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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe City - 2001-10-02SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 2, 2001CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe City Committee met this date, chaired by Ms. L. Korabo, Committee Administrator, commencing at 4:05 p.m., with the following members present: Supt. A. McConnell and Messrs. T. Dickson, D. Schnarr and B. Burns. Councillors C. Weylie and B. Vrbanovic and Ms. T. Beaulne were in attendance for part of the meeting. Others Present:Ms. J. Dean, Ms. M. Sanderson and Ms. S. Adams. This meeting of the Safe City Committee was conducted without a quorum present. APPOINTMENT OF ACTING CO-CHAIR 1. The Committee Administrator informed members that Councillor B. Vrbanovic had advised he would be late arriving for today's meeting and, therefore, it was necessary to appoint an Acting Co-Chair in the absence of both Co-Chairs. Ms. Korabo opened the floor for nominations for an Acting Co-Chair and Mr. D. Schnarr nominated Mr. T. Dickson. No other nominations were forthcoming and all members present voted in support of Mr. Dickson who then assumed the Chair. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. On motion by Supt. A. McConnell - it was resolved: "That the minutes of September 4, 2001, as mailed to the members, be approved." YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR SAFETY AND SUPPORT (YESS) PROJECT 3. Ms. Sadia Gassim and several members of the Ethno-Cultural Family Safety Network (EFSN) attended to request a funding allocation from the Safe City Committee in support of the Youth Empowerment for Safety and Support (YESS) Project they are proposing to establish. Ms. Gassim noted that the Project is designed to decrease the number of crimes and violence- related incidents among ethno-cultural youth and their families who reside in low-income housing. She advised that efforts will be directed towards the understanding and prevention of violence and crimes. She noted the program will also promote harmony and safety in the community by supporting and assisting in problem solving as well as assisting individuals in accessing educational and employment opportunities in the community. It is hoped the YESS Project will achieve the following results: · parents will have a better understanding of how to raise children within a different culture without losing their own values · parents will learn improved methods to communicate with their youth/children which can be more positive and more effective · youth will develop an understanding of other cultures as well as their own · youth will be more aware of safety issues and will have a better understanding of the justice system in Canada. Councillor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time and assumed the Chair from Mr. T. Dickson. Ms. Gassim advised that the EFSN has applied to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for a grant of $171,000. over a 3-year period, starting in November, 2001. A copy of their grant application form, dated July 12, 2001, as well as a proposed budget for the YESS Project was circulated to the Committee as information. Members of the Safe City Committee posed questions to the delegation concerning: involvement of peer groups; other projects the EFSN is involved with; liaison services with existing community resources; the use of translators; and, the history of the volunteer network. Councillor C. Weylie left the meeting at this time. SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 2, 2001- 37 -CITY OF KITCHENER YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR SAFETY AND SUPPORT (YESS) PROJECT (CONT'D) 3. Following a brief discussion, Mr. D. Schnarr proposed a motion that a $5,000. grant to the Ethno-Cultural Family Safety Network be approved, and that Kitchener City Council be requested to endorse the YESS Project concept. Mr. B. Burns requested the Network provide the Committee with a progress report in 6 months to demonstrate how these grant monies, if approved, have been spent. Mr. Schnarr accepted this request as a friendly amendment. By general consent, the Committee agreed to refer the following recommendation to Kitchener City Council for consideration at its meeting to be held on Monday, October 22, 2001, namely: "That Kitchener City Council endorse, in principle, the Ethno-cultural Family Safety Network’s (EFSN) Youth Empowermental Safety and Support (YESS) project, outlined in a grant application dated July 12, 2001 to the Ontario Trillium Foundation, as presented on October 2, 2001 to the Safe City Committee; and, That funding in the amount of $5,000. be approved in favour of the EFSN in support of their proposed YESS project; and further, That the EFSN be requested to provide a 6-month progress report on the YESS project to the City’s newly established Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee." For the record, it was noted that Ms. A. Kutler and Councillor C. Weylie had previously indicated their support of the project. DECEMBER SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MEETING 4. Councillor B. Vrbanovic requested the Committee consider moving the December meeting from December 4th to December 11th as he will be out of the City and unable to attend. As several members of the Committee were unable to attend today's meeting, it was suggested the Committee Administrator conduct a poll and advise if sufficient members would be available for the rescheduled meeting date. Councillor Vrbanovic also suggested the Committee may wish to have a holiday gathering following the December meeting. RESPONSE TO COUNCIL REGARDING “BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE: AN 5. ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS OF FEMALE STREET-LEVEL SEX TRADE WORKERS WHO HAVE SEVERE ADDICTIONS IN KITCHENER - AND – CONSIDERATION OF “THE TRACK” INTERIM REPORT TO THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD ALLIANCE AND THE CITY OF KITCHENER BY DR. HUGH C. RUSSELL At the Safe City Committee meeting of September 4, 2001, additional discussion of the reports "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" and "The Track" was deferred to the meeting this date. Three questions previously were circulated to members to facilitate discussion, and written comment from Ms. A. Kutler who was unable to attend today's meeting, was also circulated to the Committee this date for their consideration. Mr. B. Burns suggested the Committee's response to Council should be in the form of a "stand alone report" which would include various related appendices that have been circulated to members. Mr. Burns was advised of the City's standard report format used for all reports to City Council and Councillor B. Vrbanovic noted that members of Council have copies of relevant material. Ms. T. Beaulne entered the meeting at this time. Supt. A. McConnell commented that the "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" report focuses on only one issue and suggested that more diversity of information, such as funding requirements, should be offered in the report. Ms. K. Taylor-Harrison attended and spoke of personal experiences in her neighbourhood relating to problems with drug users and prostitutes, noting the devastating effects these activities have had on residential neighbourhoods. Her view was that the report needed to SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 2, 2001- 38 -CITY OF KITCHENER RESPONSE TO COUNCIL REGARDING “BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE: AN 5. ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS OF FEMALE STREET-LEVEL SEX TRADE WORKERS WHO HAVE SEVERE ADDICTIONS IN KITCHENER - AND – CONSIDERATION OF “THE TRACK” INTERIM REPORT TO THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD ALLIANCE AND THE CITY OF KITCHENER BY DR. HUGH C. RUSSELL (CONT'D) stay narrowly focused in order to assist the street-level sex trade workers who have been identified as drug abusers. A lengthy discussion followed wherein members of the Committee raised concerns on how to deal most effectively with this issue. It was decided that a sub-committee would be formed to meet with staff and develop a report containing recommendations for endorsement by the Committee at a future meeting. Ms. S. Adams and Ms. J. Dean were requested to prepare the report and Ms. T. Beaulne, Supt. A. McConnell, Ms. K. Taylor-Harrison and Mr. B. Burns volunteered to serve on the sub-committee. Councillor B. Vrbanovic left the meeting at this time and Mr. T. Dickson re-assumed the Chair for the remainder of the meeting. 2001 LIGHTEN UP CAMPAIGN 6. Ms. J. Dean advised that planning for the 2001 Lighten Up Campaign has taken place. She noted that sponsors are coming online, that more are being pursued and that volunteers will be needed during the Lighten Up Contest to disperse thank-you cards in mailboxes of homes having their exterior lights on during evening hours. These volunteers will be needed in mid- November for approximately 3 or 4 evenings. Ms. Dean noted that final dates will be provided to members as soon as possible. Ms. Dean stated that printed materials from the 2000 Lighten Up Campaign were not re-usable as some of the sponsors have changed. SAFE CITY CO-ORDINATOR REPORT - OCTOBER 2001 7. Ms. J. Dean distributed the October 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)Drug Addiction/Prostitution 2)Tenant Safety Package 3)TIPS Plus · Funding Programs 1)Graffiti Busters Program 2)Mural Mentoring Program · City-Wide Youth Issues Committee 1)The Little Black Book · Lighting Working Group 1)Lighten Up Campaign 2)Hall's Lane · Outreach and Liaison 1)SCAT (Safer Communities Action Team) 2)Greenfield Park 3)Saskatoon 4)CURA (Community/University Research Alliance) 5)University of Waterloo SAFE CITY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 2, 2001- 39 -CITY OF KITCHENER NEW BUSINESS 8. Ms. J. Dean advised that she would like to obtain more information concerning the extent of the Committee's partnership with Waterloo Regional Police in organizing future '911 Charity Golf Tournaments', and especially what duties are available for volunteers. Supt. A. McConnell advised that Staff Sergeant D. Anderson of Waterloo Regional Police, who has organized this tournament in the past, will contact Ms. Dean to provide full details. Ms. J. Dean advised that the CURA (Community/University Research Alliance) will be conducting pedestrian surveys in the downtowns of all Regional municipalities on October 19 & 20, 2001. INFORMATION ITEMS 9. The Committee was in receipt of the following information items: · Article: Preventing Drugs & Criminality · Dispelling the Myths: Stories of the Effects of Street-Level Prostitution on Communities · Waterloo Region-Wellington-Dufferin District Health Council – Integrated Service Plan for Addiction Treatment Services · The Waterloo CURA Program ADJOURNMENT 10. On motion the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Linda Korabo Committee Administrator