HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - 2019-10-28 SSPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 28, 2019 CITY OF KITCHENER
A special meeting of City Council was held at 2:05 p.m. this date, Chaired by Mayor B. Vrbanovic with
all members present.
Notice of this meeting had been previously given to all members of Council by the City Clerk pursuant
to Chapter 25 (Council Procedure) of the Municipal Code.
STRATEGIC SESSION
a. CSD -19-030 - REVIEW AND UPDATE OF COMMUNITY USE OF SPACE AND
NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION AFFILIATION POLICY
Council considered Community Services Department report CSD -19-030 (S. Roth), dated October 23,
2019, requesting input from Council on the Community use of Space and Neighbourhood Association
Affiliation Policy. Mr. M. May, Deputy CAO and General Manager, Community Services, Mr. M.
Hildebrand, Director, Neighbourhood Program & Services, and Mr. S. Roth, Manager, Community
Centres were in attendance to respond to questions from Council.
Ms. A. Fritz -Walters, Project Manager, presented the Report advising the current facility booking
guidelines for Non -Profit Groups (MUN-FAC-415) and Neighbourhood Affiliation Policy (MUN-FAC-
324) are not effective and staff are seeking changes to maximize use of the City's community centres.
She provided an overview of the key objectives to the review of the policies. She indicated specifically,
staff are interested in receiving Council input on the following questions:
1. In order to increase public use of our community centres, do you agree that community
programming and social gathering opportunities that encourage belonging and inclusion
should be prioritized over one-time rentals throughout the week and on weekends?
2. Rather than giving a limited number of Neighbourhood Associations first right of refusal to
Community Centre space for programming (as the current policy does), do you think that
collaborating with a wide variety of community partners (including Neighbourhood
Associations) is a better way to program centre space in a way that meets a broader range
of neighbourhood needs?
3. To address the specific needs of each affiliated and non-affiliated group, do you support
providing different levels, and different types, of support to individual groups based on their
unique needs, versus trying to provide the same supports to all groups across the city
regardless of whether or not they need it?
4. In order to provide more effective financial support to all of the City's 28 affiliated
Neighbourhood Associations across the city, would you support some form of revenue
sharing model between Neighbourhood Associations (eg. Associations that generate
revenue from programs offered at a City community centre would provide a portion of that
revenue to other Associations who need additional financial support). Examples of how this
could work include:
a. Establish a fund where Neighbourhood Associations could make voluntary contributions
to be shared with other Associations. A committee of representatives from the
Neighbourhood Associations would set criteria and make decisions on how those funds
would be distributed.
b. Establish a fund by collecting a percentage (eg. 10%) of all revenues an Association
generates through programming over a set limit (eg. $100,000) to be held by the City and
distributed by a committee of City staff and Neighbourhood Association representatives.
Associations could apply for this funding according to a set of criteria that are
collaboratively developed by that committee.
c. Other options.
In response to questions, Mr. Roth advised to further investigate and follow-up on whether there are
any community centres currently using one-time facility rentals to assist in covering their monthly facility
expenses.
SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 28, 2019 -183- CITY OF KITCHENER
Council recessed at 3:30 p.m. and reconvened at 3:37 p.m., Chaired by Mayor B. Vrbanovic with all
members present.
DSD -19-100 - COUNCIL INPUT ON THE KITCHENER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGY - MAKE IT KITCHENER 2.0
Council considered Development Services Department report DSD -19-100 (C. Bluhm), dated October
15, 2019, requesting input from Council on the development of the next Economic Development
strategy - Make It Kitchener 2.0 and the consultation review process. Mr. C. Bluhm, Executive Director,
Economic Development, and Ms. L. Chlumsky, Economic Development Analyst presented the Report.
Mr. Bluhm advised the goals of the Council Strategy Session include:
1. To receive Council's input on three potential over -arching fundamental principles; and,
2. To understand the relative importance Council places on the seven potential areas of focus
identified thus far.
Several members expressed concerns with the title of "a City of Good" for the first over -arching
principle, noting it lacked clarity on what all was encompassed within the principle.
Ms. Chlumsky provided an overview of the three over -arching principles for Make it Kitchener 2.0,
indicating the principles are intended to help clarify a long-term vision for the City's future, and provide
meaningful context to what motivates the community. She indicated, staff are interested in receiving
Council input on the following questions:
1. Is each principle compelling to you as a member of Council;
2. Considering your constituents, do you feel each principle is representative of our
community's aspirations; and,
3. Are these principles what you would have expected?
Mr. Bluhm advised through the consultation process, a number of strategic priorities were identified.
He stated the goal of Make it Kitchener 2.0 is to identify further actionable and transformative area of
focus. He indicated seven themes were identified, as well as a sample of the actions were identified by
the community, noting the themes are as follows: Become a leader in health innovation; Develop a
significant creative industry; Become a leader in social & environmental innovation & green technology;
Build workforce capacity for the new economy; Provide for a high quality affordable lifestyle; Become
a city with a distinct nighttime experience & community vibe; and, Reimagine the Grand River as a
major destination. Mr. B. Bennett, Manager, Business Development, Ms. E. Robson, Manager, Arts &
Creative Industries, Ms. C. Farrell, Manager, Waterloo Region Small Business Centre, Ms. H. Abel,
Manager, Downtown Community Development and Mr. J. Young, Manager, Special Events assisted
with presenting the transformative areas of focus. Ms. Chlumsky and Mr. Bluhm then led Council
through an interactive online survey to assist in prioritizing Council's preferred themes.
Mr. C. Bluhm further advised, following this strategic session, staff will begin identifying and evaluating
the potential actions, partnerships and investments that could be considered as part of the final strategy,
as well as the implementation measures to ensure their success. He indicated the potential actions will
be presented to Council for further discussion and input, with an anticipated Draft Strategy being
presented to Council in the spring 2020.
IN CAMERA MEETING AUTHORIZATION
Moved by Councillor B. loannidis
Seconded by Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock
"That an in -camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following this special meeting to
consider a matter relating to negotiation strategy/instruction, a security of property matter, which is
also subject to solicitor -client privilege, a litigation / potential litigation matter, and a personal
matter."
Carried
SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 28, 2019 -184- CITY OF KITCHENER
On motion the meeting adjourned at 4:52 p.m
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