HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-06-028 - Update on Central Library & Centre Block Redevelopment Public Consultation Processa
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Report To: City Council
Date of Meeting: April 10, 2006
Submitted By: Carla Ladd, CAO; Michael May, Senior Public Affairs Officer
Prepared By: Jana Miller, Writer
Ward(s) Involved: All
Date of Report: April 19, 2006
Report No.: CAO-06-028
Subject: UPDATE ON CENTRAL LIBRARY AND CENTRE BLOCK
REDEVELOPMENT PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS
RECOMMENDATION:
That Council approves phases two and three of the public consultation process for the central
library and Centre Block redevelopment projects as outlined in CAO-06-025 (attached for
reference), incorporating the amendments contained in this report.
BACKGROUND:
On March 27 and again on April 10, staff presented the Finance and Corporate Services
Committee (FCS) with the preliminary details of a three phased public consultation process for
the central library and Centre Block redevelopment projects. On April 10, the committee
endorsed phase one of the consultations (online, phone and mail comments). This report
outlines changes to phases 2 and 3 of the public consultation process originally proposed by
staff, based on direction received during the April 10 meeting of FCS.
REPORT:
Phase 1:Pre-Citizens' Forum Consultations (Online, Phone, Mail):
On Friday, April 14, the first phase of the public consultation process was launched. During the
first four days of phase one (over the Easter weekend), the City received:
^ 38 comments through its website;
^ 78 voice mail messages, and;
^ 4 direct email comments.
Running until May 15, phase one encourages residents to offer their input on the two projects
through several venues:
^ An online comment sheet is available at w.city.kitchener.on.ca;
^ Emails can be sent directly to cityfeedbackcity.kitchener.on.ca;
^ Residents can leave a voice mail at 741-2602;
^ Comments can be mailed to: Michael May, Corporate Communications and Marketing,
City of Kitchener, 200 King St. W., Kitchener, ON, N2G 4G7
Full Name and Address Required:
In order to allow City staff to track the general response rates from different areas of the city and
to ensure individuals do not provide their comments several times, citizens are being asked to
leave their full name and street address with their comments. All names and addresses will be
kept strictly confidential.
Posting Public Comments Online Increases Transparency:
For the first time ever during a City of Kitchener public consultation process, citizens will be able
to have their comments posted on the city's website for others to read. When submitting their
comments through the city's website, residents will be given the choice as to whether or not to
have their comments posted on the public website.
As comments come in from the public, staff will regularly update the public comment page
(ie. every 2-3 days), assuming:
^ The comments are not discriminatory.
^ The comments do not attack any individual or group of individuals.
^ The individual submitting the comments agrees to have their full first name and first initial of
their second name published with their message.
Regardless of whether or not the comments are posted on the City's website, all of the
comments received by the City -either online, by phone, via email or regular mail -will be
compiled and considered during later stages of the consultation process. Copies of all the
comments will also be presented to City Council for its consideration prior to making a decision
on how to proceed with the Centre Block redevelopment and central library project.
Phases 2 & 3:
Citizens' Town Hall Meetina (Mav 23) and Citizens' Forum Panel Discussions (Mav 30):
Below are the specific amendments to be made to phases two and three of the public
consultation process based on feedback received from Council:
Original Suggestion for Phases 2 & 3 Amendment to Public Consultation
Contained in CAO-06-025: Process Based on Council Input:
Anyone who lives in, or owns property in the
1 Members of the citizens' panel must be City of Kitchener is eligible to enter their
taxpayers to the City of Kitchener. name into the draw to participate on the
citizens' panel.
Original Suggestion for Phases 2 & 3 Amendment to Public Consultation
Contained in CAO-06-025: Process Based on Council Input:
As best as possible depending on who is
interested in participating, each ward will be
represented by 2 citizens on the panel. Staff
will work directly with neighbourhood and
The 12 citizens' at large on the citizens' community associations to encourage
2 panel will be divided equally between 6 participation from every ward.
downtown residents and 6 suburban
residents. If 2 citizens from any particular ward do not
volunteer to participate on the panel, a
representative will be chosen to fill that ward
vacancy based on a 70:30 split of suburban
vs. downtown residents.
In addition to the original 8 sector
representatives recommended by staff, the
citizens' panel will include a representative
There will be 8 members of the citizens' from the City's arts and culture community.
3. panel representing specific sectors of the
community. Along with the 12 citizens' at large on the
panel, these 9 individuals bring expertise
related to the most prominent issues
surroundin the librar and the Centre Block.
To ensure that everyone in attendance at
The May 23 and May 30 public meetings the two public meetings has an opportunity
4' have an ending time of 9:30 pm to share their input on the two projects, there
. will be no scheduled end time for the
meetings.
A representative of a surrounding library
5 __ board or staff will be asked to sit alongside
the citizens' panel to provide library
expertise and knowledge.
No current member of the KPL Board or the
6. -- Centre Block Project Committee may
participate on the citizens' panel.
CONCLUSION:
The modifications made to all three phases of the public consultation process help to ensure
that as many citizens as want to, are able to provide their input on the central library and Centre
Block redevelopment projects through an open and transparent process.
Carla Ladd, CAO Michael May, Senior Public Affairs Officer