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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe City - 2001-08-07CITY OF KITCHENER SAFE CITY COMMITTEE (Co-Chair – Councillor B. Vrbanovic) (Co-Chair – S. Bassanese) A G E N D A DATE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2001 : TIME: 4:00 P.M. ND LOCATION HUMAN RESOURCES LEARNING ROOM, 2 FLOOR, KITCHENER CITY HALL : ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION - ACTION 1. Approval of August 7, 2001 Minutes(2 min) 2.Youth Empowerment for Safety and Support Project (YESS) – 4:00 p.m.(30 min) Representatives will attend to present a funding proposal to launch this project and will request the Committee’s support. 3.Response to Council re report ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place: An Assess-(45 min) ment of the Needs of Female Street-Level Sex Trade Workers Who Have Severe Addictions In Kitchener - and - “The Track” Interim Report to the Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance and the City of Kitchener by Dr. Hugh C. Russell At the July 3, 2001, the Committee heard a presentation by the Sex Trade Worker Committee and requested additional time to consider this information and formulate a response to City Council. At that time, it was suggested that the Committee might wish to consider information contained in Dr. Russell’s report when formulating a response to City Council. A copy of Dr. Russell’s report is attached. MEMBERS Councillor B. VrbanovicFred BishopAmanda KutlerDavid Ryan Councillor C. WeylieSteve BurekAnne McConnellDennis Schnarr Sandro BassaneseRobert BurnsCandace PerryMichelle Smith Trudy BeaulneTim Dickson Safe City Co-ordinator:Committee Administrator:Staff Representatives: Julie DeanLinda KoraboT. Brock Stanley Margaret Sanderson Shelley Adams PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 4, 2001 SAFE CITY COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION – ACTION CONT’D 4.College Street Safety Audit(10 min) Lighting follow-up concerning College Street safety audit. INFORMATION ITEMS S 1.Safe City Co-ordinator Report(5 min) The September report will be circulated at the meeting. 2.National Mentoring Conference(10 min) Councillor B. Vrbanovic will give a verbal report respecting the conference. 3.Annual 911 Charity Golf Tournament Update(15 min) A Police Services report providing an update is attached. 4.Unfinished Business List NEW BUSINESS L. Korabo Committee Administrator SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 7, 2001CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe City Committee met this date commencing at 4:05 p.m., Chaired by Councillor B. Vrbanovic with the following members present: Councillor C. Weylie, Supt. A. McConnell and Messrs. B. Burns, F. Bishop, D. Ryan, T. Dickson and D. Schnarr. Ms. A. Kutler was in attendance for part of the meeting. Others present: Ms. J. Dean, Ms. M. Sanderson, Ms. S. Adams, Ms. L. Zitzelberger, Ms. L. Korabo and Mr. B. Wolfe. 1.APPROVAL OF MINUTES On motion by Mr. T. Dickson – It was resolved: “That the minutes of July 3, 2001, as mailed to the members, be approved.” 2.YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR SAFETY AND SUPPORT PROJECT (YESS) Project representatives have requested a one-month deferral of this presentation. 3.WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE SERVICES PRESENTATION – YOUTH GANGS Cst. Darlene St. John, Sgt. Pat Smola, Sgt. Ted Nugent and Sgt. Mark Neill, Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS), were in attendance to provide a presentation concerning youth gangs in Waterloo Region, and specifically in the City of Kitchener. Cst. D. St. John gave a PowerPoint presentation which included: the history of gang activity in the community; indicators of gang involvement; a program being developed by WRPS to present a message that gang activity is not acceptable; photographs of graffiti; gang signatures and symbols; and, the transition stages from youth gangs to street gangs to organized crime gangs. Cst. St. John advised of a WRPS program being launched in the community entitled ‘No Gang Clothing, No Gang Colours’, with the Safe City Committee being the first group to be formally approached and requested to support the initiative. Signs displaying the program’s message will be distributed to local business owners who will be requested to prominently display it at the entrance to their establishment. Display of the signage will provide business owners with the authority to request compliance with the policy and provide the ability to request that the individual(s) leave the premises. Contravention of the policy could result in a charge being laid by WRPS under The Trespass to Property Act. The Kitchener Downtown Business Association and both School Boards as well as other area municipalities will be approached by Police and asked to participate in the program by displaying the ‘No Gang Clothing, No Gang Colours’ signs in businesses and school / municipal facilities. In addition, it is hoped that a unit on gangs/bullying can be included in the Grade 5 curriculum in the near future. Members of the Committee responded to the presentation with questions related to: priority of police response to calls from business owners concerning the presence of gang members; the intent of the program; possible retribution by gangs against businesses/owners; and, the use of Police Auxiliary members to help administer the program. Representatives of the WRPS advised that a call from a business owner advising that a gang member had refused to leave the premises after being requested to would be classified as a Priority 2 call for police response; however, if a second call was received at a later time indicating that the individual was still in the premise, the call would become a Priority 1 and an officer would respond immediately to diffuse the situation. The intent of the ‘No Gang Clothing, No Gang Colours’ program was to raise awareness of gang activity in the community and also make members aware that their activities are not acceptable. Police acknowledged the risk of retribution to business owners but it was noted that business owners were not required to confront gang members if a reverse reaction was feared. The existence of a Police Auxiliary Force was confirmed by Sgt. P. Smola; however, it was noted that these individuals assist officers in their duties and are not involved in the daily operational functions of the Force. SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 7, 2001- 28 -CITY OF KITCHENER 3.WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE SERVICES PRESENTATION – YOUTH GANGS – (CONT’D) Ms. J. Dean requested that graffiti catalogued by Police and used as part of this presentation be reported to the Graffiti Busters Hotline in order that its removal could be scheduled. She noted the importance of the City and Police working together to document graffiti and schedule its removal as quickly as possible. Ms. S. Adams advised the Committee of the City’s behaviour management policy which has been used successfully at community centres to prevent unacceptable behaviour by youth and, suggested that a meeting between community centre staff and representatives of the Police be scheduled for the Fall to discuss youth related problems and problem-solving actions which could be taken by Police. Ms. S. Adams and Ms. A. Kutler left the meeting. 4.PRESENTATION – LODGING HOUSES Mr. D. Ryan noted problems related to lodging houses which have been identified in the Mt. Hope-Breithaupt Park neighbourhood as well as in other areas of the municipality and stated that in many instances, relate to the lack of effort by absentee landlords to keep the premise in good condition. He advised that part of the problem was the quality of lodging houses currently located in the City and noted that it was hoped today’s presentation would provide the Safe City Committee with sufficient information to allow a recommendation requesting the City of Kitchener start a review of the process of regulating and enforcing lodging houses, groups homes and other multiple dwellings so that unsatisfactory situations can be rectified more quickly. He introduced Mr. Doug Hoch of the Mt. Hope-Breithaupt Neighbourhood Mobilization Alliance who circulated a two-page summary contained in a proposal prepared by the Alliance and presented to the Business & Planning Services Department in March, 2001. The proposal requested a review of the City’s policy regarding the licensing of lodging houses, group homes and other multiple dwellings. Mr. Hoch read from his summary and stated that the City should strengthen its approach to licensing lodging houses by simplifying the definition of same. The current list of definitions is complex and difficult to deal with from an enforcement standpoint; and, in his view, misses the intent of the licensing regulations for safe and responsible landlordship. He noted that there is a need for lodging houses as part of the general housing stock of the community as they do provide housing for a particular sector of the population but also commented on the potential for dangerous living conditions as many of them are unknown and unregulated. Mr. Hoch recommended three phases to be followed by the City of Kitchener in its review of the licensing and enforcement of lodging houses: 1.Identification phase – identify all lodging houses in the municipality including new residences that are not licensed. 2.Education phase – once all lodging house landlords are identified, bring together for seminar to provide education on what is expected of them as landlords and also provide resources for their use in maintaining a first-class rental establishment. 3.Compliance/Enforcement phase – including collection of fees; inspections; and, penalties, if required. A discussion followed which clarified several aspects of the summary report that had been circulated. Ms. J. Dean invited a representative of the Alliance to attend meetings of the Safe City Committee’s working group that is preparing a Tenant Safety Package to be distributed to landlords noting that input from the Alliance would be much appreciated and the resulting package could prove to be of mutual benefit to both parties. Several members of the Committee indicated that the issue of lodging house regulations was deserving of the immediate attention of the City. Councillor C. Weylie provided Mr. Hoch with a draft staff report being presented at the August 13, 2001 Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting concerning student housing and invited him to attend the meeting and provide comment on the report. SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 7, 2001- 29 -CITY OF KITCHENER 4.PRESENTATION – LODGING HOUSES – (CONT’D) Sgt. P. Smola commented on the frustration felt by Police when dealing with lodging houses as there are identified ‘gaps’ in the system that make enforcement difficult and noted that an extensive amount of work by affected residents is often required to assist authorities to repair these ‘gaps’, providing a smooth process to deal with complaints and concerns. Sgt. Smola commended the residents of Mt. Hope-Breithaupt