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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-05 SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 5, 2016 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:00 p.m. Present: Mr. C. Letizi – Acting Chair Councillors S. Marsh and D. Schnider, Ms. J. Nicholls, Insp. Shaena Morris and Messrs. M. Farwell, J. Pelich, and W. Rahimi Staff: Mr. M. Hildebrand, Director of Community Programs and Services Ms. D. Campbell, Manager of Community Resource Centres Ms. L. Korabo, Committee Administrator As the Chair and Vice-chair had extended their regrets for the meeting, the Committee Administrator called the meeting to order and requested a volunteer to be Acting Chair in accordance with Section 25.10.b (b) of Chapter 25 (Procedure). Mr. C. Letizi volunteered and assumed the role of Acting Chair. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REVIEW AND E-PARTICIPATION 1. Mr. J. Joseph, Community Engagement Consultant, announced the City’s new online engagement tool ‘Engage Kitchener’ has launched and is currently accepting feedback from citizens on five topics. The Committee was given a demonstration of the online tool and its various functions. Mr. Joseph was in attendance to gather feedback as part of a comprehensive review on the City’s community engagement practices, processes and policies, with an end goal of identifying gaps, challenges, opportunities and recommendations for improvement. The Committee was circulated with questions for their consideration and roundtable discussion: Experience when sharing input with the City; Preferences when sharing input with the City; and, How to encourage the sharing of citizen input. Feedback included positive response when ‘party-type’ events are planned around input gathering; using the Multicultural Centre to reach diverse groups / organizations; and, connecting with staff involved with the Neighbourhood Strategy for additional engagement tools. Mr. W. Rahimi commented on the work of the Inclusion Subcommittee around outreach done with various ethnic groups in the community and offered to share this detail with Mr. Joseph. Mr. Joseph thanked members for their input and advised that results of the community engagement review will be shared with Council in the Fall. Prior to that, plans are underway to host several workshops to brainstorm solutions to identified issues, and he agreed to share confirmed dates with the Committee once known. INCLUSION/BELONGING GRANTS 2. Mr. C. Letizi, Chair, Inclusion / Belonging Grant Sub-committee, advised two applications for Inclusion / Belonging Grants had been received and reviewed by the Sub-committee. The Sub-committee had achieved consensus regarding these applications but was looking to the full Committee for their input and final decision. Mr. Letizi advised the first application was for a ‘Sexual and Disability Education Series’ submitted by the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region (ILC). As a submission by an organization is not in line with application criteria, a member of their Board has agreed to take a lead role. Mr. Letizi noted the request is for $2,000. and shared the Sub-committee’s concern as this request is considered to be city-wide and not neighbourhood focussed as outlined in the grant criteria. The Committee discussed the application from the ILC but was concerned the submission was being led by an organization and not neighbourhood driven. Additionally, concerns were expressed regarding the apparent availability of funding by the applicant organization to host this event without outside funds. Support for the program concept was stressed, however SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 5, 2016 - 12 - CITY OF KITCHENER INCLUSION/BELONGING GRANTS (CONT’D) 2. approval of the application was not given. Staff was directed to work with the ILC to determine if there was another way the City or the Committee could support this initiative and report back at a future meeting. Mr. C. Letizi noted the second funding application is for an ‘Empowering the Woman Next Door Project’ and is supported by the Victoria Hills Neighbourhood Association. This social event aims to break down the barriers women encounter to allow for the development of a sense of belonging. The event hopes to bring together women from diverse groups in a relaxed atmosphere to hear motivational speakers and share in ethnic food. The grant request is for the maximum allowable - $2,000. and is being supported by the Sub-committee. On motion by Mr. J. Pelich – It was resolved: “That the following Inclusion / Belonging Grant application be approved: Victoria Hills Neighbourhood Association – Empowering the Woman Next Door Project - $2,000.” Ms. D. Campbell reminded members that a review of the grant criteria is planned prior to the end of the current term which will hopefully allow for a higher number of applications. COMMITTEE POSITION DESCRIPTIONS 3. Mr. M. Hildebrand advised that the development of position descriptions for the roles of Chair, Vice-Chair and Member was an identified project on the Committee’s current work plan. Mr. Hildebrand and Ms. E. Clarke worked on drafting the descriptions and these were attached to the agenda for the Committee’s review and discussion this date. Committee members suggested some minor changes and approved the use of the position descriptions when recruiting new members. Councillor S. Marsh asked about the possibility of the Chair relinquishing the role if he/she wished to participate in the discussions on a specific topic. She noted that other Committee members stepping into the role in a temporary way could assist with succession planning. The Committee Administrator agreed to follow-up with the Deputy Clerk and provide a response to Councillor Marsh as well as to the Committee Chair and Vice-Chair. STATUS OF SUBCOMMITTEES 4. Fostering Inclusion, Participation and Belonging Ms. D. Campbell reminded members that Ms. D. Christiaen had brought forward a listing of topics for possible City engagement, as developed by the Rainbow Community Council (RCC). The RCC is working on prioritizing this list and will be attending the Committee’s next meeting to make a presentation. She also advised that staff and the Sub-committee continue to define the parameters of the pilot project for the Kingsdale Community Centre that will look at new approaches for welcoming newcomers into the community. Additional connections with the neighbourhood association, local church and the House of Friendship have formalized into partnerships for this pilot which is currently scheduled to be launched in the Fall. Physical Environment and Safety No one from the sub-committee was in attendance to provide an update. Public Awareness Raising Mr. M. Farwell suggested that in light of the sub-committee’s research which noted there were no identifiable gaps in programming offered by the City, he suggested members become SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 5, 2016 - 13 - CITY OF KITCHENER STATUS OF SUBCOMMITTEES (CONT’D) 4. advocates for directing others to find available information and connect to the City. It was noted the City operates a 24/7 call centre where citizens can ask questions. Ms. D. Campbell advised of the orientation program run for new employees which provides an overview of who does what in City departments and suggested that an abbreviated version of this may be beneficial for committee members to help them in an advocate role. It was suggested that the advocate role be added to the position descriptions approved earlier today. SUMMER MEETINGS 5. Mr. M. Hildebrand requested feedback on whether or not to hold Committee meetings during July and August. He noted that historically these meetings have been cancelled due to various influences (e.g. vacation) but suggested they could be left as scheduled, and then cancelled should insufficient agenda material be identified. The Committee agreed with this suggestion. Staff will advise on the status of the July and August meeting following their regularly scheduled agenda-setting meetings. TH 38 ANNUAL JUSTICE DINNER 6. th Mr. M. Hildebrand advised the 38 Annual Justice Dinner will be held at Bingemans on Thursday, May 26, 2016 and extended an invitation to Committee members to attend. He noted the City has purchased two tables for the event and annually extends an invitation to this Committee as well as Compass Kitchener for interested members. Names will be forwarded for consideration and all will be notified once confirmation is available. Mr. C. Letizi and Mr. W. Rahimi indicated interest in attending. The Committee Administrator was requested to circulate the invitation to the entire Committee and request RSVPs for the event. ADJOURNMENT 7. On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator