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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil - 2016-03-21 S6y,xy /e1WK9111LIN10khIIki Lei 9�1 MARCH 21, 2016 CITY OF KITCHENER A special meeting of City Council was held at 2:01 p.m. this date, chaired by Acting Mayor Y. Fernandes with all members present except Councillor P. Singh. Mayor B. Vrbanovic was in attendance for part of the meeting. Notice of this meeting had been previously given to all members of Council by the City Clerk pursuant to Chapter 25 (Council Procedure) of the Municipal Code. 1.b. CSDA6 -016 —NEIGH BOURHOOD STRATEGY Council considered Community Services Department report CSD -16 -016 (M. Drake), dated March 7, 2016, regarding an update on the development of a Neighbourhood Strategy. Ms. M. Drake, Neighbourhood Strategy Project Manager and Mr. D. Kropf, Neighbourhood Strategy Engagement Associate, presented the report. Ms. Drake provided an overview of the progress undertaken to -date related to the development of a Neighbourhood Strategy, highlighting: the Project Team's accomplishments; the Neighbourhood Strategy Project Plan; and, the Neighbourhood Strategy Sub - Committees. She indicated community engagement is, and continues to be, a critical component in developing the Strategy. Mr. Kropf further advised of the next major community engagement tools to be undertaken in 2016. Ms. Drake further advised staff is requesting Council's feedback on the following questions 1. What suggestions do you have for reaching and engaging members of the community who do not normally provide input to the municipality as part of a consultation process? 2. Recognizing the diversity of our community, how would you suggest we ensure we are engaging a diverse range of community members and groups? 3. After reviewing the draft questions that have been developed for use by our "street teams" (see `Appendix A'), are there any changes you would like to see or additional questions you think should be asked? Members offered the following suggestions to Questions 1 and 2: • use plain language when finalizing the community engagement questions; • if possible, try to retain interpreters to engage individuals where English is not a first language; • consider other possible venues / community groups for community feedback: • nursing homes; • neighbourhood parks; • splash pads; • Huron Natural Area; • the Auditorium; o Centre in the Square (CITS); • faith groups; • golf courses; • flyer when customers request a Kitchener Utilities service call; • school pick -up time, targeting waiting parents; • subdivision / Neighbourhood Association Facebook pages; • organizations such as the United Way to reach residents that may not be as engaged in community events; • sporting events; • early childcare centres (e.g. Early Years Centre); and, • Public Information Centres (PIC). • try to establish statistically significant control groups. (e.g. 10 or more random households in specific areas of the City). • seek assistance from members of Council to participate in the community engagement process if opportunity permits. SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH 21, 2016 -41- CITY OF KITCHENER Members offered the following suggestions to Question 3: " question 4 outlined in Appendix y� may be challenging for people toidentify with one of the 7 w continue to ensure all questions are in plain language; � train the street teams as to what to do if people are experiencing difficultly answering the questions; ° add more focus questions specific to their neighbourhood (e.g. what is your neighbourhood missing, what ia one thing you love about your moighbourhood); w add o question that would focus mm the City amawhole; � amend Question 2 to include if they did not wish to mmvo, what they would change with their neighbourhood; w develop a take-away that could be handed out by staff or members of Council vvhena opportunity permits; � add m question that would provide residents an opportunity to inform on items that may negatively impact them, (e.g. what is your favourite / least favourite thing about your neighbourhood). Mayor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting and assumed the Chair. 1.a. CAO-16-0112—E-PARTICIPATION Council considered Chief Administrative Officers report CAO'10'012 (J. Joseph), dated March 15. 2U18. regarding the City's new E,PurtiopaMonplatform. Mr. J. Joaeph, Community Engagement ConauKan, presented the naport, advising the City has recently acquired ane-participatiun platform intended to allow residents an opportunity to actively and easily participate and engage with their municipality on items of interest. He indicated the platform will be launched under the title 'Engage Ritcheno/. which has also been adopted by the Cities of Cambridge and Waterloo and the Region of Waterloo. He stated the platform, offers nine different topic methods to engage with residents and he provided a brief summary of mauh, explaining how residents would utilize them when providing feedback. Mr. Joseph further advised the e'participetiun site is due to be launched in April 2018. mcd[ng the first community engagement topics include.- City Hall Outdoor Spaces K8eaier Plan; Chapter 408 of the Municipal Code (4mimo|n — ReguVatione)� Comprehensive Business Licensing Review; Neighbourhood Strategy; and. Planning Around Rapid Transit Stations (PARTS). Council then participated in an interactive demonstration of the e- pmrtioipatiomp|etfonn. IN-CAMERA MEETING AUTHORIZATION Moved by Councillor Y.Fernandes Seconded byCouncillor S, Davey "That om in-camera meeting of City Council be held immediately consider two litigation / potential litigation mattem, one of which is subject to solicitor-client privilege and two land acquisition / disposition mnmttem." Dn motion the meeting adjourned et4:Q2pm. MAYOR Carried