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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Svcs - 1997-06-10CSC\1997-06-10 JUNE 10, 1997 COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER The Community Services Committee met this date, under the chairmanship of Councillor G. Lorentz, commencing at 2:00 p.m., with the following members present: Councillor John Smola, Councillor M. Wagner, Councillor M. Yantzi and Councillor J. Ziegler. Mayor R. Christy and Councillors T. Galloway, Jake Smola and B.Vrbanovic were in attendance for part of the meeting. Others Present: Messrs. L. Proulx, T. Clancy, J. Gazzola, M. Price, G. Nixon, R. Arnot and R. Wyatt, Ms. P. Houston and Ms. D. Gilchrist. 1. K-W SOCIAL PLANNING COUNCIL UPDATE Ms. H. Corman, President of the Social Planning Council was in attendance to update the Committee on the restructuring process that they have been through. Ms. Corman provided the members of the Committee with a handout showing the restructuring process and their goals as determined through community consultation. Ms. Corman advised that the Social Planning Council went to the community for input and it was determined that there is strong support in the community for the Social Planning Council; however, the community wanted change. Ms. Corman then advised that she is before this Committee today to provide open communications with Council and requested that one member of Council join the Social Planning Council either on the board or on TRAC. Councillor Jake Smola entered the meeting at this time. Ms. Corman then identified the four goals included in the handout and spoke about the different collaborative efforts that they have become involved in. They advised that TRAC is a method which has been developed to collaborate with the Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries which is intended to eliminate duplication. Councillor T. Galloway entered the meeting at this time. Ms. Corman then gave some examples of how they are doing things in a new way with the collaboration of the Community Information Centre with the Public Library and Community Health. Councillor T. Galloway questioned whether they might be making this a regional organization and Ms. Corman responded that although they are working with Cambridge, it is not intended that the boards become amalgamated. Councillor M. Yantzi questioned possible linkages with the Department of Planning and Development and Ms. Corman advised that they have been talking with the department and they are definitely interested in pursuing a relationship. Discussion took place over the possibility of other municipalities contributing financially to this organization if, in fact, they provide services beyond the limits of the City of Kitchener. 2. ARTIST IN RESIDENCE The Committee was in receipt of a report from Mr. M. Price, Manager, Culture, Events, Leisure Programs, dated May 29, 1997, with respect to a cash payment for the Artist in Residence each year. Mr. M. Price was in attendance to represent the report. He explained that if we want to sustain the program we will need to offer some payment in order to draw the calibre of artists, as has happened over the last three years. Councillor J. Ziegler questioned how long the fund would last at this rate. He stated that he would not support putting this amount of money into the operating budget. He stated that the reason that this program has received so much support is because it is not supported by tax dollars. Councillor M. Wagner explained that all those on the Public Art Committee are trying hard to gain corporate sponsorship. He stated that sponsorship from corporations would come if there COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 10, 1997 - 53 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. ARTIST IN RESIDENCE - CONT'D were some dollars coming from the City. He stated that it is easier to procure corporate sponsorships if the City contributes some money. Councillor J. Ziegler stated that he felt that being appointed as the Artist in Residence must be an honour in itself. He also stated that he did not like seeing the City build up these programs. Councillor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time. Councillor Jake Smola advised that the Writer in Residence at the Library receives a stipend from an endowment fund which has been set up for that purpose. He suggested that the City should look into starting something like that, an endowment fund where the interest pays the honorarium. Councillor M. Yantzi spoke in support of the recommendation. It was his opinion that artists are not overpaid in this community and he spoke of the amount of money that the City puts out to support sports events. Councillor M. Wagner stated that the City of Kitchener spends very little on the arts. This honorarium will generate money for public art as it will assist in being able to generate corporate sponsorship. On a motion by Councillor M. Wagner - it was resolved: "That the City of Kitchener make available a cash payment of $2,500.00 for the Artist in Residence each year; and further That funding for the 1997 payment be made from the Public Art Trust Fund with the amount included in the 1998 operating budget submission, for future payment; and further, That staff, in conjunction with the Public Art Committee, continue to look at corporate sponsorships to augment the program to ensure its viability and its ability to continue to attract accomplished artists." Mr. T. Clancy pointed out that the Public Art Trust Fund will carry the honorarium this year; however, it needs to be put into the operating budget for 1998. 3. WORLD PEACE AND PRAYER WEEK Councillor G. Lorentz advised that the request of the World Peace and Prayer Week for an extension from Chapter 270 of the Municipal Code has been withdrawn. 4. 401 SIGNAGE UPDATE Mr. G. Nixon was in attendance to update the Committee on the progress of the Kitchener sign to be erected at the Doon Valley Golf Course which is to be visible from the 401. He advised that the tender is closing this week and the anticipated completion date is the second week of September. He advised the Committee that there are a few elements of the sign which do not comply with the City's by-law as follows: The building line is 6 meters from the property line and the proposed sign will be 1.52 meters from the property line; signs located ahead of the building line are required to be a maximum of 4 square meters whereas the proposed sign is 19.8 square meters; the maximum height for a sign ahead of the building line is 1.5 meters and the proposed sign will have a height of 3.66 meters. Further, Mr. Nixon advised that the sign and its location have been approved by the Ministry of Transportation. A discussion took place over proposed landscaping around this sign and a comparison was made to the sign that the City of Cambridge has at the 401. 5. SKATE PARK UPDATE Mr. G. Nixon was in attendance to provide the Committee with the update on the Skatepark and advised that the tender is out and will be closing Thursday with a recommendation coming forward COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 10, 1997 - 54 - CITY OF KITCHENER to Council next Monday night. He hoped that the Skatepark could start to be constructed on the 23rd and be finished in August. There would be a curing time required and staff are striving for the Skatepark to be able to be used by September 12th. A discussion took place over the Horseshoe Pitching Championship and whether it would be possible to do any work on the Skatepark at the time when this event is taking place, possibly works that would not be intrusive into the Horseshoe Pitching Championship event. Mr. Clancy advised that he would review this matter with staff at the Auditorium and with the Horseshoe people and if possible some work may be going on during the Championship, provided that it does not interfere with the Championship. COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM The Committee was provided with a report from Mr. T. Clancy, General Manager, dated June 6, 1997, requesting a budget in the amount of $12,000.00 for the Communities in Bloom program. A brief discussion took place over the City's previous involvement in this program and whether or not there had already been monies put into the budget. Mayor R. Christy advised that the Communities in Bloom program had been discussed at the FCM and it is seen as a good program to enhance community pride and encourages businesses to locate in the community. Mayor Christy noted that there were two corporate sponsors and questioned why there were not more and Mr. T. Clancy advised that it was only due to the late start. Councillor T. Galloway advised that he liked the program and thought that this was a small amount of money. He questioned about areas of the city serviced by super mailboxes. He also questioned which Ward boundaries would be used, the new or the old. He questioned whether the Beautification Committee has become involved in this and also the Horticultural Society. Councillor G. Lorentz responded that all streets will be covered by the letter carriers and that the old Ward boundaries would be used. Mr. T. Clancy advised that the Beautification Committee has not been approached; however, the Horticultural Society has been involved from the beginning and will provide some judges. Mayor R. Christy put forward the recommendation for one time funding in the amount of $12,000.00. Ms. P. Houston suggested that half of this money come from the Parks and Recreation budget and half from the capital contingency. On a motion by Mayor R. Christy, it was resolved - "That we provide one-time funding of $12,000.00 for the Communities in Bloom program to cover expenses including start up and program costs and to host the Communities in Bloom judges on the day of evaluation, and further, That fifty percent of these funds come from the Parks and Recreation Department budget and fifty percent of the funds come from the Capital Contingency." GRANT CRITERIA Councillor M. Yantzi requested that prior to reviewing next year's grants that there be a review of the grant criteria. Councillor G. Lorentz requested a report from staff in this regard. INFORMATION ITEMS The Committee acknowledged receipt of the information items attached to the agenda as well as a staff report concerning the Forest Heights Community Centre/Fireball/Ambulance Depot and COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 10, 1997 - 55 - CITY OF KITCHENER 10. information of the golf course. Councillor T. Galloway, referring to the memorandum concerning the Forest Heights Community Centre, advising that he agrees that Forest Heights should continue but questioned the placing of the funding. He questioned whether it was necessary to state that the money will come from the under budget portion of another project. Mr. J. Gazzola explained that staff were just trying to explain that there are additional monies in the community centre fund. The money would be coming from the community centre fund but not necessarily from the surplus from the Country Hills Community Centre. Councillor T. Galloway stated that staff should be careful that it does not appear that the money donated by community groups, for the Country Hills Community Centre, will in any way fund the Forest Heights Community Centre. THE MORAL SUPPORT MOVEMENT Councillor J. Ziegler referred to a letter which had been distributed to the Committee members from "The Moral Support Movement" dated June 9, 1997. He noted that this event is scheduled for a Council meeting day, where the Council meeting would be televised and he was of the opinion that we should not be letting other groups use that to make their event more important. ADJOURNMENT On motion the meeting adjourned at 3.00 p.m.. Dianne H. Gilchrist Committee Secretary