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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe City - 2001-09-04SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 4, 2001CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe City Committee met this date commencing at 4:05 p.m., Chaired by S. Bassanese with the following members present: Councillor C. Weylie, Supt. A. McConnell, Ms. A. Kutler and Messrs. B. Burns, D. Ryan, T. Dickson and S. Burek. Others present: Ms. J. Dean, Ms. M. Sanderson, Ms. S. Adams, Ms. L. Korabo and Mr. F. Pizzuto. 1.APPROVAL OF MINUTES On motion by Mr. B. Burns – It was resolved: “That the minutes of August 7, 2001, as mailed to the members, be approved.” 2.YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR SAFETY AND SUPPORT PROJECT (YESS) Representatives of the Youth Empowerment for Safety and Support Project (YESS) have requested a one-month deferral of their presentation. 3.RESPONSE TO COUNCIL RE REPORT ‘BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS OF FEMALE STREET-LEVEL SEX TRADE WORKERS WHO HAVE A SEVERE ADDICTION IN KITCHENER - CONSIDERATION OF ‘THE TRACK’ INTERIM REPORT TO THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD ALLIANCE AND THE CITY OF KITCHENER BY DR. HUGH RUSSELL Mr. S. Bassanese advised members that City Council had requested a response concerning the Sex Trade Workers Committee (STWC) report entitled “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: An Assessment of the Needs of Female Street-Level Sex Trade Workers Who Have a Severe Addiction in Kitchener”. In addition, a copy of a report by Dr. Hugh Russell entitled “The Track” Interim Report to the Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance and the City of Kitchener was also circulated as information to be considered in conjunction with discussions on the STWC report. As a matter of clarification concerning the two reports under consideration, Supt. A. McConnell stated that the STWC report dealt with workers while Dr. Russell’s report dealt specifically with ‘johns’. She noted that while the reports appear to be related, they should be dealt with separately. Ms. J. Dean advised that Ms. T. Beaulne was unable to attend today’s meeting and participate in discussions and had provided a list of concerns which she felt needed further discussion and/or review prior to the Committee making comment to City Council. Ms. Dean read Ms. Beaulne’s list of concerns noting that major issues were how the STWC report related to City mandates with regard to issues such as homelessness, Downtown revitalization, transportation patterns, and the City’s ongoing relationship with the Region. In response to Ms. Beaulne’s comments, Ms. S. Adams stated that more work was required before comment could be made on the seven recommendations in the report and suggested that staff research the impact of these recommendations and report back to the Committee for further discussion on the most appropriate role for the City. Mr. B. Burns proposed a more comprehensive approach might be needed in dealing with the contents of the report as there is an impact on society outside of the immediate area of concern noted in the report. Ms. J. Dean commented that the seven recommendations contained in the STWC report did not relate to matters under the jurisdiction of the City of Kitchener. Ms. M. Sanderson stated the Safe City Committee should consider ways to assist the Sex Trader Workers Committee to implement the proposed recommendations. Mr. F. Pizzuto agreed with Ms. Adams that staff review the seven recommendations contained in the report and provide feedback at the next meeting in order that discussions could be held and comments prepared for City Council. Ms. Dean noted that it would also be in order to provide input on the report of Dr. Russell as suggested by Supt. McConnell. In response to SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 4, 2001- 33 -CITY OF KITCHENER 3.RESPONSE TO COUNCIL RE REPORT ‘BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS OF FEMALE STREET-LEVEL SEX TRADE WORKERS WHO HAVE A SEVERE ADDICTION IN KITCHENER - CONSIDERATION OF ‘THE TRACK’ INTERIM REPORT TO THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD ALLIANCE AND THE CITY OF KITCHENER BY DR. HUGH RUSSELL – (CONT’D) Ms. Dean’s comments, Supt. McConnell requested that members of the Committee read ‘The Track’ in order to discuss its contents/recommendations and provide feedback to Police Services at the October meeting of the Safe City Committee. It was generally agreed that Community Services staff be directed to review the Sex Trade Workers Committee report and the report of Dr. Hugh Russell entitled ‘The Track’, with a view to providing feedback at the October, 2001 Committee meeting on possible roles which the City could assume to assist in the implementation of the various recommendations contained in the reports. Ms. Adams will prepare a list of pertinent questions for members to consider in their review of the reports which will be circulated prior to the October, 2001 meeting. The questions will be general in nature to prompt discussion on whether recommendations are supported or not; whether the City of Kitchener should become involved in implementing recommendations; and, how the Safe City Committee could become directly involved. 4.COLLEGE STREET SAFETY AUDIT Ms. J. Dean advised that a safety audit for College Street had been carried out prior to extensive reconstruction work undertaken by the City and that some of the suggested improvements contained in the audit were completed during the reconstruction. A recommendation for lighting of a laneway was not completed at that time but is still being recommended to improve safety in the neighbourhood. Mayor C. Zehr entered the meeting. It is recommended that a double-headed light fixture be installed on an existing pole located in the laneway. Concern was expressed that appropriate shielding be installed to ensure that lighting did not spill over onto adjacent residential properties. Ms. Dean requested the Committee’s support to further investigate appropriate lighting and costs. On motion by Mr. S. Burek – It was resolved: “That the Safe City Co-ordinator be authorized to investigate costs for the installation of a double-headed light fixture on an existing pole located in a lane extending between College Street and Water Street, situate between Duke Street West and Weber Street West; and further, That a Purchase Order be placed for the preferred light fixture funded from the Safe City budget.” 