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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe City - 1999-12-07SAFECITY~1999-12-07 DECEMBER 7, 1999 SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe City Committee met this date commencing at 4:10 p.m. with the following members present: Councillors K. Taylor-Harrison and M. Yantzi, Ms. A. Kutler and Messrs. P. Verleyen, D. Schnarr, F. Bishop and Superintendent B. Koepke (representing Waterloo Regional Police Services). Ms. T. Beaulne and Ms. N. Brawley were in attendance for part of the meeting. Others present: Ms. J. Dean, Ms. L. Korabo and Messrs. B. Stanley, R. Wyatt and G. Sosnoski. 1. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS Introductions took place in regard to A. Kutler and P. Verleyen who gave brief backgrounds as to their related experience and interests. 2. ELECTION OF CO-CHAIRS G. Sosnoski, Deputy City Clerk, called for nominations for the two Co-Chair positions. On motion by D. Schnarr- It was resolved: "That Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison and Mr. Sandro Bassanese be elected as Co-Chairs of the Safe City Committee for a term ending November 30, 2000." 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA On motion by F. Bishop- It was resolved: "That the agenda for the December 7, 1999 meeting, be approved." 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES On motion by D. Schnarr- It was resolved: "That the minutes of November 2, 1999, as mailed to the members, be approved." 5. PROPOSED MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2000 Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison requested comment on the proposed dates for Committee meetings in 2000. B. Stanley commented that given the New Year's holiday, other Standing Committees have delayed their January meetings by one week and recommended that this Committee do the same. It was generally agreed that the January 2000 meeting would be held on January 11 and that all meetings would continue to be held the first Tuesday of the month at 4:00 p.m. It was also decided to cancel the proposed August 2000 meeting. The schedule of meetings for 2000 is confirmed as follows: January 11, February 1, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July 4, September 5, October 3, November 7 and December 12. N. Brawley entered the meeting. 6. SAFE CITY CO-ORDINATOR'S ANNUAL/MONTHLY REPORTS For the benefit of new members, J. Dean provided background on the monthly Co-ordinator's report by noting that this provides a listing of her activities for the Committee. She also touched upon Business and Planning Services report BPS 99/189, dated December 1, 1999, which had been requested by City Council at the completion of the one-year trial period of the expanded Safe City Co-ordinator's position. J. Dean noted that the Finance and Administration Committee recommendation will be considered by City Council on December 13, 1999 and if approved, a full-time Safe City Co-ordinator position will be created. DECEMBER 7, 1999 SAFE CITY COMMITTEE -2- CITY OF KITCHENER SAFE CITY CO-ORDINATOR'S ANNUAL/MONTHLY REPORTS - (CONT'D) B. Stanley extended his congratulations to J. Dean for her efforts over the past year and his hope that the Safe City Co-ordinator position will become full-time. He commented that this position provides an essential resource and will allow the Committee to operate more effectively. The Committee then reviewed the Co-ordinator's monthly report with updates in the following areas: Municipal Policy & Guidelines Review 1. Community Awareness Councils Outreach/Liaison 1. Doon Community Awareness Council 2. Forest Heights Community Awareness Council 3. SCAT (Safer Communities Action Team) 4. Vice Principal's Association Meeting Funding 1. 'Partners Against Crime' Graffiti Project Lighting Working Group 1. Pilot Project Evaluation 2. 'Porch Lights On' Campaign 3. St. Joseph's School Safety Audit Working Group 1. Mount Hope/Breithaupt Park Safety Project 2. COPS Program City-Wide Youth Issues Committee 1. Grants/Awards Committee 2. The Little Black Book YEAR 2000 DRAFT BUDGET The Committee reviewed the draft Safe City budget as appended to the agenda. J. Dean and B. Stanley provided explanations on each of the listed items and noted that the Committee's total proposed budget is $75,000.00. Several members of the Committee questioned specific items and these were responded to by J. Dean and B. Stanley. During discussions it was suggested the amount allocated to the Community Awareness Councils be increased from $1,000. to $2,000. to cover overpayments in insurance premiums which are not presently part of the Operating Budget. In order to balance the draft budget, the Community Safety Profile item was reduced by a corresponding amount. R. Wyatt questioned if the Committee would be advised of any requests arising from the Compass Kitchener visioning exercise and be of direct interest to the Safe City Committee. These items may need to be included as part of the 2000 budget. He also stressed that if so, it will be necessary to define the Committee's role in implementing these. B. Stanley noted that two members of the Safe City Committee are representatives at the Compass Kitchener roundtable discussions. Further, he was confident that feedback would be extracted by the Project Coordinator as soon as possible and passed on to the appropriate committees or agencies. T. Beaulne entered the meeting. For the benefit of new members, R. Wyatt provided background on the Compass Kitchener initiative and it was noted that a June 2000 deadline had been established to complete all public meetings and finalize a report. He commented that the Safe City Committee should address any safety issues raised by the public but noted that, at this time, budget implications DECEMBER 7, 1999 SAFE CITY COMMITTEE -3- CITY OF KITCHENER YEAR 2000 DRAFT BUDGET - (CONT'D) cannot be determined. It was generally agreed that the issue of implementing any Compass Kitchener recommendations pertaining to the Safe City Committee mandate would be an item for discussion on a future agenda. B. Stanley explained that staff would work within the framework of the budget, as presented. D. Schnarr questioned what would happen to the Graffiti Abatement Program listed as item 5 in the draft budget if the grant is not approved. J. Dean advised that programs such as wall murals would go ahead; however, if no funds for the Abatement Program were available, she would come back to the Committee for input on how to proceed. On motion by N. Brawley- It was resolved: "That the Draft Safe City Budget - 2000, be approved, as amended." AMBASSADOR PROGRAM Councillor Taylor-Harrison advised that she would like to see this Committee work with the Kitchener Downtown Business Association and the Downtown Development Team to formulate an application for the Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) grant that is available to launch an Ambassador Program in Kitchener. She noted that a significant amount of preliminary work would be required. Councillor Taylor-Harrison further commented that this initiative has been available for a while; however, no one group has taken a leadership role in preparing an application due to staffing issues. T. Beaulne reminded Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison that there had been discussion on this subject at the last Downtown Advisory Committee meeting and that, at that time, D. Corks, Manager of Downtown, had proposed organizing a group of interested individuals to look at applying for funding and administering the program. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison offered to speak with D. Corks and clarify his intentions. She asked that this matter be placed on the January agenda. N. Brawley commented that the key element of a successful Ambassador Program is the need for ongoing corporate sponsorship, as the grant from HRDC is only for a one-year time frame. Plans have to be in place to ensure funding after the expiration of the grant. She commented that the Program should not be undertaken if it cannot be sustained. B. Stanley commented that he felt the Manager of Downtown should take the lead in this initiative. He further suggested that a member of the Committee should sit on any group that is formed to investigate a funding application. COMMUNITY SAFETY & CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL - COMMUNITY NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION KIT Councillor M. Yantzi referred to the information kit, which was distributed to members this date and which is sponsored by the Community Safety & Crime Prevention Council of Waterloo Region. The mission of the Council is to work together with all people and seek to build a safe and crime-free community in which to work, live and grow. Councillor M. Yantzi briefly explained that the Action Kit had been compiled by numerous community partners throughout the Region and covered the following four areas of our community: home, school, neighbourhoods and work. The kit contained a poster, 'recipes' to a solution and a copy of the recently published Justice Guide. B. Stanley questioned how the Action Kit was being distributed. Councillor M. Yantzi advised that a mailing list had been developed and that he would determine the extent of the distribution area. SAFE CITY COMMITTEE DECEMBER 7, 1999 -4- CITY OF KITCHENER 10. LIGHTING WORKING GROUP J. Dean commented on the poster she had prepared promoting the 'Porch Lights On' campaign. This poster, as attached to the agenda, was circulated with a recent Civic Centre Neighbourhood Association newsletter. The poster accompanied an article on area lighting concerns written for the newsletter. J. Dean suggested that a sub-committee be formed to work on advancing the 'Porch Lights On' campaign and asked for volunteers. She indicated that the initial meeting would require approximately two hours to develop resources and plan a mode of delivery citywide. The level of commitment to the project could also be decided at the first meeting. A. Kutler, D. Schnarr, N. Brawley, F. Bishop and B. Koepke (on behalf of Waterloo Regional Police) volunteered to assist J. Dean with the 'Porch Lights On' project. J. Dean will contact each and set up a meeting for January. N. Brawley suggested that the City's Communications Division be approached to assist with any of the graphics required. D. Schnarr advised that he had had a meeting with the General Manager of Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro concerning this initiative. He felt that positive feedback had been received in the form of a suggestion that Hydro could develop a flyer promoting the program for distribution with hydro bills. Discussion ensued regarding the suggestion of involving schools in promoting and delivering the message to keep lights on. P. Verleyen commented on the positive experience he has seen when young school children are presented with a concept in the classroom. They then take the knowledge home and tell their family members about what has been taught. The children themselves become adamant promoters of the concept and this has been proven to make it easier to get the message out to the public. In this respect, P. Verleyen suggested that a poster be designed that, if approved by the Board of Education, could be circulated throughout the system and posted in schools. 11. YOUTH/GRANTS AWARDS COMMITTEE P. Verleyen circulated draft criteria for the Youth Program Awards recognizing ongoing efforts of groups and/or programs related to social development, or in support of youth within the City of Kitchener; and, for the Youth Program Grants that are meant to promote healthy activities amongst youth which will contribute to a safer community. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison advised that some of this information had been revised and will be discussed at the next City-wide Youth Issues Committee meeting on December 22, 1999. 12. NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT REGIONAL ALLOCATIONS As a follow-up to discussion at last month's meeting, T. Beaulne commented that it was her understanding the Region of Waterloo had $1.5M in funding to be allocated under this program. The deadline for applications is December 22, 1999. T. Beaulne suggested that it might be beneficial for representatives of the Committee to set up a meeting with Regional staff sometime next week to discuss an application for a portion of these funds. T. Beaulne noted that there does not appear to be any restriction on who may apply for the funding but did commented that projects in the $5,000.00 - $10,000.00 range would be considered. Councillor M. Yantzi stated that he felt this was a very inefficient way of re-distributing funds and T. Beaulne observed that this redistribution was necessary to offset cutbacks implemented by the Province. She noted that the City has increased user fees across the board and this redistribution of funds could be used to offset some of these increases. J. Dean noted the two criteria that are attached to the National Child Benefit grant application process; namely, reduce the impact of poverty on families and/or increase attachment to the work place so that families are always better off working than not. J. Dean suggested that current Safe City initiatives may qualify for funding and asked members for their ideas. DECEMBER 7, 1999 SAFE CITY COMMITTEE -5- CITY OF KITCHENER 12. 13. NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT REGIONAL ALLOCATIONS - (CONT'D) P. Verleyen suggested that the Youth Awards/Grants program might qualify. It was also noted that other areas of youth involvement, which may qualify, could be identified in relation to Parks and Recreation, minor sports and the YMCA. T. Beaulne suggested the graffiti abatement program as is creates disorder in neighbourhoods and the Kids Club program at Victoria School Centre. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison suggested that discussion on this matter continue at the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m. L. Korabo Executive Assistant/ Committee Administrator