Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-10-06 SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 6, 2016 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:10 p.m. Present: Mr. D. McKlusky – Vice-Chair Councillor D. Schnider, Ms. E. Clarke, Ms. J. Nicholls, Ms. L. Roberts and Messrs. C. Letizi and M. Farwell Staff: Mr. M. Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs and Services Ms. L. Korabo, Committee Administrator UPDATE – FOSTERING INCLUSION, PARTICIPATION AND BELONGING SUB- 1. COMMITTEE On behalf of the sub-committee, Ms. J. Nicholls advised that no action has taken place on the suggested pilot program to host a newcomers welcoming event at a community centre. She noted the sub-committee met with staff to discuss this proposal; however, staff was unable to give it the required attention due to a major restructuring of the community centre model that has been underway for several months and has now been rolled out. An interest in hosting this type of event has been expressed, but no timeline has been given. STAFF TRAINING AT COMMUNITY CENTRES 2. Mr. M. Hildebrand reminded the Committee of a recent presentation by the Rainbow Community Council / Spectrum regarding its work on behalf of the LGBTQ community. As a result of this presentation, approximately 30 staff from both the community centres as well as Program & Resource Services attended training to learn about the roles of Spectrum and ACCKWA and hear about common issues experienced. A historic timeline of the LGBTQ community was also presented. Mr. M. Hildebrand circulated a copy of the training day’s schedule noting that several case studies were presented leading to a timely discussion on issues regularly encountered by Community Services Department staff. Mr. Hildebrand advised a request has been received to provide this training to additional staff, and training will be provided as required and as providers are available. OVERVIEW – INCLUSION/BELONGING GRANTS AND LITTLE LIBRARY GRANT 3. For the Committee’s information, Mr. C. Letizi circulated a summary of the Little Library grants which have been approved in 2016. A total of seven grant requests totalling $1305. have been funded utilizing monies made available by the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee. He also noted that a number of additional Little Libraries have been installed on city property around the community, having been privately funded by residents. Mr. Letizi requested the Committee’s direction with regard to the remaining $700. approved for Little Libraries prior to yearend. He also asked if it was the Committee’s wish to approve additional funds to allow for more grants to be approved. Mr. D. McKlusky inquired as to why two of the grants listed were for an amount less than the $200. / installation cost and Mr. Letizi commented that these may reflect cases where residents purchased all the required supplies for a Little Library and submitted for reimbursement of actual costs only. The Committee agreed that no additional funds were required at this time as it was felt that minimal new requests would be received before the end of the year. Mr. Letizi then circulated a summary of the Inclusion / Belonging Grants considered by the Committee over the past three years. The summary provided information in the following categories: name of group/association; project name; project description; funds requested; recommendation (yes/no); funds approved; and, follow-up notations. It was noted that $17,000. in funding had been approved thus far and a further $20,000. in grant requests had been denied for not meeting specific criteria. Mr. Letizi commented on the sub-committee’s observations that most of the approved grants were submitted by groups / organizations partnered with another larger organization (e.g. neighbourhood association) in order to qualify for the maximum $2,000. grant allocation. He further observed that individuals or groups not affiliated with larger organizations only qualify for a maximum grant of $500. restricting the size and impact of the event being proposed. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 6, 2016 - 20 - CITY OF KITCHENER OVERVIEW – INCLUSION/BELONGING GRANTS AND LITTLE LIBRARY GRANT 3. (CONT’D) Mr. Letizi advised the sub-committee had the following recommendations for the full Committee’s consideration: a. increase the amount of the smaller grant to a maximum of $1,000. to attract additional applications; b. task a staff member to act as a liaison with applicant groups to ensure the event occurred as stated in the grant application; c. create a brochure to raise awareness and market the Inclusion / Belonging Grant throughout the community; and, d. create an overall summary chart outlining all of the City’s grants with corresponding application criteria and make it available community wide. With regard to the above points, the following comments were also shared: a. there may not be an opportunity to follow-up to confirm completion of events tied to smaller grant amounts; b. staff acknowledge there was not a great deal of promotion for the grant over the past year as most staff time was dedicated to the community centre model review. Also noted that most of the grants submitted came from groups already associated with the city; c. concerns with how to ensure grant applications are directed to the appropriate grant process; and, d. suggestion that a disclaimer be added to the Inclusion / Belonging Grant application form noting application will not be considered if group has already been awarded another City grant. A question was raised regarding the possibility of developing a singular application form that could then be funneled by staff to the appropriate grant for consideration. Mr. M. Hildebrand advised the City’s website has all grant information online allowing for a single portal of relevant information. With regard to the suggestion that staff direct applications to the appropriate grant review process, the Committee was advised that a future staff position (Neighbourhood Liaison) could possibly take on this role along with others already planned. In closing, it was agreed the sub-committee would revise the Inclusion / Belonging Grant rd guidelines and that this matter would be added to the Committee’s November 3 meeting agenda for consideration. DRAFT PUBLICATIONS REVIEW 4. As a follow-up to the consultation session held at the Committee’s June 2015 meeting and other focus groups, Mr. M. Hildebrand shared the draft presentation detailing the results of the input process. The Committee was reminded of the three publications under review: Leisure Magazine; Best of Times; and, Your Kitchener. The purpose of the review was to review the vision, purpose and goals of each as well as overall effectiveness, set-up and layout, associated budgets and the consideration of alternate means to communicate information to residents. The review was necessitated due to a lack of available space in Leisure Magazine with the increase of neighbourhood association programming information as well as the overall complexity of the publication. He further advised the mandate for each publication was not clear and there was, in fact, duplication of information between the three magazines. Mr. Hildebrand informed the Committee that an environmental scan of other municipalities was completed for all three publications and a summary of findings from consultations was compiled. Following an analysis of these findings, staff brainstormed five options for consideration with a preferred option being only two publications going forward, as follows: Publication #1 – rebranding Leisure Magazine to include programs currently found in Best of Times; and, SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 6, 2016 - 21 - CITY OF KITCHENER DRAFT PUBLICATIONS REVIEW (CONT’D) 4. Publication #2 – Best of Times and Your Kitchener rebranded to be an editorial style colour magazine. Mr. Hildebrand reviewed the proposed mandates and content of the two publications as well as formats, target audience, distribution frequencies and possible online presence. In conclusion, he shared next steps advising this presentation, once finalized, will be shared with the project team and staff will draft recommendations for stakeholders to consider and share comment. Mr. Hildebrand stated that staff is hoping to have the new formats rolled out with the 2017 publications. A question was raised around having the City’s grant information included in one of the publications and Mr. Hildebrand suggested that staff could look at including this on an annual basis. He agreed to bring this suggestion back to staff. ADJOURNMENT 5. On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator