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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCompass Kitchener - 2007-03-13 COMPASS KITCHENER COMMITTEE MINUTES March 13, 2007CITY OF KITCHENER The Compass Kitchener Committee met on this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m. Present: Don Bourgeois, Norm Damaren, Jasminka Klacar, Sarah Marsh, Theron Kramer, Susan St. John, Kim Knowles Staff: Shelley Adams, Jenn Walter, Dan Chapman, Ryan Mounsey Regrets: Mike Harris, Pat Doherty Shelley welcomed all members on Don’s behalf, and thanked everyone for attending. Don had indicated that he would be arriving a few minutes late and to begin the meeting in his absence. 1. University of Waterloo, Centre for a Healthy Community – Research Project communicating and diversity ? Amanda Johnsonjoined us from the University of Waterloo, Healthy Communities – research project. ? Troy Glover, the project coordinator has been doing some research surrounding landscape and its effect on a healthy community as well as brownfield development, gorilla gardening and other community landscape changes. ? They currently have a three year grant from SHIRC for a project to engage the community on how they view landscape. ? Amanda joined Compass Kitchener today to try to reach a more diverse community for their project. The project would entail taking pictures of neighbourhoods, scenery and landscapes that you like/don’t like in the city. If anyone would like to participate, please feel free to either provide Amanda with your contact information or advise Jenn, and she will pass it on. ? They would like to have approximately 20 people to start. ? The end product of this project will be several research papers. If the city would like additional information, they can create a paper specific to our request. 2. Neighbourhood Design ? Ryan Mounsey from the City of Kitchener’s planning division provided two hand outs and presented the process looking at Neighbourhood Design – specific to all neighbourhoods with the exception of Downtown. ? Several other Advisory Committees have provided feedback on the Neighbourhood Design Guidelines. ? It was indicated that Safety is something that has been added on since this document was prepared. ? Ryan reviewed the Primary Design Objectives, as well as the Primary (Structural) Design Guidelines and the Secondary (Detailed) Design Guidelines. We then reviewed a map illustrating the key objectives and the specific design guidelines, and discussed why the neighbourhood would be set up in this manor. ? Currently, there is not a legal tool that the city can use to enforce good neighbourhood planning, there are only policies and suggested guidelines. The recommendations in this document would assist in this area. ? It was observed that at 30,000’ this document seems to support A Plan for a Healthy Kitchener. COMPASS KITCHENER COMMITTEE MINUTES March 13, 2007CITY OF KITCHENER - 2 - ? Ryan is looking for endorsement from Compass Kitchener for the Neighbourhood Design Guidelines and would like to work together to review the details and clarify where needed. ? Several questions were asked of Ryan: Is there a density equation? Currently there is not a specific density equation, rather ? ratio of people and jobs per hectre – 50 people/jobs per hectre. Have boundaries been set? Yes, it is called the Countryside line and we cannot ? grow past it. The Urban Plan and the City Staging report have guidelines as well. Affordability? Because of design issues the prices may be driven up, however the ? benefits largely outweigh the increase, so suggesting this is a problems seems inappropriate. Guidelines will also lead to a better quality of life. Have you considered Rapid Transit out to these neighbourhoods? Once this ? document has been approved, considerations for Rapid Transit will be made. Nothing in document regarding noise and air pollution. Noise is covered, air is not, ? and should be something that is considered. This area will be reviewed. These guidelines could apply in already developed areas, this document could be ? added for their betterment as well. ? Due to time constraints, the committee stopped the discussion. Any additional comments can be forwarded to Jenn Walter. If the committee feels it would be beneficial, Ryan would be comfortable coming back to discuss it further. Moved by Norm Damaren Seconded by Susan St. John That Compass Kitchener endorse, in principle, the Neighbourhood Design Guidelines with a recommendation that safety and air pollution be added to the Primary Design Objectives and, that the Neighbourhood Design Guidelines be applied across the city, in established neighbourhoods as well as in newly developed areas. Carried 3. Financial Engagement 2007 and Future Direction ? Dan Chapman discussed the Financial Engagement that has recently taken place with the committee. ? Although the questionnaire went out in several different publications, and was discussed in public forums at both the Aud and the Market, the response rate was very low. Dan would like Compass Kitcheners feedback in trying to find out why, and perhaps any suggestions on how to better engage people in the future. ? The internet continues to be the best way to engage the highest number of people. Approximately 60 people turned out to one of the public forums, however this number was obviously not representative of the community. ? One suggestion indicated that timing is critical. Information for budgeting needs to begin in the planning process, whereas we engaged the public during budget time. 4. New Member ? Shelley introduced Kim Knowles. She would like to join the committee taking a special interest in the environment. Kim teaches Social Sciences at a High School in Guelph. She holds the environment very near and dear to her heart, and works hard to make her home very environmentally friendly. COMPASS KITCHENER COMMITTEE MINUTES March 13, 2007CITY OF KITCHENER - 3 - Moved by Theron Kramer Seconded by Norm Damaren That Kim Knowles be appointed to the Compass Kitchener committee and that the Compass Kitchener staff resources present an appointment report to council. Carried 5. Wellness Fair th ? Compass Kitchener will have a booth at the City of Kitchener Wellness Fair on April 18. Jasminka and Theron have offered to work the table for a portion of the day. If you are able to assist please let Jenn know. 6. Compass Kitchener Working Group ? Corina Tasker, Performance Measurement and Internal Auditor for the City of Kitchener will be assisting a Compass Kitchener working group, formed to create Healthy Community indicators. They will be looking at both short (annual) and long (council’s term) term indicators. ? Susan St. John, Sarah Marsh, Jasminka Klacar and Kim Knowles are the Compass Kitchener members that will be involved with this working group. 7. Review of Work Plan 2007 ? Unfortunately, due to time restraints, Shelley was only able to quickly touch on the information prepared for the Review of Work Plan 2007. ? This will be discussed further at the next Compass Kitchener meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Next meeting: April 4, 2007 Schmalz Room – Kitchener City Hall