5.ADVISORY COMMITTEE RESTRUCTURING Mayor C. Zehr attended to provide a verbal update on the Advisory Committee restructuring approved by City Council on August 27, 2001 to become effective January 1, 2002. Mayor Zehr noted that since his original presentation of the proposed restructuring at the Committee’s June meeting, input received from all Advisory Committees had been considered by the working group and, as a result, some significant changes had been incorporated into the final recommendations. Mayor Zehr advised that the new Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee has combined the mandates of the following Committees: Safe City Committee, Community Services Advisory Committee, Ethno-Cultural Advisory Committee and the City-Wide Youth Issues Sub-Committee. The mandate of the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee will be to advise Council and staff on a broad range of matters related to community services, community well-being and community development including but not limited to: SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 4, 2001- 34 -CITY OF KITCHENER 5.ADVISORY COMMITTEE RESTRUCTURING – (CONT’D) · personal safety and crime prevention · equity in accessing services · poverty and the Opportunities 2000 Response · parks and recreation matters affecting programs and facilities · community mobilization · City’s role in housing He further noted that the Advisory Committee appointment meeting is tentatively scheduled for December 10, 2001, with appointments being effective January 1, 2002 and expiring on November 30, 2002. The Mayor then read from the approved Schedule ‘C’ of the working group report which outlined the membership composition. It was noted by Mr. T. Dickson that at the August 14, 2001 special Finance and Administration Committee meeting, a request had been made by Councillor C. Weylie that the Mt. Hope Breithaupt Park neighbourhood be added to the list of Inner City neighbourhoods from which a representative resident will be drawn for appointment to the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee. With the Committee’s concurrence, Mayor Zehr requested that the Committee Administrator prepare a report for inclusion on the September 10, 2001 Finance and Administration Committee agenda outlining the request for the addition of the Mt. Hope-Breithaupt Park neighbourhood to the list of Inner City neighbourhoods as outlined in approved Schedule ‘C’ of the August 14, 2001 working group report. It was further noted that an amendment to Schedule ‘C’ had been approved by City Council to ensure that one of the community-at-large members on the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee be a ‘youth’. Ms. J. Dean questioned the lack of a designated representative with experience in the design / planning fields and commented that this might leave a gap in the knowledge base of the Committee. Mayor Zehr stated that the community-at-large members can be drawn from any field of expertise, not only those listed in the report. He further stated that the normal advertising process will take place, whereby any interested resident of the City of Kitchener could apply for the Committee. With regard to the use of sub-committees, Mayor Zehr advised that City Council had approved an amendment providing that these ad hoc committees be reviewed annually to determine the need to continue and also that such ad hoc committees could can be expanded temporarily, if required, to include people who are not advisory committee members, so as to take advantage of individual expertise. In closing, Mayor Zehr encouraged all members to apply for membership on the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee. 6.SAFE CITY CO-ORDINATOR REPORT – SEPTEMBER 2001 Ms. J. Dean distributed the September 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 · Funding 1. Graffiti Busters Program 2. Mural Mentoring Program · City-Wide Youth Issues Committee 1. Little Black Book · Lighting Working Group – 1. Lighten Up Campaign 2. Hall’s Lane SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 4, 2001- 35 -CITY OF KITCHENER 6.SAFE CITY CO-ORDINATOR REPORT – SEPTEMBER 2001 – (Cont’d) · Outreach and Liaison 1. Safer Communities Action Team (SCAT) 2. Greenfield Park 3. North Bay 7.ANNUAL 911 CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT UPDATE An internal Police Services memorandum detailing the level of involvement of Police Services staff in organizing the Annual 911 Charity Golf Tournament was circulated. It was noted that monies raised by this Tournament fund the City-Wide Youth Issues Sub-Committee Annual Youth Awards and Grants. For the information of members, it was noted that the Police Services are requesting that organization of this golf tournament be turned over to volunteers, in the near future, as the substantial time and commitment of Police resources may no longer be available. Supt. A. McConnell suggested that a sub-committee be established and meet with representatives of the Tournament Organizing Committee to discuss a possible transition. Mr. F. Pizzuto noted that it was not yet clear if the lead role in organization of this Tournament could be undertaken by the new Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee or a new youth resource group which is also being formed. He suggested that staff review this issue and report back to the Committee with suggestions as to which group would be most appropriate to assume a lead role in the organization of the Annual 911 Charity Golf Tournament. Ms. S. Adams commented that the City-Wide Youth Issues Sub-Committee had discussed this issue at their last meeting, along with other identified outstanding projects. She concurred with Mr. Pizzuto’s recommendation that a staff review be undertaken and a report be presented to the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee. Mr. B. Burns requested that a report be prepared for presentation to the appropriate Standing Committee outlining all of the outstanding projects/programs of the Safe City Committee and the City-Wide Youth Issues Sub-Committee. He suggested that this would be valuable information to make available to the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee. Ms. J. Dean suggested that this list be tabled at the November 6, 2001 Safe City Committee meeting for discussion. On motion by Mr. D. Ryan – It was resolved: “That staff be directed to prepare a report listing of outstanding projects/programs of the Safe City Committee and the City-Wide Youth Issues Sub-Committee for presentation at the November 6, 2001 Safe City Committee and for the information of the Community Services Committee, prior to December, 2001; and further, That this report be made available to the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee for possible future action.” 8.NEW BUSINESS Ms. J. Dean advised members that Mr. F. Bishop, who is a member of the Safe City Committee, was recently hospitalized with severe pneumonia and is now recovering at home. She noted that arrangements had been made for flowers to be delivered to Mr. Bishop on behalf of the Committee. 9.ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator