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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm Svcs - 2005-03-07COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 7~ 2005 CITY OF KITCHENER The Community Services Committee met this date commencing at 3:42 p.m. Present: Chair - Councillor G. Lorentz Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors J. Smola, M. Galloway, B. Vrbanovic and J. Gazzola. Staff: C. Ladd, Chief Administrative Officer F. Pizzuto, General Manager of Community Services G. Stewart, General Manager of Development & Technical Services K. Baulk, Director of Enterprises R. Pitfield, Director of Corporate Communications & Marketing S. Adams, Director of Community and Corporate Planning K. Currier, Director of Operations C. Sadeler, Acting Director of Community Programs & Services S. deMoree, Assistant City Solicitor G. Hastings, Manager of Golf Courses M. Sanderson, Inclusion Co-ordinator R. Willms, Administration Co-ordinator J. Billett, Supervisor, Council/Committee Services C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator 1. CSD-05-033 - 2005 GOLF PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-05-033, dated February 21,2005 concerning the 2005 Golf Professional Contract. In response to Councillor J. Gazzola, Mr. G. Hastings agreed to examine the possibility of expanding the contract to a term greater than 1 year. On motion by Councillor J. Gazzola - it was resolved: "That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign an agreement, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, with Michael Martz for golf professional services and other related matters for both City of Kitchener golf courses, as outlined in Community Services Department report CSD-05-033." CSD-05-034 - SIGNING AUTHORITY FOR EVENTS CO-PROMOTION AGREEMENTS KITCHENER MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM COMPLEX (THE AUD) The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-05-034, dated February 23, 2005 concerning signing authority for Event Co-promotion Agreements for events to be held at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex (The Aud). On motion by Councillor J. Gazzola - it was resolved: "That the Manager of the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex (The Aud) and the Director of Enterprise Division be authorized to sign Event Co-promotion Agreements with promoters for events at The Aud, satisfactory to the City Solicitor." CSD-05-035 - GRANT REQUEST ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION, POLISH VETERANS' BRANCH 412 The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-05-035, dated March 1, 2005 regarding a request by the Royal Canadian Legion, Polish Veterans' Branch 412 for a grant to cover the City's fees of $3,227.13 for the closing of part of Johnston Street which would allow the Legion to expand their parking facilities. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 7~ 2005 - 23 - CITY OF KITCHENER CSD-05-035 - GRANT REQUEST ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION, POLISH VETERANS' BRANCH 412 (CONT'D) Councillor J. Smola advised that the members of Branch 412 are requesting a grant in lieu of costs associated with the closure of part of Johnston Street. Councillor Smola pointed out that parking is a problem for the facility and their financial position is such that they require assistance to cover the cost of the road closure. Mayor C. Zehr referred to earlier discussions with the Legion in which he understood the City agreed to facilitate the change to the roadway on the basis of the Legion reimbursing the City's costs and the City, in turn, providing for a nominal leasing rate of $1.00 per year within the lease agreement. He added that the closed portion of the roadway would be for the exclusive use of the Legion. Councillor J. Smola reiterated that the organization is not financially strong and requires assistance to address overflow parking to avoid those attending events at their facility from being ticketed. He added that it was his understanding the issue of costs for the road closing had to be resolved before the lease agreement could be finalized Councillor J. Smola put forward a motion to approve the grant request, and to direct staff to work with the Legion to finalize a lease agreement on the basis of an annual lease rate of $1.00, subject to the Legion continuing to own and operate their facility at 601 Wellington Street North. Mayor C. Zehr raised concerns with approving the grant request prior to the terms of the lease agreement being finalized and requested that the matter be deferred and referred to the March 21,2005 Council meeting, to allow additional information concerning the lease agreement to be provided. On motion by Mayor C. Zehr - it was resolved: "That the following recommendation be deferred and referred to the March 21, 2005 Council meetinq to allow additional information to be provided concerning a lease agreement for parking with the Royal Canadian Legion, Polish Veterans' Branch 412: 'That the request of the Royal Canadian Legion, Polish Veterans' Branch 412, for a grant in the amount of $3,227.13 to cover the City's costs to close part of Johnston Street for parking purposes, be approved; and further, That staff in considering the terms of the lease agreement for parking include provision for an annual fee of $1.00, subject to the Legion continuing to own and operate their facility at 601 Wellington Street North.'" PRESENTATION - DOWNTOWN EAST STRATEGIC PLAN - 'YA GOTTA LUV IT' PROJECT UPDATE The Committee was in receipt of the Downtown East 'Ya Gotta