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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm Svcs - 2006-02-20COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 20, 2006 CITY OF KITCHENER The Community Services Committee met this date commencing at 5:01 p.m. Present: Chair -Councillor G. Lorentz Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors J. Gazzola, B. Vrbanovic, M. Galloway, J. Smola and C. Weylie. Staff: C. Ladd, Chief Administrative Officer A. Pappert, General Manager of Community Services G. Sosnoski, General Manager of Corporate Services & City Clerk R. Browning, Interim General Manager of Development & Technical Services L. MacDonald, Director of Legal Services & City Solicitor K. Baulk, Director of Enterprise K. Currier, Director of Operations H. Gross, Director of Project Administration & Economic Investment M. Hildebrand, Director of Aquatics & Athletics R. Regier, Executive Director of Economic Development D. Chapman, Director of Financial Planning & Reporting C. Sadeler, Interim Director of Community Programs & Services C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator 1. CSD-06-020 - 2005 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE COMMISSION AGREEMENT The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-06-020, dated January 30, 2006 regarding the 2005 Artist-In-Residence Commission Agreement. On motion by Councillor J. Smola - itwas resolved: "That the recommendations of the City's Public Art Working Group and Arts & Culture Advisory Committee to approve and install the proposed final commission by 2005 Artist-In-Residence, Tony Urquhart, entitled `Barn Spirit', be endorsed; and further, That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an agreement, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, with Tony Urquhart, regarding the Artist-In-Residence Commission, as set out in Community Services Department report CSD-06-020." 2. CSD-06-021 -RENEWAL OF CO-OPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH LUTHERWOOD - 55+ EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROGRAM - ROCKWAY COMMUNITY CENTRE The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-06-021, dated January 31, 2006 regarding a Co-operative agreement to permit Lutherwood (55+ Employment Services) to operate at the Rockway Centre to assist unemployed workers age 55 and older to enter or re-enter the workforce. On motion by Councillor J. Smola - itwas resolved: "That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute a Co-operative agreement, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, with Lutherwood (55 Plus Employment Services) as set out in Community Services Department report CSD-06-021." 3. CSD-06-022 - 2006 CO-OPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH KITCHENER SENIORS TENNIS CLUB - 2006 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH BITS & BYTES COMPUTER CLUB - DELEGATION OF RENEWAL AUTHORITY TO THE GENERAL MANAGER OF COMMUNITY SERVICES The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-06-022, dated January 25, 2006 regarding the 2006 Kitchener Seniors Tennis Co-operative agreement and COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 20, 2006 - 11 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. CSD-06-022 - 2006 CO-OPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH KITCHENER SENIORS TENNIS CLUB - 2006 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH BITS & BYTES COMPUTER CLUB - DELEGATION OF RENEWAL AUTHORITY TO THE GENERAL MANAGER OF COMMUNITY SERVICES (CONT'D) the 2006 Bits & Bytes Computer Club memorandum of understanding. At the request of Ms. A. Pappert, the Committee agreed to amend the third paragraph of the staff recommendation to read: `that authorization to annually renew the Kitchener Seniors Tennis Club Co-operative agreement and the Bits & Bytes Computer Club memorandum of understanding be given to the General Manager of Community Services, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor'. On motion by Councillor J. Smola - itwas resolved: "That the 2006 Co-operative agreement with the Kitchener Seniors Tennis Club, be approved, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor; and, That the 2006 memorandum of understanding with the Bits & Bytes Computer Club, be approved, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor; and further, That authorization to annually renew the Kitchener Seniors Tennis Club Co-operative agreement and the Bits & Bytes Computer Club memorandum of understanding be given to the General Manager of Community Services, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor." 4. CSD-06-023 -ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC WASHROOM ACCESSIBILITY WORKING GROUP -FEASIBILITY OF 24/7 ACCESS TO DOWNTOWN PUBLIC WASHROOMS The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-06-023, dated February 6, 2006 regarding the establishment of a Working Group to investigate the feasibility of providing 24/7 access to downtown public washrooms. Ms. C. Sadeler outlined the research conducted to date, advising that 1 in 3 woman and 1 in 10 men avoid public spaces that lack washrooms, adding that this affects various aspects of society, not just the urban poor. She stated that the City should clearly identify current public washroom facilities in City communications and install visible directional signage indicating washroom locations and hours of operation. Ms. Sadeler added that staff are recommending the development of a planning and implementation team comprised of City staff and community stakeholders to identify options to extend use of public washrooms at City Hall and Your Kitchener Market. She noted that the team will present the implementation plan prior to Council's 2007 budget deliberations. Mr. Doug Rankin and Ms. Cheryl Arenburg, Homelessness Advisory Group, expressed support for the proposal, stating that 24/7 access would address health concerns and provide a means for the urban poor to maintain personal hygiene and dignity. Ms. Arenburg volunteered to assist staff with the development of implementation options. In response to questions, Ms. C. Sadeler advised that during the initial stages of her research, she consulted with the Waterloo Regional Police Department, who provided advice as to the facilitation of offering 24/7 access to public washrooms. Ms. Sadeler stated that the washrooms at City Hall are currently open to the public until approximately 10:00 p.m. every night. She noted that the composition of the proposed Working Group lends itself to the development of possible partnerships with the private sector. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 20, 2006 - 12 - CITY OF KITCHENER 4. CSD-06-023 -ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC WASHROOM ACCESSIBILITY WORKING GROUP -FEASIBILITY OF 24/7 ACCESS TO DOWNTOWN PUBLIC WASHROOMS (CONT'D) Mayor C. Zehr inquired as to the timing for the implementation plan and questioned if some of the issues, such as directional signage, could be addressed in the near future. Ms. A. Pappert advised that it is expected that the Working Group will be formed by the end of March 2006 and it would be mid-summer at the earliest before they would be prepared to present the implementation plan. She noted that in the interim they should be able to present options regarding directional signage. Councillor B. Vrbanovic stated that he was of the understanding that 24/7 access to City Hall washrooms was currently provided and requested that staff clarify this issue in a subsequent report to this Committee. On motion by Mayor C. Zehr - it was resolved: "That a 24/7 Access to Downtown Public Washrooms Working Group be established, comprised of City staff, community representatives from the Downtown Community Health Centre, the Kitchener Downtown Business Association (KDBA), the Working Centre and other appropriate stakeholders; and, That the Working Group develop recommendations and costing for the facilitation of 24/7 access to downtown public washrooms, based on the research set out in Community Services Department report CSD-06-023; and further, That the Working Group present an implementation plan to Council for consideration in 2006, which is to include a communication plan for providing the public with information on the location and operating hours of current public washroom facilities and directional signs." 5. DELEGATION PRESENTATION -WATERLOO INITIATIVE FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (WISH) The Committee was in receipt of a handout entitled `Waterloo Region Supportive Housing Facts' dated November 2005, developed and distributed by the Waterloo Initiative for Supportive Housing (WISH). Mr. Myron Steinman, WISH, advised that the organization envisions a future where people who suffer from mental health issues are able to live in a world that has widespread supportive housing. He stated that WISH has people, like himself, who suffer from mental health issues make presentations informing the public of their personal stories and the need for supportive housing. Mr. Steinman stated that all people deserve safe places to live and requested that consideration be given to the development of supportive housing when the City undertakes future construction initiatives. He noted that in comparison to large institutions, supportive housing is more affordable and beneficial to persons with mental health issues. Mayor C. Zehr stated that the Region of Waterloo handles all supportive housing issues for this area and offered to assist Mr. Steinman in arranging an opportunity for him to present his information to Regional Council. 6. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m. Colin Goodeve Committee Administrator