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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-07-024 - Neighbourhood Association Consultation ) R Community Services Report To: Date of Meeting: Submitted By: Community Services Committee May 28, 2007 Prepared By: Mark Hildebrand, Interim Director, Community Programs and Services Mark Hildebrand, Interim Director, Community Programs and Services All Ward(s) Involved: Date of Report: Report No.: Subject: May 3, 2007 CSD-07-024 Neighbourhood Association Consultation RECOMMENDATION: For information and discussion. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Between 2000 and 2006 Council received three significant reports related to the provision of programs and services to neighbourhoods including: The Parks and Recreation Operational Review (2000), Leisure Facility Master Plan (2005); and A Plan for a Healthy Kitchener (2006). Implicit in these reports is the assumption that, despite changes in the surrounding environment, Neighbourhood Associations (NAs) will continue their role as the primary provider of both volunteers for the neighbourhood as well as program provision within our Community Resource Centres (CRCs). Neighbourhood Associations have long been the backbone of our communities and continue to playa vital role in the health and well-being of neighbourhoods. Kitchener communities rely on NAs to continue to provide a range of programs and services that meet local needs and interests. However, current volunteer trends point out the increasing difficulty in recruiting volunteers for Boards, particularly where the roles are of a long term nature and have liability implications. This will have serious consequences for the continued health, well-being and, indeed, sustainability of these groups. In some neighbourhoods these consequences are already being recognized. Given the vital role of the NAs, it is imperative that we attend to their current status, particularly those offering programs and services through CRCs and beyond. As communities continue to recognize the CRCs as community hubs, there is increasing opportunity for the involvement of the Neighbourhood Association and others in the community. Staff feels it is timely to meet and consult with Neighbourhood Associations to assess: Report No. CSD-07-024 Page 2 · their experiences of volunteering; · their role in addressing program and service gaps; · their interest and capacity to sustain and/or expand their current mandate; · their interest in working with other program and service providers to meet current and future needs and interests. The involvement of Neighbourhood Associations has been invaluable in both the provision of programs and services as well as the development of neighbourhoods in the City of Kitchener. Consultation will continue to strengthen the City's ongoing relationship with these groups and lay the ground work for future direction. BACKGROUND: The Operational Review for the City of Kitchener Parks and Recreation Department, completed in 2000, played a significant part in the changing roles of Community Centres in the community and in many instances the programs and services being offered by our Neighbourhood Associations out of these facilities. In the Operational Review, it was recommended that "Community Recreation Centres be repositioned as Community Resource Centres to be operated in partnership with local/neighbourhood organizations, and developed individually to reflect the unique range of needs and opportunities that exist within the individual service areas" . Repositioning Recreation Centres to CRCs represented a fundamental shift in philosophy and scope of services provided by the City of Kitchener and our affiliated Neighbourhood Associations. It recognized the growing social support needs of communities and supported the integration of social and recreational services in meeting these needs. In 2005, the LFMP affirmed the shift in philosophy and scope of Community Resource Centres. Although still to be approved by Council, recommendation 17 speaks to three principals surrounding investment in Community Resource Centres. They are: 1. To create a stable and sustainable resource for the delivery of leisure and potentially social health and other linked services within a defined community. 2. To provide an identity and centre-point to a neighbourhood or community. 3. To facilitate volunteerism in the delivery of leisure services and community development and other significant neighbourhood/community capacity-building initiatives. Community Resource Centres give neighbourhoods opportunities to offer a unique range of services and programs. CRCs act as the "neighbourhood hub" and what happens daily in these facilities contributes to: · the health of neighbourhoods and the city as a whole; · grass roots leadership; · community participation; · the leveraging of resources, services, and programs through creative collaborations; and · Increased access to programs and services for diverse populations. Report No. CSD-07-024 Page 3 This model has continued to strengthen and support neighbourhoods within the City of Kitchener, and at the same time changed and increased the demands placed on volunteers and their work. The most recent Plan for a Healthy Kitchener provides the City of Kitchener a strategic framework to meet future needs. The report makes recommendations regarding Quality of Life, Leadership Engagement and Diversity, which are particularly relevant to neighbourhoods. Many of the strategic directions identified in the "Plan" have implications for the role of NAs into the future. REPORT: The Community Programs and Services division of Community Services would like to actively consult with its NAs this summer and early fall. The successes of CRCs have contributed to an increased workload and demand for NA involvement. There is lack of clarity regarding each NAs desired role in the development and continuation of collaborative programs and services. There is also uncertainty regarding provision of resources such as facility space, communication tools, and staff and volunteer time, to support all community interests and needs. To date Neighbourhood Associations have been the primary voice in the community and vehicle to deliver programs and services as well as the primary point of entry for individuals who wish to volunteer. Neighbourhood Associations are comprised of volunteers from the community in which they live. There are currently 27 NAs that are affiliated with the City of Kitchener. The purpose and scope of these groups are diverse and range from consideration of planning issues to offering special events to providing programs and services. Currently 11 NAs and one Neighbourhood Alliance (made up of four NAs) offer programs and services at Community Resource Centres. Most often, volunteer responsibilities within NAs require long term commitments and positions carry a lot of responsibility. However, two current trends in volunteering, as identified in the Volunteer Support Strategy Report (CSD-07-039) suggest that volunteers are less likely to commit to long term roles and are increasingly reluctant to assume roles with liability implications. Shorter term projects and special events are more successful in mobilizing volunteers. These trends create challenges in that it is increasingly difficult to recruit and retain volunteers for the Neighbourhood Association board of directors. Currently many of these NAs are struggling to fulfill their mandate. Volunteer burnout is prevalent and creates a growing concern for both NAs and staff. Furthermore, in order to realize the priorities identified in Leisure Facilities Master Plan, there is a need to consider neighbourhood issues such as community demographics, local needs assessments, creative collaborations, and business practices. Many of the NAs who currently offer programs at CRCs consider recreation to be their primary mandate. NAs that are providing programs and services at CRCs tend to focus on their day-to-day operations. Some NAs have voiced concern that this leaves them with little time and energy to consider and/or address these broader issues. Report No. CSD-07-024 Page 4 Scope of Consultation "A Plan for a Healthy Kitchener" underscores the importance of consultation with the community, broad community participation and contribution. As a new "Plan" there has not yet been an opportunity to fully discuss its implications for neighbourhoods with the NAs. In order to further evolve CRCs as the hub of the community and given concerns regarding volunteer trends, it is critical to offer NAs an opportunity to begin to consider their role in planning for the future. Such consultation will include exploring: · experiences of these NAs, · their role in addressing program and service gaps and, · their interest and capacity to expand their current mandate. · their interest in working with other program and service providers to meet current and future needs and interests. The consultation will lay the foundation for building on the unique relationships between the City, NAs and community agencies. It will also inform policy updates and development related to programs and services for the community including facility space, communication tools and collaborations. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: NA Mark Hildebrand Interim Director, Community Programs and Services AP