HomeMy WebLinkAboutCompass Kitchener - 2005-11-16
COMPASS KITCHENER COMMITTEE MINUTES
November 16, 2005 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Compass Kitchener Committee met on this date, commencing at 4:10 p.m.
Present: Don Bourgeois, Glen Woolner, Trudy Beaulne, Paul Royston
Staff: Shelley Adams, Michael May, Kate Sullivan, Glynis Martin
Regrets: Douglas Parker, Pat Doherty, John Hall
1. Citizen engagement process - calendar and workbook
Michael gave the committee a conceptual plan for the citizen engagement process. The calendar
is done in different colours.
Green – self identify survey, where and when it will occur; get people interested;
Red – two information booths, possibly in community centres, arenas, malls;
Blue – meetings, box for residents to complete workbook
There may be presentation to six high school classes
Three city-wide town hall meetings, public meetings at each ward
Use advisory committees to promote workbook
Partnership opportunities with community centres, KDBA, etc.
Kitchen table chats need to be developed
Resources – for each colour, there will be a staff member to lead it
We will have 4 to 5 tools to draw on – workbook, presentations, etc.
Compass Kitchener volunteers will make all the presentations, except to schools which
need to be done during the day, staff will do this
What do we do with content? Will have to budget resources for it; need analysis of data
Need to hire facilitators for town hall and ward meetings
Trudy has youth who could help role this out to community centres
Figure out which group to target for Registry Theatre
Have one combined meeting of city committees in February (EDAC, etc.)
In workbook, ask questions that engages people, people want to give opinions, gives them
something to respond to, shows it is real
Questions like do we spend more money on arts and culture as this is part of our vision
from support point of view
Instead of “spend more or less” use “agree or disagree”, what to improve
Articulate an identity – what we like about Kitchener, what we dislike about Kitchener?
Give basis to spend more money, willingness to spend, e.g., to maintain quality of life
Ask participant to imagine spending $100, how would they allocate the money for this
exercise?
What do these questions in the workbook look like, what do we want to know?
Are we working as individuals or community?
Keep questions realistic and within city budget
Group exercise with dollars, thinking collectively for the community
Shared voice and relationships will benefit municipalities (Region, Waterloo, Cambridge)
In the survey you clearly told us you want Kitchener to be a leader; put this message
through the workbook
COMPASS KITCHENER COMMITTEE MINUTES
November 16, 2005 - 2 - CITY OF KITCHENER
We need a balance of people voicing opinions, getting what we want, and be aware of our
neighbours – collaboration and cooperation
Have statement from research, one key question on section and additional questions; take
a look at section and decide if need one question or two
Have a focus group to test it out
Each question starts with a factual statement
Downtown section – articulate to Kitchener residents and establish priorities for council
o Is downtown moving in direction for a good quality of life?
o Do you want some of past actions to continue, e.g., revitalization
o Are we headed in the right direction/what is important to you downtown, is there
anything you expect, what would bring you downtown?
o Was council successful in its promises from 3 years ago?
Development section – we heard both sides in survey – do we grow or stay a small town?
Diversity section – how important is inclusion? Diversity is accessibility, age, sexual
orientation, multiculturalism, etc.
Environment section – beyond the scope of the city, wrong focus – environment is under
provincial government; environment tied to RGMS
Quality of life – is light rail transit worth the cost to improve quality of life?
City Hall is a public space used by high end and low end of population; it is well used by
citizens
In 20 years do you want downtown Kitchener to be unique?
Use A or B rather than Option 1 or 2 and or instead of versus
We need a strong, succinct statement to describe who Kitchener is?
2. Action Items
* Kitchen table talks to be developed
* Key questions for each section of workbook
3. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned 5:30 p.m.