HomeMy WebLinkAboutSHCAC Minutes - 2019-04-11
The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date April 11, 2019, commencing at
4:00p.m.
Present: Ms. A. Monteith, Mr. G. Albert, Mr. W. Rahimi, Mr. D. Witmer
Ms. A. Venner, Ms. B. Wilson, Ms. J. Legg, Ms. G. Achim, Ms. L. Roberts
Staff: M. Hildebrand, Director, Neighbourhood Programs
L. Palubeski, Manager, Program & Resource Services
J. McKenzie, Administrative Coordinator, Program & Resource Services
1. Introductions
Welcome and introductions to the two newest members of our committee; Laura Roberts and
Gratiana Achim.
2. s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan (Draft Goals and Actions)
Ms. K. Cooper presented the 2019-2022 City of Kitchener
to the committee. Looking for feedback from the committee with any comments or questions. In
particular would like to know what on the actions and what opportunities
they thought might help implement the actions. The draft themes include:
Caring Community
welcoming community spaces and programs, better engaging, serving, and supporting our
diverse populations and helping to make housing affordable.
Environmental Leadership Achieve a healthy and livable community by proactively
mitigating and adapting to climate change and by conserving natural resources.
Vibrant Economy Build a vibrant city by making strategic investments to support job
creation, economic prosperity, arts and culture, and great places to live.
People-Friendly Transportation Transform how people move through the city by making
the transportation network safe, comfortable, and connected.
Great Customer Service
City by providing friendly, easy, and convenient services.
Draft plan to go to Council in June.
Feedback:
1. Caring Community Goal would be Interest in having
a committee member to sit on the Affordable housing committee starting early September.
Karen will email Mark to bring back to the committee for representation.
2. People Friendly Transportation convenient
Mark shared some of work plan with Ms. Cooper what this committee is currently
working on that would align with the strategic plan. Ms. Cooper suggested working with the
Committee to look at draft strategies i.e. affordable housing.
3. Community Centre Project
Ms. A. Fritz-Walters shared information regrading the Community Centre Project.
on the unique needs of the surrounding neighbourhood by offering activities and services for a
diverse group of residents. Community centres are inclusive, diverse, safe, social, accessible and
connected. This has long been the mandate that has guided the work - and the commitment to
upholding this mandate has never been stronger.
This city is growing and our community is changing. Maintaining the focus on providing high quality
service delivery means putting policies and processes in place that reflect the diversity and changing
needs of this community. Adopting a new philosophy to how the centres service neighbourhoods
across this city will allow the delivery of the services citizens expect and that best meet their unique
needs.
In reviewing our policies and processes, we would like to explore ways to:
Increase public use of our centres;
Institute more customer-friendly hours to improve access;
Offer a more diverse range of programming; and
Create greater opportunities for inclusion and belonging in our community.
This work is important to delivering on our mandate to offering programming that reflects the needs
of the community. This work is also necessary to overcome some of the challenges confronting our
centres, some of which include:
Underutilization;
Hours of operation that do not align with community preferences and expectations;
Increased pressure on Neighbouhood Associations and volunteers; and
Incorporating more diverse program offerings.
The centres have the capacity to do more to benefit the community and to create an ease of access
for all citizens. With focus given to enhancing the customer service experience, and providing
increased support for community partners, we can ensure the programming reflects the diversity of
our community and creates greater opportunities for inclusion and belonging in each neighbourhood
in our city.
Creating policies and processes that best serve our citizens involves collaborating with other caring
and service-minded organizations and individuals. Engaging with a variety of community
stakeholders, including Neighbourhood Associations, community partners, informal groups of
residents and city staff we can achieve a sustainable decision-making process that empowers and
supports community groups, and allows for an ease of access to high quality programming for
citizens.
By exploring new and more collaborative ways of working together, we are ensuring that we continue
to deliver on our mandate today and in the future.
Use of space in community centres. First group is the primary Neighbourhood Association that is
associated with the community centre, second secondary Neighbourhood Associations, third
Community Organizations and then fourth City staff and Direct programs. Hours of operation for
community centres currently are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and
Sunday open only for Rentals.
Using the community centre mandate committee members were asked for suggestions or ideas on
how to meet or improve the words in the mandate.
Feedback from the committee:
1. More prenatal programming specific to low income communities.
2. Political organizations should be allowed to post flyers.
3. City should have some say in other rental groups and not just leave it to the Neighbourhood
Associations
4. Could there be an online place for last minute rental space available should a Neighbourhood
Association program be cancelled.
5. The policy is based on an old way of doing things.
6. Shoulder times might be a good way to introduce new partners into the centres, test out new
programming etc.
Please email Ms. Fritz-Walters if you would like to continue this discussion
angie.fritz-walters@kitchener.ca or touch base with Mr. Hildebrand
4. City of Kitchener Mayors Task Force on Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion (Membership selection)
Ms. L. Palubeski presented the City of Kitchener Mayors Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion (Membership selection). The Task Force will lead the creation of a City of Kitchener
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy that will make recommendations to Kitchener City Council
in the following areas:
1. Better engaging our entire community in the municipal decision-making process especially
marginalized and under-represented people.
2.
3. Creating a more inclusive workplace and workforce.
4. Celebrating the full diversity of the community.
The Task Force will be made up of a combination of: (1) members of the community,
(2) City staff, (3) and representatives from key community partner organizations. The Task Force
will meet once per month until the work is complete (12 to 18 months). Meetings are anticipated to
be 3 hours each. April 2020 is the target to complete the strategy and present it to City Council.
Asking committee members to select a representative to join City of Kitchener Mayors Task Force
on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The committee will have a standing agenda item and the
representative will bring updates back to this committee. Need representative by the end of the
April. If you are interested please forward your name and why in a week. Survey Monkey will be
utilized to vote. Ms. J. McKenzie to send an email to the committee.
5. New Business
No new business
6. Adjournment
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
J. McKenzie
Committee Administrator
