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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe City - 2000-02-01SAFECITY~2000-02-01 SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 1, 2000 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe City Committee met this date commencing at 4:10 p.m. Chaired by Councillor K. Taylor- Harrison with the following members present: Ms. A. Kutler and Messrs. D. Schnarr, and B. Doherty. Ms. N. Brawley, Ms. T. Beaulne and Messrs. T. Dickson, P. Verleyen and S. Bassanese were in attendance for part of the meeting. Others present: Ms. J. Dean, Ms. L. Korabo, Ms. C. Hunt and Messrs. B. Stanley and R. Weber. 1. COMPASS KITCHENER WORKSHOP Mr. Reg Weber attended the meeting to facilitate and lead Committee members through a Compass Kitchener Workshop for the purposes of gaining input toward the creation of a community vision. He was assisted in this process by Ms. C. Hunt who acted as recorder. During the course of the workshop T. Dickson and N. Brawley entered the meeting. Following the conclusion of the workshop, R. Weber, C. Hunt and T. Beaulne left the meeting which then recessed at 5:50 p.m. and reconvened at 6:20 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES On motion by B. Doherty- It was resolved: "That the minutes of January 11,2000, as mailed to the members, be approved." 3. SAFE CITY CO-ORDINATOR'S REPORT - February 2000 J. Dean circulated the February 2000 Safe City Co-ordinator's report to members for their information. The Committee then reviewed the report, which included updates on the following topics: Outreach/Liaison 1. International Centre for Crime Prevention/National Crime Prevention Centre Funding 1. 2. 3. National Child Benefit 'Partners Against Crime' Graffiti Funding Proposal 'Partners Against Crime' 2000 Funding Criteria Lighting Working Group 1. 'Porch Lights On' Campaign 2. Downtown Lighting Study Community Mobilization Project 1. Steering Committee (Safer Communities Committee) 4. SAFER COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE J. Dean circulated a memorandum from G. Sosnoski, Deputy City Clerk, dated January 18, 2000, advising of a resolution approved by City Council at its meeting of January 17, 2000, regarding funding approval for the implementation of a Community Mobilization Plan to counter the sale and use of crack cocaine in the Mount Hope neighbourhood. B. Stanley provided the Committee with a verbal update on the background of this proposal by consultant Dr. Hugh Russell. He indicated that Council has agreed to provide $20,000 to pay for consultant services to complete the Community Mobilization Plan by December 31, 2000, under the guidance of a Steering Committee (to be established) and in conjunction with the Community Relations Branch of the Waterloo Regional Police Service and the Mount Hope Neighbourhood Safer Community Committee. SAFE CITY COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 1, 2000 -6- CITY OF KITCHENER = B. Stanley commented that the process would be to establish a Steering Committee, which would then receive, review and, if appropriate, endorse the Terms of Reference of the SAFER COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE - (CONT'D) Community Mobilization Plan, laying out the terms of the contract with Dr. Russell. The process to be guided by the Steering Committee would also include defining the roles of the participants, coordinating and ensuring the co-operation of agencies, developing evaluation criteria and evaluating the entire process. He further noted that as this is a pilot project, the evaluation step will be very important and will hopefully be one that can be applied in other areas of the City, if required. B. Stanley also pointed out that he would be meeting with Waterloo Regional Police Service representatives in order to ensure a good understanding of the Community Mobilization Plan proposal. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison noted that it would have been her preference to have the proposal by Dr. Russell brought to the Safe City Committee or, at least, to the attention of B. Stanley in advance of coming before City Council. Members of the Safe City Committee were not made aware of the Plan until after Council had given its funding approval. Councillor Taylor-Harrison felt there was great value in having a member of the Safe City Committee as a member of the Steering Committee. She further suggested that the Ward Councillor, B. Stanley, a representative of the Waterloo Regional Police Service and a representative of the affected neighbourhood should also be on the Steering Committee. B. Stanley commented that he would like to see the first meeting of the Steering Committee take place before the March meeting of the Safe City Committee so that a progress report can be provided to all members at that time. J. Dean asked that any Safe City Committee member interested in volunteering to be a member of the Community Mobilization Plan Steering Committee let her know as soon as possible. She also advised that the neighbourhood had meetings with Dr. Russell and the Waterloo Regional Police Service and that residents had many questions about the resources available to them. It was suggested that the Steering Committee's police representative be an officer from Division 3 as the affected neighbourhood is in this Division's patrol area. P. Verleyen entered the meeting at this point. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison suggested that a meeting be held shortly with Ward Councillor John Smola, Mayor C. Zehr and Deputy Chief B. Cunningham along with B. Stanley and J. Dean to discuss the process to date and how it has evolved to this point. Further, discussions should include why it is imperative to move the process ahead now and determine how funding is to be spent. It was generally agreed to schedule this meeting for the week of February 7, 2000 at which time answers to the above noted questions will be determined and points as to the involvement of police will be discussed. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison agreed to contact Mayor C. Zehr on this matter. B. Stanley left the meeting at this point. 5. AMBASSADOR PROGRAM For the benefit of new members, Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison commented that the Ambassador Program is designed to be a 'meeter and greeter' program for the Downtown. It would provide for the hiring of young people to be available to answer questions and provide directions for visitors to the core. Administration of such a program would be a huge undertaking requiring a dedicated individual and presently neither the Downtown Development Team nor the Kitchener Downtown Business Association has the resources to administer a program. Further, it was pointed out that the program would need to be sustainable after the first year of funding expires in order to be of any long-term benefit. Accordingly, it was agreed an application for the Ambassador Program would not proceed in 2000. FEBRUARY 1, 2000 SAFE CITY COMMITTEE -7- CITY OF KITCHENER = = = = LITTLE BLACK BOOK P. Verleyen advised that Bluevale Collegiate had acquired 2000 copies of the Little Black Book and made use of the Student Council to distribute them, without pressure, to the student body. He noted that he had not found any of the books lying around the school or in any trashcans. P. Verleyen commented that the approach taken lets students take ownership of the book and they appear to have taken the copies home with them. YOUTH GRANTS/AWARDS COMMITTEE J. Dean advised that she had distributed application and nomination forms utilizing community centres, the public library, neighbourhood associations and both school boards. The deadline for submissions is February 28, 2000. B. Doherty left the meeting at this time. MEDIA CONCERNS D. Schnarr commented on an article he read recently in The Record quoting a police officer giving information on the location of a drug raid conducted on a home in a specific part of the community. He felt that it would be better, from a safer community aspect, if the media did not mention the location. N. Brawley observed that the media has access to police reports and feel it is their duty to report specifics. Reporters will extract whatever information they deem newsworthy. It may not be that the information was gained from comments of an officer. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m. L. Korabo Executive Assistant/ Committee Administrator