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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm Svcs - 2007-09-24COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 CITY OF KITCHENER The Community Services Committee met this date commencing at 4:43 p.m. Present: Councillor G. Lorentz -Chair Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors B. Vrbanovic, J. Smola, J. Gazzola, K. Galloway and C. Weylie. Staff: C. Ladd, Chief Administrative Officer T. Speck, General Manager of Corporate Services P. Houston, General Manager of Financial Services & City Treasurer A. Pappert, General Manager of Community Services R. Browning, General Manager of Development & Technical Services S. Adams, Director of Community & Corporate Planning H. Gross, Director of Project Administration & Economic Investment R. Gosse, Director of Legislated Services S. Turner, Director of Enforcement K. Currier, Director of Operations K. Baulk, Director of Enterprises M. Hildebrand, Interim Director of Community Programs & Services D. Keehn, Interim Director of Aquatics & Athletics G. Hummel, Manager of Park Planning, Development & Operations J. Sheryer, Assistant City Solicitor C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator 1. CSD-07-06$ - COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND GRANT APPLICATION -ALPINE PUBLIC SCHOOL The Committee considered Community Services Department report CSD-07-068, dated September 10, 2007 regarding a $750. one-time Community Playground Grant application from the Alpine Public School. On motion by Councillor J. Gazzola - it was resolved: "That aone-time community playground grant in the amount of $750. be awarded to the Alpine Public School in 2007 for the construction of a junior creative playground facility to be located within the school campus." 2. CSD-07-0$3 - REQUEST FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION AFFILIATION -DEER RIDGE ESTATES SOCIAL CLUB The Committee considered Community Services Department report CSD-07-083, dated August 27, 2007 regarding a request from the Deer Ridge Estates Social Club to become an affiliated Neighbourhood Association. On motion by Councillor J. Gazzola - it was resolved: "That the Deer Ridge Estates Social Club, be approved as an affiliated group under the City's Neighbourhood Association Affiliation policy; and further, That the Deer Ridge Estates Social Club be added as an insured group under the City's Third Party Liability Insurance Program." 3. CRSP-07-130 - SAFE & HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION - 2007-200$ WORKPLAN The Committee considered Corporate Services Department report CRPS-07-130, dated September 17, 2007 regarding the 2007-2008 Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee Workplan. Councillor K. Galloway requested that consideration of this matter be deferred pending the circulation of the Workplan to members of Council. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 - 45 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. CRSP-07-130 - SAFE & HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION - 2007-200$ WORKPLAN tCONT'D) On motion by Councillor J. Gazzola - it was resolved: "That consideration of the staff recommendation contained in Corporate Services Department report CRPS-07-130, be referred to the October 1, 2007 Council meeting pending circulation of the 2007-2008 Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee Workplan to members of Council: "That the 2007-2008 Workplan of the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee, as amended to include a new action item under the focus area of Community Safety, be approved."" Councillor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time. 4. PRESENTATION -FESTIVAL OF NEIGHBOURHOODS UPDATE The Committee was in receipt this date of the Festival of Neighbourhoods Community Model, dated September 23, 2007, providing an interim report of the 2007 Festival of Neighbourhoods. Mr. John MacDonald and Ms. Trudy Beaulne, Festival of Neighbourhoods Organizing Committee, advised that Festival of Neighbourhoods is designed to encourage individuals and families to build stronger relationships with their neighbours and celebrate their community. To be registered, events need to be held sometime between April 1 to October 1 each year, open to everyone in the neighbourhood and can be anything from a community barbeque, to a street party, to a neighbourhood clean-up day providing the events bring people together. Mr. MacDonald added that registered neighbourhoods are entered into a random draw for a $10,000. capital improvement grant from the City. It was noted that in the months immediately following this year's finale the Organizing Committee will be assessing further means in which the Festival can be strengthened as a tool for the community and also how the Festival can provide leadership as a model for specific aspects of community organization. In response to questions, Mr. J. MacDonald and Ms. T. Beaulne estimated that by the end of 2007 there would have been approximately 60 registered events held