HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-06-044 - First Steps Toward a Healthy Community Plan for the City of Kitchener (June 2006)1
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Report To: Mayor and Council
Date of Meeting: June 19, 2006
Submitted By: Shelley Adams, Director, Community and Corporate Planning
Ext. 2476
Prepared By: Shelley Adams, Director, Community and Corporate Planning
Ext. 2476
Wards} Involved: All
Date of Report: June 19, 2006
Report No.: CAO-06-044
Subject: FIRST STEPS TOWARD A HEALTHY COMMUNITY PLAN
FOR THE CITY OF KITCHENER (JUNE 2006)
RECOMMENDATION:
That Council direct staff to support Compass Kitchener in integrating and summarizing the
findings and recommendations arising from the Healthy Community project and the Who are
you, Kitchener? project, and bring forward a Strategic Plan for a Healthy Kitchener in the Fall of
2006, to address community priorities.
BACKGROUND:
In April of 2004, Council identified the development of a Healthy Community Plan as a priority in
its shared agenda for this term of Council office, 2003 - 2006. Council recognized that a good
number of activities and initiatives - in the areas of economic development, social vitality and
environmental viability -were underway. The project was intended to inventory this body of
work, review it through a healthy community lens, articulate high-level themes, and identify
gaps, overlaps and opportunities -for linkages, coordination, and consolidation of work -related
to themes. As well, Council asked that this endeavour provide comment to Compass Kitchener
regarding cross-over areas of interest, for example, themes and community priorities.
The Healthy Community Plan Working Group (HCPWG) was appointed, comprised of members
of City Advisory Committees and citizen-at-large representatives, chaired by a member of City
Council. The Advisory Committee began its work in January 2005.
REPORT:
The Healthy Community Plan Working Group, with the support of staff, developed and are
tabling today the document "First Steps Toward a Healthy Community Plan for the City of
Kitchener". This report represents an 18 month process of review (documents and
presentations from staff), dialogue, discourse, the identification of themes, and the drafting of
recommendations. The Working Group's findings, viewed cumulatively, provide the foundation
for along-term strategy for healthy public policy and programs, across the cultural, economic,
social and environmental service areas within the City's mandate or sphere of influence.
This project -and this document -attempts to summarize the tremendous amount of work
currently underway at the City of Kitchener. It is essentially a "living, breathing" inventory; the
information changes almost daily, as projects mature, reach milestones, or adapt workplans to
reflect a changing environment. This project does not supersede other projects' mandates or
terms of reference or identified priorities, but builds upon them, and, in so doing, strengthens the
potential for positive collective outcomes. Nor does it form a full and actionable "plan"; the
recommendations are stepping stones to a vital, robust and healthy community.
As the HCPWG was collecting and reviewing City policies, plans, projects and programs,
Compass Kitchener was in the midst of the City's largest community consultation to date, Who
are you, Kitchener? As part of its terms of reference, the Healthy Community Working Group
was directed to provide comment to Compass Kitchener regarding themes and priorities
emerging from a review of what the City was already involved in. Compass Kitchener was
mandated, by Council, to provide a citizens' appraisal of how well we are doing in addressing
community priorities and what our priorities need to be for the future. It quickly became
apparent that the Healthy Community and Who are you, Kitchener? projects -although distinct
in purpose and process -were mutually informative and, in time we learned that the major
themes emerging from each initiative lined up!
What this tells us is we are on track; that the City is actively engaged in addressing community
needs and issues. But there is still work to do. The HCPWG recommendations, viewed in
concert with citizen priorities and suggestions for change identified through WAYK, can provide
an overarching strategic framework to direct the work of the City in years to come.
With Council's endorsement, staff will work with Compass Kitchener to integrate the findings
and recommendations arising from both the Healthy Community project and the Who are you,
Kitchener? project, and bring forward a Strategic Plan for a Healthy Kitchener in the Fall of
2006, that comprehensively addresses community priorities.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no financial implications at this time. Considerations of implementation costs
will form part of the consolidated Strategic Plan brought back before City Council in Fall
2006.
Carla Ladd Shelley Adams, Director
Chief Administrative Officer Community and Corporate Planning