HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm Svcs - 2005-03-21 SSPECIAL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 21~ 2005
CITY OF KITCHENER
The Community Services Committee met this date commencing at 3:05 p.m.
Present:
Chair - Councillor G. Lorentz
Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors J. Smola, B. Vrbanovic, M. Galloway and J. Gazzola.
Staff:
C. Ladd, Chief Administrative Officer
F. Pizzuto, General Manager of Community Services
P. Houston, General Manager of Financial Services & City Treasurer
G. Stewart, General Manager of Development & Technical Services
R. Browning, Interim General Manager, Strategic Services
J. Willmer, Director of Planning
K. Currier, Director of Operations
K. Baulk, Director of Enterprises
S. Adams, Director of Strategic Community & Corporate Planning
R. Pitfield, Director of Communications / Marketing
H. Gross, Director of Project Administration & Economic Investment
M. Hildebrand, Director of Aquatics & Athletics
C. Sadeler, Acting Director of Community Programs & Services
G. Hummel, Manager, Park Planning, Development & Operations
K. Woodcock, Special Projects Officer
E. Harris, Coordinator, Arts & Culture
J. Given, Principal Planner
P. Wetherup, Parks Planner
J. Billett, Supervisor, Council/Committee Services
C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator
CSD-05-037
LEISURE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN - REVIEW OF RECOMMENDATIONS I TO 8
The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-05-037, dated
March 10, 2005 regarding an implementation plan for recommendations contained in the Leisure
Facilities Master Plan (LFMP), January 2005. The report provides a review of
Recommendations 1 to 8 of the LFMP from a departmental perspective to facilitate Committee
discussion of the vision, mission, principles, goals and services policy.
Ms. K. Woodcock advised that on February 25, 2005, the Senior Management Team reviewed
Recommendations 1 to 8 of the LFMP, taking into consideration whether each recommendation
is achievable and reflective of Corporate values and principles already in place. Ms. Woodcock
reviewed each of the eight recommendations and together with Mr. G. Hummel and staff,
responded to questions, advising of the following:
the "Vision" statement in Recommendation 1 does not represent a change to existing
practice but rather re-enforces current practice and the need to ensure diversified
programming / access to leisure facilities for all residents of the community;
the LFMP is designed to examine issues in 5 year increments over a 15 year period;
however, the life of the plan is likely to exceed the 15 year timeframe as long term
strategies for leisure facilities are considered in context with long term strategies for
planning and growth development;
a conscious effort is to be made to examine and include the needs of cultural and diverse
ethnic backgrounds, as set out in Recommendation 4 (Plan Goals);
the prioritization process, set out in Recommendation 5 (Leisure Services Policy), will
guide the City in making decisions relative to participation and investment in leisure
facilities; and secondly, in development of business cases;
data collection and evaluation tools, as set out in Recommendation 6, are important to
the success of the LFMP; however, requires further analysis as to the impact this will
have financially and organizationally; staff recommend Recommendation 6 be re-visited
at a later date after an analysis has been completed.
SPECIAL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 21 ~ 2005 - 27 -
CITY OF KITCHENER
1. CSD-05-037
LEISURE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN - REVIEW OF RECOMMENDATIONS I TO 8
(CONT'D)
At the request of Councillor B. Vrbanovic, it was agreed to modify Recommendation 1 (Vision)
to reflect a strong commitment to diversity, so that it now reads: "a mixed array of accessible
leisure participation opportunities that support our diverse community and encourage
community capacity building, resident health and well-being and strengthen the City's
neighbourhoods".
Councillor J. Gazzola requested that staff provide additional information as to the evolution of
today's cultural and ethnic make-up of the City in comparison to 50 years ago.
In response to further questions, staff advised that the purpose of reviewing
Recommendations 1 to 8 was to understand the general principles of the plan and provide
direction for moving forward with the next steps. Staff had no concerns with respect to the
philosophical foundation of the plan and pointed out that every recommendation of a specific
nature would be scrutinized and decided on a case by case basis, as business cases are
presented to the Committee for consideration. A further report regarding Recommendations 9
to 34, which are more specific in nature, will come forward for consideration in August 2005.
The following motion was carried on a recorded vote with Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors J.
Smola, G. Lorentz, J. Gazzola, M. Galloway, and B. Vrbanovic all voting in favour. Councillor C.
Weylie was absent this date and accordingly, did not vote.
On motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic -
it was resolved:
"That Recommendations 1 to 8, inclusive, of the Leisure Facilities Master Plan (January
2005), be adopted, as follows:
a) Recommendation I (Vision)
A mixed array of accessible leisure participation opportunities that support our
diverse community and encourage community capacity building, resident health
and well-being and strengthen the City's neighbourhoods.
b) Recommendation 2 (Mission)
The Kitchener Leisure Facilities Master Plan directs the City's achievement of a
balanced array of accessible and participation-based leisure opportunities. It
brings together all the community's leisure capabilities and resources that
contribute to the enrichment of the quality of life for Kitchener residents through
both partnerships and direct delivery strategies that:
inspire a true value for the benefits of leisure participation opportunities and
encourage broad-based, active resident participation that supports improved
resident health, well-being and personal development;
· generate a strengthened sense of community identity, spirit and service with
residents; and,
· support improved neighbourhood unity and capacity, as well as positive
community and economic development.
c) Recommendation 3 (Principles and Values)
The Leisure Facilities Master Plan will focus on the following:
The provision of a balanced mix of leisure opportunities, involving recreation,
arts, culture and minor sports, and linked access to social, health, education
and related services.
SPECIAL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 21~ 2005
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CITY OF KITCHENER
1. CSD-05-037
LEISURE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN - REVIEW OF RECOMMENDATIONS I TO 8
(CONT'D)
c) Recommendation 3 (Principles and Values) - (Cont'd)
Fair and equitable leisure opportunities that encourage participation by all
dimensions of the community in terms of ability, culture, economic,
geographic and related interests and backgrounds.
Developing and implementing operations, programs and resources that
operate with integrity, are continually evaluated relative to outcomes and
respond to evolving resident needs.
4. The maximum utilization of existing resources, through their on-going
rehabilitation and renewal.
The provision of geographically dispersed facilities to meet changing market
demands and population growth patterns, while ensuring key linkages with
neighbourhood, district and city-wide servicing requirements.
The continuation of specialized services for seniors, youth, the disabled, new
immigrants, early years and other targeted populations whose citizenship
and quality of life could be enhanced through better access to and increased
participation in leisure services.
Sustaining an important emphasis on neighbourhood-based leisure services
provisioning through the development of local resource centres; supports to
community groups and neighbourhood associations; enhanced access to
local schools and related community-based facilities; and other connected
endeavours.
The Community Services Department continuing its leadership role in the
planning, development, facilitation and supports for leisure services
availability, using an array of innovative delivery strategies involving
partnerships, joint ventures, direct delivery and community-based service
provider approaches.
Ensuring that the city's parks, open space, the Grand River and stream
corridors and natural areas continue being valued by the community,
conserve key environmental resources, are accessible to the public for both
programmed and non-programmed activities and contribute significantly to
the urban form of the community.
10.
Developing leisure facilities that are flexible and can be linked to broader
community strategies and initiatives related to health, economic
development, transportation, education and growth management.
11.
Facilities and services that are sustainable over the longer term through
innovative designs and effective operations, and that are adaptable and
flexible, environmentally sound, affordable to construct and operate,
facilitate an ease of maintenance and actively support inclusion.
d) Recommendation 4 (Plan Goals)
To establish a resource centres development model that supports both the
delivery of neighbourhood-based leisure programs and the City's Corporate
Plan objectives.
2. To realign arenas/ice surfaces to reflect contemporary operational, Iocational
and market trends and requirements.
SPECIAL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 21~ 2005
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CITY OF KITCHENER
1. CSD-05-037
LEISURE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN - REVIEW OF RECOMMENDATIONS I TO 8
(CONT'D)
d) Recommendation 4 (Plan Goals) - (Cont'd)
To provide a foundation and priority for future leisure activities and park and
open space utilization within the Grand River Corridor and for the
Community Trails system.
To develop a longer-term strategy for the development of indoor
pools/aquatic operations that reflect demand levels and future residential
distribution patterns.
To develop a balanced strategy for the renewal and upgrading of existing
leisure facilities, including park sites, as well as the introduction of new
leisure resources to reflect population growth, emerging residential
development patterns and market trends.
6. To support economic development and tourism opportunities and alternate
strategies related to some of the City's key leisure facilities.
To give consideration to variable leisure services delivery models, building
on the current model's successes and introducing new approaches that may
be more reflective of the regional-based participation patterns, capital and
operating cost implications and market trends and activity profiles.
To develop selected policy, role and positioning strategies for the
Community Services Department in terms of the broader leisure services
network and delivery model within the community.
To assess and develop strategic directions in key policy areas, such as the
Community Grants Program / Affiliation Agreement, gender and disabled
participation perspectives, targeted populations and other dimensions.
e) Recommendation 5 (Leisure Services Policy)
On the understanding that 'leisure services' refers to those delivered through the
leisure facilities network within the City:
The City of Kitchener is a leader in the planning, development, delivery and
evaluation of leisure services needs and opportunities within the
municipality.
The City firmly believes in the value of and need for community
organizations to successfully operate leisure services as a primary means to
expand the accessibility, availability, affordability and mix of leisure services
that are available to its citizens.
The prioritization process for City of Kitchener's participation and
investments in the leisure services facilities will focus on servicing City of
Kitchener residents as the primary users within the following priority
framework:
First - leisure services that facilitate and encourage broad-based
participation amongst city residents at a recreational level of activity,
including in-city, regional and provincial competitive oriented activities
for children and youth.
ii)
Second - leisure services and accessibility supports that link to the
specialized needs of targeted populations, such as those with
disabilities, seniors, young children, teens, and new immigrants.
SPECIAL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 21~ 2005
1. CSD-05-037
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CITY OF KITCHENER
LEISURE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN - REVIEW OF RECOMMENDATIONS I TO 8
(CONT'D)
e) Recommendation 5 (Leisure Services Policy) - (Cont'd)
iii)
Third - leisure services that are primarily intended to support key
strategic initiatives of the City of Kitchener, such as downtown
redevelopment, conversion of brownfield sites, conservation of major
open space resources and specialized services that ensure a broad mix
/ array of leisure opportunities for Kitchener residents.
iv)
Fourth - leisure facilities development that are targeted primarily at
national and international level athletes, participants, etc., and which
will only be considered within a sport tourism framework where need /
use levels and impact potential demonstrates an evident benefit to the
community, and where other partners (municipalities, senior
government levels, sustainable non-profit organizations and the private
sector) are active, substantial and committed contributors.
The City will fulfill its role in the planning, development, delivery and
evaluation of leisure services based on the following hierarchy of responses
and roles:
First - will actively work to facilitate and support community groups and
individuals in the development and delivery of leisure services by
providing technical supports, access to grants, and other supports
involving data information, volunteer training and recognition, access to
facilities and related strategies.
ii)
Second - will enter into partnerships, joint ventures and related
collaborative initiatives, at variable levels of involvement, that result in a
shared responsibility for a leisure facility or service's delivery where:
· the interest of the residents of Kitchener are fully realized;
· need is apparent; and,
· sustainability within acceptable risk parameters exists.
iii)
Third - to undertake the direct delivery of leisure services and facilities
where other delivery strategies are not viable or available, utilizing
direct capital investment and annual budget support, as well as City
staff operating alone or in partnership with volunteers.
Any City involvement in leisure services delivery should be based on the
following conditions:
i) identification of demonstrated need at reasonable participation levels;
ii) evidence of long term sustainability;
iii) assured public accessibility, participation and affordability;
iv) involvement by the City reflective of the scale of the benefits to be
achieved to both the participants and the community at large; and,
v) the use of business case analysis and preparation as a basis to support
City investments in a leisure facility or services initiative.
SPECIAL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 21~ 2005
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CITY OF KITCHENER
1. CSD-05-037
LEISURE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN - REVIEW OF RECOMMENDATIONS I TO 8
(CONT'D)
e) Recommendation 5 (Leisure Services Policy) - (Cont'd)
The City will establish a data collection and outcomes/performance
monitoring capacity that will effectively assess the value of the city's role in
the various delivery strategies, the degree of participation that is being
realized and the benefits being realized by the City's investments.
f) Recommendation 6 (Data Collection, Analysis, Evaluation and Mappinq)
That the following be re-visited at a later time after a more extensive analysis of
Recommendation 6 has been performed:
A comprehensive review and further development of the department's data
collection, analytical and evaluation activities to ensure increasingly relevant,
accurate and timely data to support decision-making with emphasis on:
The City's leisure services to ensure that revenues are being optimized,
expenses are being minimized and participation opportunities are
maximized.
ii)
Changes that are occurring in the regional market context that could
influence participation patterns and which might impact financial results,
related to reduced revenues, increased expectations or other changing
market conditions.
iii)
Supporting organizations that the city is significantly connected with in
terms of grants or related to the potential impacts if the organization
were to cease operations or run into a major financial issue.
Use of Leisure Services Delivery Policy as the primary basis for any current
or future leisure services evaluations related to philosophical fit, criteria,
goals, etc; and,
3. Development of mapping resources to support the Master Plan's
implementation.
g) Recommendation 7 (Supports to Community Orqanizations)
That the City's current model of organizational support to leisure services
delivery groups be sustained and enhanced where reasonably possible, as one
basis for achieving the facilitation role identified within the Leisure Services
Delivery Policy.
h) Recommendation 8 (Partnerships and Joint Ventures)
To continue partnership, joint venture and related initiatives where:
· need is identified;
· public access and affordability are assured;
· the partnership is financially reasonable and sustainable; and,
· the scope of investment is reflective of the benefits to be realized by
residents of the City."
SPECIAL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 21 ~ 2005 - 32 -
CITY OF KITCHENER
2. CSD-05-040
PARKLAND POLICY DISCUSSION
ADDENDUM TO CSD-05-037
The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-05-040, dated
March 15, 2005 concerning establishment of parkland policy as it relates to declaration and
disposal of surplus lands.
Mr. J. Willmer advised that in early 2004, the Asset Management Steering Committee
considered the merits of declaring a portion of Kiwanis Park as surplus to the City's needs. The
matter was deferred pending completion of the Kiwanis Park Master Plan which was also
deferred pending completion of the Leisure Facilities Master Plan (LFMP). Mr. Willmer stated
that the LFMP states that "it is generally good practice to not sell park and open space lands
unless there is an overwhelming compelling need". He advised that staff agree; however, that is
not to say that no City-owned land that is zoned for park purposes should ever be sold. He
added that there may be rare cases when land zoned for park purposes is not used as parkland,
or there is no foreseeable need for its use as a park or other municipal purpose. In these cases,
staff should be enabled to prepare a business case for Council's consideration. He noted that of
the 300 parcels of City-owned land zoned for park purposes, less than a dozen appear to merit
being considered surplus. Mr. Willmer then reviewed the following examples of City-owned land,
zoned for park purposes, which may be considered as surplus to the City's needs:
· Kiwanis ParkTable Lands;
· West Avenue at Iron Home Trail;
· portion of Lakeside Park surrounding Thomasfield Lot, fronting Stirling Avenue South;
· north end of Union Lane;
· Victoria Street, east of Fischer Hallman (adjacent to a hydro corridor);
· McLennan Park Gate (both sides);
· former Pinnacle Drive road allowance;
· Carwood Avenue site (surplus to needs of Rockway Golf Course);
· various lands with private structures encroaching.
In response to questions, Mr. J. Willmer advised that the criteria to determine overwhelming
need or exceptional circumstances will be judged on a case by case basis. However, in general
terms it refers to lands that have no potential for use as parkland and possess no viable reason
for the City to retain it.
Councillor B. Vrbanovic questioned the process staff would undertake to consult with the public
and the role that the surrounding community would play in the decision making process.
Mr. J. Willmer advised that a public meeting would be held with notice given in similar manner to
that given for a zone change application.
On motion by Councillor J. Gazzola, the staff recommendation was brought forward for
consideration and Councillor Gazzola requested that the motion be separated into 2 parts; the
first to consist of the phrase: "That City-owned parkland be retained and not disposed of." The
second part to consist of: "That staff be directed to consider parkland as surplus only in
exceptional circumstances, when considered appropriate by the Asset Management Steering
Committee, in which case staff may prepare a business case for Council's consideration on a
case by case basis." Further, he requested that each part be voted on separately.
Councillor J. Gazzola advised that he totally opposes the sale of any parkland, as once sold it
cannot be replaced. He added that he considered the second part of the motion unnecessary
as, in his opinion, staff do not need direction of Council to bring new ideas forward for
consideration.
Mayor C. Zehr stated that while he agreed with the principle not to sell parkland in general, he
was concerned that the wording of the first part of the motion, as separated, would leave no
room for future reports to come forward regarding alternatives for parkland that has no useable
use either as parkland or other municipal purpose; and, in effect, would render the second part
of the motion redundant. He suggested that if alternatives are to be contemplated it would be
more appropriate to leave the recommendation as written. Mayor Zehr added that he would not
contemplate selling the Kiwanis Park tablelands for residential development without a clear
SPECIAL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 21 ~ 2005 - 33 -
CITY OF KITCHENER
2. CSD-05-040
PARKLAND POLICY DISCUSSION
ADDENDUM TO CSD-05-037 (CONT'D)
understanding of the impact and commitments made to the adjoining subdivision development
regarding the extension of Falconridge Drive.
Councillor J. Gazzola amended his motion to add the words "as a general principle" to the first
part of the motion to address the concerns raised by Mayor Zehr.
At the request of Councillor B. Vrbanovic, it was agreed to amend the second part of the motion
to add the phrase "and undertake public consultation" ahead of the phrase "on a case by case
basis".
Councillor J. Gazzola advised that he would not support the second part of the motion as he
maintained it was unnecessary to formalize direction to staff. Councillor G. Lorentz spoke in
favour of both parts of the motion, as amended, as it allows staff to further investigate
alternatives for parkland in extenuating circumstances and provides for a public consultation
process.
The two parts of Councillor J. Gazzola's motion, as amended this date, were then voted on
separately and both Carried.
On motion by Councillor J. Gazzola -
it was resolved:
"That as a general principle, City-owned parkland be retained and not disposed of; and
further,
That staff be directed to consider parkland as surplus only in exceptional
circumstances, when considered appropriate by the Asset Management Steering
Committee, in which case staff may prepare a business case for Council's
consideration and undertake public consultation on a case-by-case basis."
3. ADJOURNMENT
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
Colin Goodeve
Committee Administrator