Luv It' Project, Strategic Action Plan, dated March 7, 2005 outlining the project vision, goals / objectives, guiding principles and action plan for implementation. Mr. Tim Fox, Downtown Dynamics, advised that the Strategic Plan provides a common vision for stakeholders to create positive change for the Downtown East Community. He outlined the objectives and the guiding principles and noted that the Plan was developed based on input from 8 focus groups. In addition to the focus groups, a community survey was completed. He stated that the Plan contains 26 action items concerning: project management and maintenance; physical improvements; market initiatives; regulatory issues; and social issues; and the Downtown East Advisory Board will take the lead in implementing many of the recommendations. In response to questions, Mr. T. Fox advised that out of the Plan's 26 action items, only 6 may require the City's involvement. He added that this Plan has commonalities with the Cedar Hill study and the City's Strategic Plan for the Downtown; however, this Plan was developed separately to ensure its content is indicative to the needs of the Downtown East Community. PRESENTATION - DOWNTOWN EAST STRATEGIC PLAN COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 7~ 2005 - 24 - CITY OF KITCHENER - 'YA GOTTA LUV IT' PROJECT UPDATE (CONT'D) Ms. Sally Gunz, Downtown East Association, also responded to questions, advising that there is police participation on the Downtown East Advisory Committee; however, it is unreasonable to expect that police alone can solve all of the neighbourhood's problems. In response to a question by Ms. Gunz, Mr. F. Pizzuto advised that the group is to provide a further presentation regarding the outcome of an evaluation under the Ontario Trillium Foundation grant program, prior to the Committee considering additional funding for Year 2 of the project. Councillor G. Lorentz requested that the group be notified of any other requirements necessary to meet conditions of grant approval. CSD-05-036 - OTTAWA STREET SOUTH SIDEWALK SNOW CLEARING (KINSMEN CENTRE) The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-05-036, dated March 2, 2005 prepared in response to Council's direction to determine the cost and feasibility of providing increased sidewalk snow clearing services to a specific area of the City. The report recommends that the service not be provided at this time in favour of advancing a review of current sidewalk snow clearing policies, to be conducted as part of the 2005 Joint Accessibility Plan Mr. Neil Bindernagle, an area resident, raised concerns regarding the City's sidewalk snow clearing policies as it relates to persons with developmental disabilities travelling snow covered sidewalks along Ottawa Street, from the bus stop at King Street East to the rear entrance of the K-W Habilitation Services agency (108 Sydney Street South); their place of employment. Mr. Bindernagle requested that the City provide sidewalk snow clearing services in this location for reasons of safety and to ensure unimpeded accessibility. Mr. K. Currier advised that generally, the sidewalks in the King and Ottawa Street area are in compliance with the City's by-laws, with the exception of one property which staff are dealing with. Mr. Currier pointed out that there are many locations throughout the City with sidewalk snow clearing accessibility issues and staff are recommending that a comprehensive review of the City's sidewalk snow clearing policies be undertaken rather than proceeding on a piecemeal basis. In response to questions, Mr. K. Currier advised that review of the sidewalk snow clearing policies is identified in the Joint Accessibility Plan as a priority in 2007. Mayor C. Zehr requested that staff consider what constitutes an accessibility issue in their review and suggested that this location could be used as a test run. Ms. M. Sanderson advised that given the frequency with which this issue is raised, staff will move the review ahead of the 2007 timeframe. Councillor B. Vrbanovic brought forward the staff recommendation for consideration and requested that it be revised to include direction to staff to provide sidewalk snow clearing along Ottawa Street in the area proposed for reasons of safety and to ensure accessibility for those persons with developmental disabilities. On motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic - it was resolved: "That the Community Services Department review current sidewalk snow clearing policies as part of the 2005 Joint Accessibility Plan for the City of Kitchener (Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Bill 125) prior to 2007 to improve sidewalk accessibility for persons with disabilities; and further, That sidewalk snow clearing be provided along a portion of sidewalk on Ottawa Street South between King Street East and the rear entrance to K-W Habilitation Services (108 Sydney Street South) to ensure safe pedestrian access for adults with developmental disabilities who work at, and / or visit, this facility." 6. KITCHENER'S 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 7~ 2005 - 25 - CITY OF KITCHENER Mayor C. Zehr asked that staff begin planning celebrations for Kitchener's 100th anniversary of incorporation as a City, to occur in the year 2012. He requested that Ms. C. Ladd assemble a team to undertake this task and proposed that the team include Ms. R. Pitfield, Mr. D. Chapman, Mr. L. Bensason and members of the community at large. ADJOURNMENT On motion, this meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m. Colin Goodeve Committee Administrator