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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe City - 2000-05-02SAF ECITY~2000-05-02 SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 2, 2000 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe City Committee met this date commencing at 4:15 p.m. and Chaired by S. Bassanese with the following members present: D. Schnarr and A. Kutler. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison, T. Beaulne and N. Brawley were in attendance for part of the meeting. Others present: Ms. J. Dean and Ms. L. Korabo. The meeting commenced without a quorum in attendance. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES J. Dean requested that the April 4, 2000 minutes reflect a correction with regard to item 4. She noted that the Crimestoppers Program would be requested to air a segment on graffiti and had not already decided to do so. By general consent, the minutes were amended in this regard. On motion by D. Schnarr- It was resolved: "That the minutes of April 4, 2000, as amended, be approved." 2. SAFE CITY CO-ORDINATOR'S REPORT - May 2000 J. Dean circulated the May 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. Community Exchange 2. Brampton Safe City 3. Doon Community Awareness Council 4. Forest Heights Community Awareness Council Funding 1. 'Partners Against Crime' Graffiti Funding Proposal 2. Muralist Mentoring Program · Lighting Working Group 1. 'Lighten Up/Porch Lights On' Campaign · Community Mobilization Project 1. Steering Committee · City-Wide Youth Issues Committee 1. Youth Issues Grants and Awards Celebration 3. GRAFFITI ABATEMENT PROGRAM / MURALIST MENTORING PROGRAM Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison advised that the Mill-Courtland Community Centre has given approval for a wall at the Centre to be painted with a mural and that a young artist has been selected to co-ordinate the program. She noted that discussions are still ongoing as to whether an honorarium will be paid. J. Dean provided the Committee with details of a meeting with F. Pizzuto, General Manager of Community Services, concerning a variety of safety concerns identified during a safety audit of Huron Park. In particular, concern had been expressed about large trees that provide a hidden area for youth to congregate and graffiti on the Park's shed and play structure. The safety audit had recommended that the trees be removed and replaced with smaller, more appropriate species. It was suggested that a mural could be painted on the wall of the shed and that the Community Services Department could be approached to donate swim passes, etc., to be given to those youth who paint the mural as a thank you for their contribution. The donation of Graffitibusters Hotline T-shirts was also suggested as was approaching the Kitchener Downtown Business Association for some Downtown Dollars for distribution. MAY 2, 2000 SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES -17- CITY OF KITCHENER 3. GRAFFITI ABATEMENT PROGRAM / MURALIST MENTORING PROGRAM - (CONT'D) = = A. Kutler suggested that The Record be contacted and asked to take photographs and provide recognition for the artists and their work. J. Dean advised that Theatre & Company has agreed to have the hoarding surrounding their construction project painted with murals. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison stated that she would like to see this handled similarly to the hoarding that had surrounded the City Hall construction site. In that instance, the hoarding was disassembled and the murals were sealed. Two of these murals are on display at the MilI-Courtland Community Centre and have been the subject of many favourable comments. It was also pointed out that permission has been granted to have a mural painted on the Duke/Ontario Street parking garage wall and that possibly this could be undertaken by a group of 8 exchange students who are visiting the community in July and are looking for community service work. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison left the meeting at this time. With regard to the Graffitibusters Hotline, J. Dean advised members that a link from the City's website has been established to a site where graffiti can be reported online. Parks Operations will track calls received and keep a log of all graffiti reported for subsequent action. T. Beaulne entered the meeting at this time. In response to a question regarding promotion of the website link, it was noted that promotion is presently only internal but there are plans to expand it once the entire removal program is operational. As a final comment, J. Dean asked members of the Committee to provide her with copies of any resources that could be used as teaching tools to curb vandalism and graffiti. WINDSOR COMMUNITY EXCHANGE PROGRAM B. Stanley, Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison and D. Schnarr are confirmed as attending to represent the Committee; however, other members of the Committee would also be welcome. Details on the program were provided to members in an e-mail received from A. lerullo from the City of Ottawa Safe City Committee. Various website links for information on the guest speaker were provided and the Committee requested that these websites be listed in the minutes as information: · www'fiqhtcrime' net/wind°ws' htm · www. rutqers-newark, rutqers.edu/rsci/facultv/kellin.q.htm · www. onpatrol.com/wilsonint.html BRAMPTON SAFE CITY ASSOCIATION J. Dean distributed an informational newsletter on this Association to the Committee. The newsletter provided detail on who the Association is, what their plans for the future are and also listed their community partners. A brief discussion took place. N. Brawley entered the meeting at this time. J. Dean commented that it would be helpful to obtain some of the educational materials in different languages that are mentioned in the Brampton summary. She noted that this is the type of material that could be distributed by the Worldwide Opportunities for Women (WOWW) as they visit non-profit housing locations and speak with women of different cultures about safety issues. MAY 2, 2000 SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES -18- CITY OF KITCHENER = = = = 10. COMMITTEE VACANCY The Committee was circulated with a copy of a letter from Superintendent W. Stevens, Waterloo Regional Police, dated April 6, 2000, in which he declined the Committee's invitation to place an officer from Division 3 on the Safe City Committee given that Regional Police were already represented by Inspector Brian Doherty from Division 1. For the information of the Committee, L. Korabo advised of the options available for filling the vacancy and noted that, if filled, the balance of the term expires November 30, 2000. A discussion was held during which members offered their opinions on several possible avenues that could be taken to find a new member for the Committee including but not limited to: contacting neighbourhood associations, using the Volunteer Action Centre or The Record, approaching large local firms about involving their employees in a community service opportunity. It was noted that these are all good suggestions and that these could be used in preparation for the new term commencing December 1, 2000; however, these suggestions might take too much time to implement at this point in the current term. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison re-entered the meeting at this time and a quorum was now present. S. Bassanese advised members that he was aware of an individual who has expressed an interest in the Committee in the past and would approach this person to enquire about applying for appointment to the Committee. CITY OF KITCHENER YOUTH CHARITY 911 GOLF TOURNAMENT Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison provided a brief update noting that everything is in place for this June event. LITTLE BLACK BOOK J. Dean advised that revisions to the book have been completed and it is being sent to print. Fifteen thousands copies are being ordered and will be ready within one month. Calls for copies of the book are continuing to be received. In response to a question, it was noted that the Book is available on diskette. S. Bassanese suggested that this resource would be an excellent tool to add to the City's website. CITY WIDE YOUTH ISSUES SUB-COMMITTEE RELATIONSHIP Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison requested a general discussion as to the relationship between the Safe City Committee and its sub-committee the City-Wide Youth Issues Committee. In previous discussions, it was concluded that the mandate and monthly meeting schedule of the City-Wide Youth Issues Committee did not permit timely responses to current events. However, it was suggested that tracking of current events and issues that were deemed to be youth and or safety related should be done to achieve a broader understanding which could then facilitate future responses and policy-making Documentation could include how and why the issue began, how it was dealt with, and the framing of recommendations for handling this type of matter in the future. It was suggested that this discussion be relayed to the City-Wide Youth Issues Committee, so that a process and communication network could be developed to receive information of this sort. Reports and recommendations should then be brought to the Safe City Committee for endorsement and forwarding to the appropriate group or agency. This procedure will avoid certain duplication for those members who sit on both Committees. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. L. Korabo Executive Assistant/ Committee Administrator