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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-06 SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 6, 2017 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m. Present: Chair – S. Bongelli Councillor D. Schnider and Ms. T. Smith, Ms. E. Clarke, Ms. A. Venner, and Messrs. G. Albert, A. Ganem-Mohamed, D. Witmer and W. Rahimi. Staff: M. Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs and Services D. Keelan, Manager of Aquatics & Volunteer Services L. Korabo, Committee Administrator 1.SUSTAINABLE URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Mr. D. Schmitt, Environmental and Urban Forest Project Manager, presented information on the development of a ‘Sustainable Urban Forest Management Program’, which is an initiative under the City’s 2015-2018 Strategic Plan. Mr. Schmitt defined ‘urban forest’ as all trees growing in the City whether on City land (44%) or on other lands (56%). He further clarified that City land includes the following: street trees; park trees; natural areas; and, trees on other City lands. Members had previously been circulated with a copy of the draft Program Background Information to provide context for today’s informational presentation and input session. Mr. Schmitt reviewed timing of the various Program phases and indicated staff hopes to present a draft strategy to Council in the Spring of 2018 with an implementation plan to be tabled in the Summer of 2018. He noted that he would be agreeable with bringing information back to this Committee if that was desired by the membership. During his overview, Mr. Schmitt spoke to the challenges / opportunities being encountered, namely: customer service levels; soil quality and quantity; competition for space; natural area conservation; invasive species; private urban forest; and, climate change. The Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee was being asked to provide input as research has proven the positive benefits trees have on community wellbeing and public health as well as the influence nearby nature has on decreases in violence and property crime. The Committee was advised Kitchener currently has 26% canopy cover and compares favourably with other cities. Mr. Schmitt also noted the municipality has 70,000 land parcels and 79% of these have some type of tree canopy. He continued by advising that various types of tree information is available on the City’s website (e.g. tree species and diameter). At the conclusion of his presentation, Mr. Schmitt circulated a survey consisting of the following three questions and requested Committee members provide their input: 1. What do you like about Kitchener’s urban forest today? 2. In 25 years, what do you want Kitchener’s urban forest to look like? 3. What could the city do to help support trees on private property? In 10 years, what kind of community partnerships do you see? How do you think you can help? The Committee was advised this survey is the first phase of planned community engagement which will be used to gather basic information from the public to help develop a strategy. 2.LITTLE LIBRARIES Ms. D. Keelan circulated the October 2015 Committee minutes where a decision was made to allocate $2000. from Committee funds to support the newly proposed Little Libraries in Parks and Open Spaces Program. At that time, a toolkit supporting efforts to establish Little Libraries throughout the community was developed and made available to any interested volunteers. The original funding has now been allocated and staff recently received an inquiry around the availability of funds to allow the program to continue and expand. In response to questions, staff advised that libraries being funded by the Committee are only for placement on parkland. It was noted that other libraries have been established on private properties, however, funding was not requested/approved by the City of Kitchener. Volunteers maintain the libraries and also ensure they remain intact and house appropriate books. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 6, 2017 - 8 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2.LITTLE LIBRARIES (CONT’D) Ms. Keelan advised she was seeking direction from the Committee regarding its wishes about whether or not to provide funding for Little Libraries in 2017. In response, members asked staff to provide: details surrounding the location of current little libraries, toolkit / guidelines for installation; usage numbers if available; and, the number of approvals and to add this matter to the next agenda for further discussion. 3.WORKPLAN DEVELOPMENT Mr. M. Hildebrand circulated a document summarizing the results of the Committee’s work plan development discussions. Information provided under the four previously emerging themes (supporting community centres; accessibility and inclusion; newcomer issues; and, support for marginalized populations) was grouped as suggested actions and roles under each theme area. During the course of the review, Mr. Hildebrand verified each action and role with Committee members and then suggested members make use of ‘dotmocracy’ to prioritize their top three actions for the Committee’s focus during the current term. To clarify the information shown, it was noted that all information was taken verbatim from the input sheets completed by discussion groups with staff moving some actions to better align within theme areas. Mr. Hildebrand also identified a list of action items which did not seem to easily fit within the four theme areas and suggested this be kept aside for the time being. The Committee agreed with the suggestion. Following a review of all the information, and using the dotmocracy format, members voted for their top three priority items. Staff will identify which actions received the most votes and begin making connections as required, and arrange for speakers and presentations at upcoming meetings. Mr. Hildebrand agreed to circulate the list of actions in order of most to least votes before April 13, 2017. Committee members were asked to communicate back to him regarding the priority they wished to work on. It was suggested that time be allotted on the May meeting agenda for discussions around member choices and the identification of tasks. 4. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator