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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-20-107 - Kitchener Reopens - City of Kitchener Stage 3B Recovery Plan REPORT TO: Strategic Session of Council DATE OF MEETING: August 24, 2020 SUBMITTED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services, 519-741- 2200, extension 7646 PREPARED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services, 519-741- 2200, extension 7646 WARD (S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: August 12, 2020 REPORT NO.: DSD-20-107 SUBJECT: Kitchener Reopens - City of Kitchener Stage 3B Recovery Plan ___________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION: Stage 3B re-opening plan, as outlined in Appendix A of report DSD-20-107, be endorsed for the next phase of the Kitchener Reopens recovery plan, recognizing it will be subject to change as further information becomes available and further direction is received from the province and public health. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: for stage 3B. On June nd 2 COVID-19 pandemic. At that time Stage 3B (September through December 2020) was intentionally left blank. The intent was to understand how the overall coordinated response to the pandemic would mitigate the epidemiological curve and the pace of the Province's reopening plan. This Strategic Session of Council asks: Does Council agree with the services/facilities planned to reopen within Stage 3B, as outlined in Appendix A? BACKGROUND: On June 8, 2020 the Council endorsed report DSD-20-072, City of Kitchener Recovery Plan, Reopening Framework and Post Pandemic Opportunities strategy. This framework has allowed the City to re-open many of the 200 services operating out of more than 70 facilities while ensuring the safety of employees and residents is not compromised. *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. recovery response, the plan has focused on: meeting the needs of the community by providing valued programs and services to businesses and residents, ensuring the health and safety of City employees and members of the community, contributing to community and global efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, and The June 2020 Kitchener Reopens document included a Stage 3B component, which was intentionally left blank. This was to understand the effects of the collaborative response efforts to mitigate the initial epidemiological curve as well as understand the pace at which the Province would advance through their staged reopening plan. The Ontario provincial government released Stage 3 documentation on July 17, 2020 and at that time Waterloo Region was permitted to enter Stage 3 of the framework. Now that the City is entering a part of the year when programs and services begin to transition to fall/winter service delivery it is important to check in with Council on the modified program and service delivery that supports the local community and aligns with current and forecast Provincial COVID guidance. REPORT: has indicated that the fall season may be a particularly challenging time in the COVID response. we will now either be entering a services are paused and restarted based on effective testing and tracing, physical distancing and good hygiene practices in order to maintain a relatively stable number of cases, ideally in a declining pattern. Alternatively, if society lets its guard down, we could experience a significant wave The continuation of physical distancing, mask wearing, personal protective equipment, health screening and good hygiene practices will continue to be an important component inue to remain agile to adapt quickly to potential localized increased spread of COVID 19 or changes in provincial direction. The Province has signaled that Ontario will be in Stage 3 of the pandemic response for quite some time and that physical distancing will continue to form a significant part of the mitigation response. It will be increasingly important to provide programs and services to Kitchener residents to support mental health, wellbeing and connection through the fall and winter season. Staff have been mindful of the impacts that community members may be facing as the Stage 3B plan was developed. Discussion Question: Does Council agree with the services/facilities planned to reopen within Stage 3B, as outlined in Appendix A? (60 Minute Discussion) Council prioritized investments in several technologies that have allowed a workforce to transition quickly and effectively to remote work arrangements. The Province has indicated that, where possible, staff should continue to work from home as part of the COVID- 19 mitigation strategy. Based on this Provincial direction, staff that can work from home effectively will continue to do so from October through December. Even with the transition to remote working, staff have continued to provide quality customer service. Staff have shifted to appointment-based service delivery for counter service at City Hall and are utilizing technology and telephone calls to assist citizens with access to city services. Staff are committed to providing excellent customer service response continues. Enhanced accountability structures and regular check-ins with individuals and teams have been implemented to ensure that staff are productive, feel connected to the organization and are collaborating to deliver programs and services. Next Steps Staff will deploy programs and services, as outlined in the Council approved Stage 3B plan. Staff will also check back in with Council on recommended changes to the C as required. