from this advisory committee will be included with
that received from those groups. Members were then requested to consider the survey
responses on the Infographic and provide comments on what could be learned from the
information provided as well as thoughts on possible lessons learned moving forward.
Following this activity, the Committee was advised the Project Team is planning to conduct
some ‘pre-engagement activities’ in the New Year and follow that up with a more structured
engagement process within neighbourhoods during April 2016.
INCLUSION/BELONGING GRANT SUBCOMMITTEE
4.
Mr. C. Letizi advised that following the Committee’s last meeting, additional information was
requested from the applicants of The Fireside who wish to host two monthly music nights in the
Victoria Hills neighbourhood. Mr. Letizi noted the grant sub-committee had not yet met to
review the additional information and suggested the entire Committee consider the application
provided and reach a decision.
Mr. Letizi noted that information to supplement the original grant application had been received
regarding: demonstrated outreach to neighbourhood residents to meet the criteria of inclusion
and belonging; how information on the music nights will be shared; attendance at previous
events; and, proposed budget. The Fireside has scheduled two music nights (November 7
and 29) and is requesting funding in the amount of $500 to be used towards overhead costs
totalling approximately $140 / event. Additional event costs take the form of a donation to
each performing artist ($100 - $200) depending on monies donated by attendees. The
Committee was reminded the maximum grant allowable under the approved criteria is $500 as
the applicants are not formally tied to a recognized community organization or group.
Ms. D. Christiaen raised a concern that having a requirement for applicants of one-time events
to be connected to a formal community group or organization may be restricting the
Committee’s opportunities to award grant funding. Staff confirmed the criteria was put in
place to ensure funds are used for the intended purpose and that some applications which do
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INCLUSION/BELONGING GRANT SUBCOMMITTEE (CONT’D)
4.
not meet the grant’s criteria have been referred to the City’s Neighbourhood Matching Funds
Grant (NMFG) as it has differing criteria.
It was suggested the application criteria for the Inclusion/ Belonging Grant be revisited after it
has been in place for one year.
On motion by Mr. C. Letizi –
it was resolved:
“That the following Inclusion / Belonging Grant application be approved:
The Fireside – Community Music Nights - $500.”
STATUS OF SUBCOMMITTEES
5.
Fostering Inclusion, Participation and Belonging
Ms. D. Christiaen advised that the sub-committee has not been able to land on a date to meet;
however, was planning to discuss this after today’s meeting and establish one or two dates in
the near future.
Mr. D. McKlusky encouraged the group have some information to report back at the December
2015 Committee meeting.
Physical Environment and Safety
The sub-committee arranged for the presentation on CPTED earlier this date. Next steps
being considered are to continue with the awareness raising by having a similar presentation
at the annual Neighbourhood Summit meeting to be held later in November, 2015.
Ms. D. Campbell will meet with Ms. J. Ouellette and determine is this matter can be part of the
Summit’s agenda.
Public Awareness Raising
Mr. W. Rahimi advised that the sub-committee has not met as several of the members have
been away. He hoped that the members would be able to connect in the near future and have
some information to share at the Committee’s December meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
6.
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
L. Korabo
Committee Administrator