throughout various Kitchener neighbourhoods, which is well within the average number of events held annually. Mr. MacDonald stated that the Festival has avoided using judges to award the $10,000. capital improvement grant as it was felt that all groups who held events should qualify. Ms. Beaulne outlined that discussions have been held in the past as to whether or not previous winners of the capital improvement grant should be disqualified from winning a second time; however, the Festival did not want to create any disincentive to participation. She added that the Organizing Committee is contemplating implementing a rule that a neighbourhood would not qualify for that grant if they have an ongoing project. She noted that the Organizing Committee is still considering various means to ensure that the grant is awarded to a new group each year. 5. PRESENTATION -GRAAC AND KITCHENER DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE - REQUEST FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL POLICY FOR SIDEWALKS AND CURB CUTS The Committee was in receipt of correspondence from the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC), the Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre, the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region and the Pedestrian Charter Steering Committee requesting the implementation of a more effective snow and ice removal policy for all City sidewalks and curb cuts. Ms. Peggy Shiel and Mr. Doug Rankin, Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre, advised that the Seniors Advisory Group at the Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre have identified poor sidewalk conditions as the contributing factor to the decreased health COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 - 46 - CITY OF KITCHENER 5. PRESENTATION -GRAAC AND KITCHENER DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE - REQUEST FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL POLICY FOR SIDEWALKS AND CURB CUTS tCONT'D) status in older adults who are unable to access health care, food, social supports and other community resources during the winter months. Ms. Shiel added that an audit, undertaken by nursing students at Conestoga College regarding how mobility is restricted during the winter, found that in 2007 approximately 50% of the properties in the Cedar Hills neighbourhood had not cleared their sidewalks. Mr. Rankin outlined that the Seniors Advisory Group has also met with representatives from GRAAC, Independent Living Centre and the Waterloo Region Pedestrian Charter Steering Committee, who are collectively requesting the City to implement a more effective snow and ice removal policy for all City sidewalks and curb cuts. He noted that, to the best of his knowledge, the cities of Ottawa, London and Montreal provide full snow and ice clearance services for all their sidewalks and curb cuts. Ms. Taposhi Batabyal and Ms. Sharon Ward-Zeller, Co-Chairs, GRAAC, advised that in their experience a majority of sidewalks and curb cuts in the City become impassable in winter, adding that the current by-law is inadequate in addressing the need for timely and prompt snow clearance. Ms. Batabyal stated that the policy of reactive (i.e., in response to complaint) enforcement leaves snow and ice on sidewalks for as long as 72 hours after a snowfall. In addition, residents and landlords on corner properties are often unaware of their responsibility to clear the curb cuts adjacent to their sidewalks. Ms. Ward-Zeller added that the current by- law can also impose hardship on residents who have disabilities, seniors, and those in fragile health, since they are frequently unable to afford services or to access help to clear their own sidewalks and curb cuts. Ms. Batabyal and Ms. Ward-Zeller both acknowledged the complexity of this issue, and requested that staff be directed to examine possible solutions that would proactively improve the quality of life during the winter months for these impacted residents. In response to questions, Ms. T. Batabyal advised that GRAAC have discussed this matter with the City of Waterloo, who have agreed to implement a pilot project to clear the sidewalks and curb cuts in Up-Town Waterloo for the Winter of 2008. She noted that, to the best of her knowledge, the City of Guelph and the Township of Woolwich currently contract out the clearance of all of their sidewalks and curb cuts. In response to questions regarding the current communication plan to advise residents of their snow and ice removal responsibilities, Mr. M. May stated that said plan is one of the most comprehensive communication campaigns undertaken by the City. He added that the City currently informs the public through radio advertisements, circulating information flyers and by including an insert in utility bills. He noted that staff would be willing to report back as to the potential cost of expanding this communication campaign. Mr. K. Currier advised that at present the City only has a dedicated snow and ice removal service for the Downtown core and select areas identified as walking routes by the local area school boards. He stated that logistically the only feasible means of clearing all City sidewalks and curb cuts within a 24 hour timeframe is by contracting out a large part of that service. Several members spoke to the need to address this issue, noting that further investigation would be required prior to moving forward. Accordingly, the Committee directed staff to provide a report to the October 15, 2007 Community Services Committee meeting regarding: how other municipalities contend with this issue; the cost involved in pursuing the removal of snow and ice from all City sidewalks and curb cuts; and, the potential means with which the current by-law could be strengthened to better meet the need of all residents. Councillor J. Smola entered the meeting at this time. 6. CSD-07-0$5 - YOUR KITCHENER MARKET OPTIONS The Committee considered Community Services Department report CSD-07-085, dated September 19, 2007 regarding a management contract for private sector operation of Your Kitchener Market and an update of the 5 potential future options for the Market. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 - 47 - CITY OF KITCHENER 6. CSD-07-0$5 - YOUR KITCHENER MARKET OPTIONS tCONT'D) Mr. K. Baulk advised that staff were previously directed to examine the viability of the following 5 options for the future use of Your Kitchener Market: 1. opening a temporary arts and culture incubator in part of the market space to support the transition to a vibrant, permanent urban market facility on that level over the next 3 to 5 years; 2. engaging a private management firm to operate the facility and lease out the unoccupied space; 3. recruiting a single major grocery-type operator to fill most of the vacant space; 4. retesting the City's original vision of having a number of independent vendors providing food orfood-related services; and, 5. selling the market facility, business and parking garage. Mr. K. Baulk advised that staff are requesting permission to proceed with Phase 2 of the search for a potential private management firm to operate the Market, as outlined in Option 2. He stated that this would lead to the development of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to be completed by the 2 proponents who expressed interest in managing the Market in Phase 1 of this process. He advised that the first step will be to recruit a taskforce, consisting of City staff, market vendors, a downtown resident, a member of the public at large, a representative of the Kitchener Downtown Business Association and a current market customer, to recommend detailed guiding principles and conditions for the RFP. Mr. Baulk noted that over the coming weeks, staff will continue to investigate all of the options outlined above, with the results to be reported before the end of 2007. Mr. David Schlievert, Market Vendor, addressed the Committee in response to a recent article published in The Record regarding the potential change of the Market's focus away from the current vendors. In addition, he expressed concern about being recently advised that he was no longer permitted to park his vehicle in the Market's underground parking facility. He noted that this would now require him to unload and load his equipment and merchandise over a considerable distance. Mr. Schlievert requested that the City continue to support the current vendors and invest in advertising to promote all products available at Your Kitchener Market. In response to questions, Mr. K. Baulk advised that approximately 10 days ago Market staff notified all vendors that as the Fall season is approaching there would be added pressure on the need for space in the Market's underground parking facility. He added that since the Market first opened it was agreed that the vendors would park off-site to make room for the patrons, noting that the vendors are still afforded an opportunity to unload and load their goods within close proximity of their stalls. He commented that staff would be more than willing to meet and discuss possible alternative resolutions with any vendor who has a concern regarding this arrangement. With respect to the recommendation contained in report CSD-07- 085, Mr. Baulk advised that at this time staff are only requesting approval to move forward with the establishment of the proposed taskforce, which will frame the detailed guiding principles to be presented for Council's approval prior to the issuance of the RFP. On motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic - it was resolved: "That staff proceed to Phase 2 of the Private Management Contract Request for Proposals process for the Kitchener Market, as outlined in Community Services Department report CSD-07-085; and further, That the two proponents who submitted an Expression of Interest in Phase 1 be invited to submit a formal Request for Proposals." COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 - 4$ - CITY OF KITCHENER 7. CSD-07-040 - WILLIAMSBURG NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT UPDATE The Committee considered Community Services Department report CSD-07-040, dated September 11, 2007 regarding options for providing community support, including the provision of space, to the Williamsburg community. Mr. M. Hildebrand advised that in May 2006 staff were directed to investigate the potential for a multi-year lease for dedicated meeting, office and programming space in the Williamsburg area in response to a concept brought forward by the YMCA and RBJ Schlegel Holdings Inc. to build a 35,000 square foot facility in this area. At that time staff recommended not participating in this venture and suggested the investigation and consideration of a pilot project for the lease of space in this area, at a lease cost of $50,000. per year fora 5-year period. Mr. Hildebrand reviewed the various options put forward for consideration to begin providing support in the Williamsburg community and South-West Kitchener, as outlined in report CSD- 07-040. He stated that dedicated space acting as a neighbourhood hub could be a significant positive contributor to foster community dialogue and growth. He added that it should be recognized that this approach to community engagement is different than what has been utilized in the past and from what is recommended in the Leisure Facilities Master Plan (LFMP). Mr. Hildebrand noted that those recommendations speak to neighbourhood development in mature communities and accordingly, there seems to be a gap in the LFMP in addressing how to deal with community development in fledgling communities. He then suggested the following option for consideration: • pursue leasing 3,000 square feet of space at $25. a square foot beginning July 2008; • refer the costs associated with leasing this space for 2008 (approximately $57,750. for half a year for operating and $40,000. capital) to the 2008 budget process; • refer the costs associated with topping up this amount, to reflect a full year of leasing and operating, to the 2009 budget process; and, • allow staff to re-allocate existing budget resources to provide the support needed to the Williamsburg Community (beginning July 2008). Councillor K. Galloway expressed support for the option put forward by Mr. Hildebrand and advised that the Williamsburg area is unique to the City in its boundaries and rapid rate of expansion. She added that the 2 local area schools do not permit outside groups to use their facilities and there are no churches, club houses or other facilities in this area that can be utilized by the community. She noted that the demographic of this area is primarily young families who are in need of an area to congregate as a community. Councillors G. Lorentz and J. Gazzola spoke in opposition of leapfrogging this project over other communities in need when the Williamsburg community is unable to meet the criteria outlined in the LFMP. Councillor Gazzola stated that the LFMP has identified the development of a community centre in South-West Kitchener to occur in 2012. He added that approval of any expenditure at this earlier date could impact other neighbourhoods who have been actively working toward meeting the LFMP criteria fora new or expanded community centre. Councillor Lorentz advised that as outlined in the LFMP, before a community centre is considered for an area a neighbourhood group is already formally in place or has been in place for 5 to 7 years and there is an identifiable core of committed volunteers. He suggested that perhaps in the future, as a means of being more proactive, Council could request that developers provide some sort of community support infrastructure as part of their initial community development application. Mayor C. Zehr and Councillor B. Vrbanovic spoke in support of the comments made by Councillor Galloway and advised that this is an opportunity to engage in a proactive approach to program and service delivery in a newly emerging neighbourhood. Mayor Zehr stated that while he acknowledges there are a number of other neighbourhood associations in need of new or expanded community centres, if this opportunity is not pursued it could potentially create a situation that would be more difficult to address in the future. Mayor Zehr suggested that the LFMP be revised to include provisions for emerging neighbourhoods, given that the existing criteria appears to pertain only to established neighbourhoods. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 - 49 - CITY OF KITCHENER 7. CSD-07-040 - WILLIAMSBURG NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT UPDATE tCONT'D) Ms. A. Pappert advised that staff would develop an issue paper outlining the details of any recommended option, which would be put forward for considered during Council's 2008 budget deliberation process. On motion by Councillor K. Galloway - it was resolved: "That subject to Council's 2008 budget deliberation process, a Lease agreement with RBJ Schlegel for the use of 3000 square feet of space (at $25. per square foot) at the proposed Williamsburg Family YMCA facility commencing in July 2008, be approved." 8. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Colin Goodeve Committee Administrator