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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - 2022-04-04 SSpecial Council Meeting Minutes April 4, 2022, 2:00 p.m. Electronic Meeting Present: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Councillor S. Davey Councillor D. Schnider Councillor J. Gazzola Councillor C. Michaud Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock Councillor P. Singh Councilor B. loannidis Councillor M. Johnston Councillor D. Chapman Councillor S. Marsh Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer M. May, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrator V. Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services J. Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services D. McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services L. MacDonald, City Solicitor M Hildebrand, Director of Neighborhood Programs and Services B. Rowland, Director, Corporate Communications and Marketing A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk 1. Commencement A special electronic meeting of City Council was held at 2:00 p.m. this date, chaired by Mayor B. Vrbanovic. 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. 1 The electronic meeting began with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Mayor. 2. Notice of Motion - Councillor C. Michaud - Access Without Fear Policy Councillor C. Michaud brought forward the Notice of Motion, which was seconded by Councillor M. Johnston. Rawan Hussein, Safe and Healthy Advisory Committee member, highlighted the intent and purposes of an access without fear policy and noted that the Committee is seeking Council direction to proceed with working with Equity staff on the proposed policy. Mary Lou Roe, Community Coalition on Refugee and Immigrant Concerns (CCORIC) spoke in support of the proposed policy and highlighted the programs of the agency. She noted the impacts a lack of access to services has on individuals and youths, and addressed the benefits of a policy and the clarity that such policy brings to service providers. In response to questions from Committee members, M. Roe noted that CCORIC met with Regional officials prior to the pandemic. A collaborative approach of staff working with the City and Region was highlighted. M. Roe addressed how service providers receive training and awareness on access without fear and noted that the multicultural centre is a member of CCORIC. Mark Hildebrand, Director of Neighborhood Programs and Services, noted that community centres are key areas of focus for the proposed policy, and highlighted the role the City can play to model practices to provide access without fear. The City's new multi -language services program was discussed as a means to provide access. Members of Council encouraged all agencies to work together and staff were directed to advocate for greater adoption of access without fear with regional municipalities. Moved by Councillor C. Michaud Seconded by Councillor M. Johnston "WHEREAS the Safe and Healthy Advisory Committee is one of the City's citizen committees of council that comment and give advice on a wide range of topics that affect the health and safety of the Kitchener community; and, WHEREAS for this past term, as part of their workplan the Committee has been pursuing research and the necessary work and engagement to bring forward recommendations for Council's consideration for the development of an Access Without Fear policy at the City of Kitchener; and, E WHEREAS there are an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 non -status migrants that are living across Canada, who enter the country through authorized channels as refugee claimants, with valid student visas, as temporary foreign workers, or with a visitor visa, but find themselves becoming a non -status person in Canada through the loss of these permits; and, WHERAS a person's situation becomes extremely perilous when they lose their permits as they are subject to detention and deportation; can work in poor conditions; become socially isolated; face poverty, abuse, and exploitation; and may affect an individual's ability to safely access essential social services; and, WHEREAS an Access Without Fear Policy is a municipal policy that allows persons without status the freedom to access city services and reduces the fear of deportation among people who are in the country without status; and, and social services, and enroll their children in schools, recreation programs etc. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that staff be given direction to work with the Safe and Healthy Advisory Committee on bringing forward an Access Without Fear Policy, for Council's consideration and approval, which does the following: 1. Outlines the City of Kitchener's commitment to supporting non -status migrants in the City of Kitchener; 2. Clarifies the City services that can be accessed by persons without status as well as a grievance process related to accessing any listed City Services; 3. Outlines the training necessary for City staff to support those without status in gaining access to City services; and, 4. Encourages service providers and Community Partners, supported or funded by City of Kitchener, to adopt and support the principals of an Access Without Fear policy; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a public education campaign be developed to raise awareness about the City of Kitchener's Access Without Fear policy, and that persons who find themselves without status, can access City services without fear." 3 3. In -camera Meeting Authorization Moved by Councillor C. Michaud Seconded by Councillor P. Singh "That an in -camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following the special council meeting this date to consider a matter with an Identifiable Individual(s) and a matter of solicitor client privilege as authorized by Sections 239 (b) and (f) of the Municipal Act, 2001, respectively." Carried 4. Recess and Reconvene Special Council recess at 2:35 p.m. and reconvened at 4:00 p.m., with all members present Chaired by Mayor B. Vrbanovic with all members present. 5. By-laws 5.1 Three Readings Moved by Councillor S. Davey Seconded by Councillor D. Schnider "That the by-laws be given third reading, namely: 5.1.a To confirm all actions and proceedings of the Council. 6. Adjournment On motion the meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m. YDr Clerk (By Law No. 2022-042) Carried 0