Park, and particularly Mr. Hoch, for efforts in preparing the proposal presented today. Supt. A. McConnell advised that Police have noticed an increased number of responses to complaints about unfit dwellings in the community and suggested that if the City of Kitchener were to look at the legal issues involved and change the current loose definition of lodging houses, enforcement may be more effective and complaints decreased. In response to Supt. McConnell’s comments, Councillor B. Vrbanovic noted that the City’s recent departmental reorganization had merged the various enforcement units under one department and that this should greatly assist the cross-training and functionality of all enforcement activities and provide for a more streamlined, efficient service for the public, ultimately resulting in a healthier, safer community. On motion by Mr. D. Schnarr – It was resolved: “That the Safe City Committee support the proposal of the Mt. Hope-Breithaupt Mobilization Alliance requesting a review of the City of Kitchener’s policies concerning the licensing of lodging houses, group homes and other multiple dwellings; and further, That Kitchener City Council be requested to accelerate this review and direct staff to commence action to address the issues and processes relating to enforcement of lodging houses.” Messrs. D. Hoch and B. Wolfe left the meeting. 5.WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE SERVICES PRESENTATION – YOUTH GANGS (CONT’D) Councillor B. Vrbanovic suggested that in response to the earlier presentation by Waterloo Regional Police on youth gangs, the Committee may wish to consider passing a motion of support for the ‘No Gang Clothing, No Gang Colours’ program being launched in the community. Mr. T. Dickson moved that the Committee encourage the City of Kitchener to establish a policy concerning gang colours at all its facilities. Concern was raised about the possibility of youth workers encountering gang members at facilities and requesting them to remove the item of clothing or leave the premise. Many youth workers are young women working alone at a facility in the later hours of the evening. Supt. A. McConnell clarified that gang clothing identifies the wearer as a gang member and includes patches and specific colours. She suggested adding no gang clothing to the motion and this was accepted as a friendly amendment by Mr. Dickson. On motion by Mr. T. Dickson – It was resolved: “That the Safe City Committee encourages Kitchener City Council to support the ‘No Gang Clothing, No Gang Colours’ initiative of the Waterloo Regional Police Service and to establish and implement a ‘No Gang Clothing, No Gang Colours’ policy at all City facilities.” Mr. D. Schnarr left the meeting. 6.CITY-WIDE YOUTH ISSUES SUB-COMMITTEE – OUTSTANDING PROJECTS As requested at the July 2001 meeting, a list of the outstanding projects of the City-Wide Youth Issues Sub-Committee was compiled by the Safe City Co-ordinator and circulated with the agenda. Councillor B. Vrbanovic advised that the Sub-Committee had met in July to discuss the list. SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 7, 2001- 30 -CITY OF KITCHENER 6.CITY-WIDE YOUTH ISSUES SUB-COMMITTEE – OUTSTANDING PROJECTS – (CONT’D) He noted that the report on the restructuring of advisory committees would be presented to Council for consideration on August 13, 2001. 7.SAFE CITY CO-ORDINATOR REPORT – AUGUST 2001 Ms. J. Dean distributed the August 2001 Safe City Co-ordinator’s report to members for their information. The Committee then reviewed the report, which included updates on the following topics: · Research and Education 1. Tenant Safety Package 2. TIPS PLUS (Teaching Interesting Parent Skills through Play, Laughter, Understanding and Safety) · Funding 1. Graffiti Busters Program 2. Mural Mentoring Program 3. YESS (Youth Empowerment, Safety and Support) · City-Wide Youth Issues Committee 1. Little Black Book 2. Youth Issues Grants and Awards Program · Lighting Working Group – 1. Lighten Up Campaign 2. Hall’s Lane · Outreach and Liaison 1. Safer Communities Action Team (SCAT) 2. Greenfield Park 8.NATIONAL MENTORING CONFERENCE Councillor B. Vrbanovic requested a one-month deferral to present his report on the National Mentoring Conference. 9.2001 NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PREVENTING CRIME Additional informational material on the 2001 National Conference on Preventing Crime was circulated to the members. Anyone interested in attending was asked to contact Ms. J. Dean directly. Councillor C. Weylie left the meeting. 10.NEW BUSINESS At the July 3, 2001 meeting of the Committee, additional information on the Annual 911 Youth Charity Golf Tournament was requested indicating the success of the 2001 Tournament and also providing detailed information on the level of Police involvement as the main organizer of the Tournament. In response to this request, a copy of an information memorandum from Staff Sgt. D. Anderson to Supt. A. McConnell was circulated. It was suggested that discussion of this report be scheduled for the September, 2001 Safe City Committee meeting to allow members to read it in its entirety. Ms. J. Dean advised that due to a slow response rate from members, she would be re- scheduling the Annual Safe City Committee Garden party from August to September. Mr. F. Bishop suggested that members be circulated with several possible dates and indicate their availability to Ms. Dean. 11.ADJOURNMENT SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 7, 2001- 31 -CITY OF KITCHENER On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator