HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm Svcs - 2007-02-19COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
FEBRUARY 19, 2007 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Community Services Committee met this date commencing at 4:05 p.m.
Present: Councillor G. Lorentz -Chair
Councillors J. Smola, B. Vrbanovic, K. Galloway and C. Weylie.
Staff: C. Ladd, Chief Administrative Officer
T. Speck, General Manager of Corporate Services
A. Pappert, General Manager of Community Services
R. Browning, General Manager of Development & Technical Services
P. Houston, General Manager of Financial Services & City Treasurer
R. Regier, Executive Director of Economic Development
S. Williams, Assistant City Solicitor
K. Baulk, Director of Enterprises
K. Currier, Director of Operations
S. Adams, Director of Community & Corporate Planning
M. Hildebrand, Interim Director of Community Programs & Services
D. Keehn, Interim Director of Aquatics & Athletics
G. Hummel, Manager of Park Planning, Development & Operations
J. Hutchison, Facilitator of Volunteer Resources
C. York, Arts & Culture Facilitator
C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator
1. CSD-07-01$ -MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
- EARTH DAY 2007
The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-07-018, dated
February 1, 2007 regarding the Earth Day 2007 Memorandum of Agreement which enables
the City to access Earth Day Canada resources and use of the Earth Day logo and name.
On motion by Councillor C. Weylie -
it was resolved:
"That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute the "Memorandum of Agreement -
Earth Day 2007" with Earth Day Canada, as attached to Community Services
Department report CSD-07-018, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor; and
further,
That the General Manager of Community Services be authorized to execute all future
annual "Memorandum of Agreement -Earth Day" with Earth Day Canada, subject to the
satisfaction of the City Solicitor."
2. CSD-07-022 - BRAMM STREET OPERATIONS YARD PARKING LEASE AGREEMENT
- UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION
The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-07-022, dated
February 13, 2007 regarding a Lease agreement for the use of the lands at 15 Michael Street
for the provision of monthly parking for City staff employed at the Bramm Street Operations
Yard.
On motion by Councillor C. Weylie -
it was resolved:
"That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute a Lease agreement with the current
owner of the property located at 15 Michael Street, Kitchener, for use of the lands to
provide monthly parking for City staff employed at the Bramm Street Operations Yard,
subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor."
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
FEBRUARY 19, 2007 -11 - CITY OF KITCHENER
3. CSD-07-020 -GENERAL PROVISION GRANT REQUEST
- "DOWNTOWN EAST: YA GOTTA LUV IT" PROJECT
The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-07-020, dated
February 14, 2007 regarding a $36,650. general provision grant request by the "Downtown
East, Ya Gotta Luv It" (DEYGLI) advisory group.
Ms. Sally Gunz, Cedar Hill Community Group, advised that the DEYGLI advisory group are
requesting funding for atwo-year pilot project to expand their existing `Landlords Program'.
She stated that the expansion would address issues occurring in other areas of the City,
specifically: Highland Road, Queen Street and the residential communities adjacent to
Conestoga College. Ms. Gunz advised that the program's goal is to educate community
leaders and citizens on tenant and landlord issues and to work together with landlords,
tenants, residents and Waterloo Regional Police Services to address complex neighbourhood
concerns surrounding landlord /tenant relations. She pointed out that previously the DEYGLI
focused on coordinating area landlords to solve their problems collectively; whereby this new
strategy enables the DEYGLI project coordinator to work individually with a landlord to provide
assistance and guidance in solving their issues. Ms. Gunz added that since adopting this new
approach, all property issues that existed at the commencement of the DEYGLI project have
been resolved. She noted that this success served as the impetus for expanding the
`Landlords Program'.
In response to questions, Ms. S. Gunz advised that if their grant request was not approved,
her group would be unable to expand the `Landlords Program' to other areas of the City and
would be forced to scale back the work they are currently undertaking. Ms. Gunz stated that in
the long-term she envisions this program as being a viable model that Kitchener could adopt
and implement City-wide as a template for resolving tenant /landlord conflicts; particularly in
areas with a high concentration of post-secondary students.
A motion by Councillor C. Weylie was brought forward to approve a $36,650. ($17,400. in
2007 and $19,250. in 2008) general provision grant to the DEYGLI advisory group to assist
with costs associated with its `Landlords Program'.
Councillor B. Vrbanovic requested that the DEYGLI advisory group provide an annual report
as to the progress of the `Landlords Program', as typically all grants are reviewed on an annual
basis.
Councillor K. Galloway inquired into the possibility of a funding surplus being realized by the
group in 2006, as indicated on the DEYGLI Income Statement -January 2007 appended to
report CSD-07-020. Ms. S. Gunz confirmed that her group does anticipate a funding surplus
for 2006, but was uncertain if it was possible for them to carry these funds over to 2007. She
stated that if it is possible for them to carry the surplus over, then they would reduce the
amount of the general provision grant request by an equal amount to that of the surplus. Ms.
Gunz advised that her group still has several outstanding expenditures for 2006 not accounted
for in the Income Statement and subsequently she would be unable to provide the exact
amount of the 2006 surplus until their fiscal year-end in April 2007.
Mr. M. Hildebrand advised that once the exact amount of the 2006 year-end surplus is known,
and subject to the grant being approved, staff could undertake the necessary adjustments to
the DEYGLI's 2008 funding. At the suggestion of Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Mr. Hildebrand
agreed that, if approved, the surplus amount would be subtracted from the 2007 portion of the
general provision grant.
Following further discussion, it was agreed that staff provide additional information for
consideration at the February 26, 2007 Council meeting as to the amount of the group's 2006
year-end surplus and the feasibility of carrying the surplus funds over to 2007; and that the
funding be approved on the basis of the 2007 allocation being reduced by the amount of the
2006 surplus should it be determined that the surplus funds can be carried over to 2007.
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
FEBRUARY 19, 2007 -12 - CITY OF KITCHENER
3. CSD-07-020 -GENERAL PROVISION GRANT REQUEST
- "DOWNTOWN EAST: YA GOTTA LUV IT" PROJECT tCONT'D)
On motion by Councillor C. Weylie -
it was resolved:
"That a general provision grant in the amount of $36,650. ($17,400. in 2007 and
$19,250. in 2008) minus the group's 2006 year-end surplus to be deducted from the
2007 allocation, be approved to the "Downtown East Ya Gotta Luv It" advisory group to
assist with costs associated with its `Landlords Program'."
Councillor B. Vrbanovic left the meeting at this time.
4. PRESENTATION -VICTORIA PARK ROSE GARDEN PROPOSAL
Mr. Wayne Herchenrader, Artist, gave a presentation outlining his proposal for the
development of a rose garden in Victoria Park. He suggested that the rose garden could
include the following amenities:
• a greenhouse;
• Spanish-Chemed amphitheatre;
• a gazebo;
• birdbaths; and,
• various water features.
Mr. W. Herchenrader estimated the cost for the development of the rose garden between $10
M to $14 M and suggested that these funds could be raised through an extensive advertising
campaign. Mr. Herchenrader stated that while he recognizes the substantial cost for this
undertaking, he is of the opinion that a rose garden in Victoria Park would serve as an
invaluable means of attracting tourism to the Downtown area.
5. CSD-07-019 - OPERATION AND INVENTORY OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACES
GARBAGE CONTAINERS
The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-07-019, dated
February 6, 2007 regarding the operation and inventory of the parks and open spaces garbage
containers.
Mr. G. Hummel advised that this report was brought forward as a result of a request at the
October 23, 2006 Community Services Committee meeting.
6. ADJOURNMENT
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Colin Goodeve
Committee Administrator