HomeMy WebLinkAboutCompass Kitchener - 2019-03-06COMPASS KITCHENER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 6, 2019 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Compass Kitchener Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m.
Present: Ms. J. Stephens -Wells, Ms. E. Duhaime, Ms. L. Gazzola, Ms. L. Fioze, Ms. L. Trumper, Ms.
M. Bowman and Messrs. A. Hammoud and O. Samad
Staff: K. Cooper, Manager, Strategic & Business Planning
L. Korabo, Committee Administrator
1. 2019 COMPASS KITCHENER WORK PLAN — REPORT TO COUNCIL
Compass Kitchener was circulated with the draft staff report, dated April 1, 2019, sharing the
Committee's 2019 Work Plan with City Council.
Ms. K. Cooper requested that Committee members attend the April 1St Council meeting to support
the work plan and respond to questions from Council.
2. 2018 CITIZEN REPORT CARDS
Compass Kitchener was provided a draft summary of their evaluation of the 2015-2018 Strategic
Plan and 2018 Business Plan. The evaluation includes a review of: the overall completion of
business plan projects in 2018 and over the 2015-2018 Strategic Plan term; completion by project
category; completion by Strategic Plan goal; and, the evaluation process.
Staff tracking indicates that 225 projects were initiated between 2015 and 2018, with 122 projects
completed during this same timeframe. Additionally, the report card provides statistics for
completed projects by goals. The Committee identified a difficulty in evaluating the progress of
the corporation's work due the general nature of the goals.
The report card will be presented to Council on April 1St, 2019 and will include several
recommendations for improvement for the next strategic plan cycle. Ms. J. Stephens -Wells
agreed to present the report to Council.
As this report is still in draft form, Ms. K. Cooper requested that members review it and forward
any suggestions for changes to be made. The document will be finalized for submission early
next week with Ms. J. Stephens -Wells agreeing to assist with editing.
Members provided some initial feedback, as follows:
• given that only 122 of 225 projects in the last Strategic Plan were completed over the
2015-2018 period, it is felt there would be value in limiting the number of initiatives in the
new strategic plan, to a smaller number that are more likely achievable over the term of
the plan;
• Many of the completed projects were more operational and internal facing, while a
number of the initiatives that were deferred/delayed were strategic and would have
generated more direct public impact;
• in the new Strategic Plan it would be helpful to reflect the linkage between each initiative
in the plan and the three key characteristics on which the City's Vision statement focuses
(innovative, vibrant, caring).
• important to agree on criteria for success when the strategic plan is prepared and before
projects are selected;
• improving the chart (p.7) to include a clearer explanation of chart colours;
improve the messaging under 'Open Government' (p.9) to stress the importance of
reporting back to citizens on the impact their input has on decision making; and,
• reduce the overall length of the report and include an executive summary, if possible.
Mr. A. Hammoud questioned the inclusion of'affordable housing' on the list of proposed projects
for implementing the new Strategic Plan, as this priority was not included in the 2015-2018
Strategic Plan. Ms. Cooper advised that the 2015-2018 Strategic Plan Safe and Thriving
Neighbourhood goal included working with community partners to create neighbourhoods with a
range of housing options and business plans included project to develop incentives to create
affordable housing. Community's priorities have also shifted significantly since the last Strategic
Plan, with the issue of housing becoming a top priority. Compass Kitchener participated in a
lengthy discussion on the topic of affordable housing and its importance within the community.
COMPASS KITCHENER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 6, 2019 - 5 - CITY OF KITCHENER
2. 2018 CITIZEN REPORT CARDS (CONT'D)
For the Committee's information, Ms. Cooper shared that Council directed that creating an
affordable housing strategy be a 2019 Business plan project.
Ms. Cooper thanked members for their feedback and agreed to circulate the finalized document
to them for information.
3. PLANNING FOR MEETING OF CHAIRS AND VICE -CHAIRS OF THE CITY'S ADVISORY
COMMITEES
Ms. J. Stephens -Wells advised that a meeting of the Chairs and Vice -Chairs of the City's
Advisory Committees is normally held in the spring, however, given that an All Advisory
Committees meeting was recently held, asked whether the Committee wanted to plan an
additional meeting this spring or wait and plan a meeting next fall. Given that all members of all
advisory committees had been invited to the January meeting, as well as the fact that a number
of new members had just joined the various advisory committees in January, the Committee felt
that it would be best to wait and plan a fall meeting.
In lieu of hosting a spring meeting, Ms. L. Gazzola suggested sending out a thank you for those
who attended the January session and sharing high level details of what has been done with the
feedback provided.
4. OTHER BUSINESS
In reviewing the minutes of the previous meeting, Ms. K. Cooper requested assistance regarding
matters discussed under 'Other Business'. Ms. E. Duhaime read from her notes regarding the
matters discussed at the February meeting.
5. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
L. Korabo
Committee Administrator