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: the delivery of core service. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: As the City implements and modifies programs and services to support the community in the fall/winter there may be additional costs incurred. These can range from needing to provide additional staffing to physical modifications to allow programs and services to operate safely. With the possibility of a second wave in the fall/winter, some facilities may reopen only to close again, and this may result in additional costs being incurred without the benefit of represents a significant financial risk for the City that could result in worsening financial projections, highlighting the need to be somewhat cautious with our approach. It highlights the balancing act that municipalities face related to bringing services back online. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM council / committee meeting. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Dan Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer Appendix B: Impacts of COVID-19 on Strategic Plan Goals and Actions Appendix A Kitchener Reopens: Stage 3B (September to December 2020) Outdoor Amenities Indoor Amenities Programs & Events Ice rinks open in Community Centres wrap-Outdoor events and neighbourhood parks up day camps and programming subject to likely late December, gradually open beginning provincial gathering limits weather dependent in mid-Sept with a variety and safety protocols (e.g. of indoor and outdoor City-led by City, Neighbourhood led programs and services Associations and cultural for all ages organizations) Weekly forestry natural Majority of Neighbourhood Continue social support area programs to Associations have calls for seniors commence in the indicated their intention to September (school, after prepare to offer indoor school and family programming beginning in programming) January. Some may begin to provide programming in the fall. Nordic skiing provided at Examine alternative Online or modified special Rockway Golf Course options for Kitchener events planned for Mela likely late December, winter market Festival (Sept), Link Picnic weather dependent (Sept), Neighbours Day (Sept), Oktoberfest (Oct), Christkindle (Dec), and Kiwanis Park, Doon Golf Increased ice access for Crossing guards resume Course and Huron Natural sports groups at arenas duties in September with Area winter walks and new safety protocols snow shoeing early 2021, weather dependent Continue to leave some City Hall continues to be Limited, City-led in-person roads closed (e.g. Delta, open by appointment for non-statutory public Gaukel) for programmed service transactions and meetings may resume with and passive community in-person meetings for new safety protocols, in space, weather dependent October, November and addition to virtual methods December of engagement Potential to allow outdoor Facility rentals available Virtual delegations at patios to remain open as mid-September subject to council and committee late as possible this year, provincial gathering limits meetings continue until weather dependent and safety protocols Stage 4 (starting with VPP, pools) Encourage privately-run Warming centres open Modified fall/winter pop-up coffee/hot during extreme cold events horticultural programs chocolate/food trucks in with locations to be resume (e.g. fall mum key locations to support determined after program) outdoor amenities programming is finalized Appendix B: Impacts of COVID-19 on Strategic Plan Goals and Actions Outdoor Amenities Indoor Amenities Programs & Events Public-access computers Staff will continue continue to be accessible investigation opportunities at Kingsdale and Chandler for COVID compliant Mowat community centres programming and supports with the possibility of related to economic expanding this service to development additional centres 4-week swim lesson New or expanded virtual sessions will start to be programming and activities offered in the fall (e.g. Kitchener Connects, feedback surveys) focused on wellbeing Older adult passive/active Leverage grassroots-level, aquatics programing at decentralized, small-scale Breithaupt Centre (BRC) events/programming that connect with City or partner organization activities, which focus on vulnerable populations Budd Park indoor Leverage learnings from programming will resume the camp-in-a-box pilot January 2021 upon program and expand to completion of facility include other leisure improvements. activities targeted to vulnerable populations Love My Hood matching grant fall programming or events may take place Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph, subject to provincial gathering limits and safety protocols OHL Hockey season likely resumes December 1 Notes: 1. All programs/events involving public participation will require pre-registration, with no drop-ins permitted, for the foreseeable future. 2. Seasonal recreational facilities close fall to late fall (e.g. courts, sports fields, skate parks, golf courses, splashpads and outdoor pools).