HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe & Healthy - 2008-06-10SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JUNE 10, 200$ CITY OF KITCHENER
The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:00 p.m.
Present: Co-Chair, S. Franzen
P. Doherty, M. Hogg, P. Ji-Taylor, K. Kwiatkowski, C. Schneider, T. Beaulne and
N. Cybulski
Staff: L. Palubeski, Manager of Program and Resource Services
M. Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs & Services
A. Grafstein, Community & Corporate Planning Associate
L. Korabo, Committee Administrator
1. DIVERSITY -COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH STRATEGY
A. Grafstein attended to provide an update on the Committee's work plan item, listed as action
#5 under `Diversity': Development of a communications and outreach strategy designed to
reach diverse communities and populations.
She advised that this item has been incorporated as part of the Community Engagement
Strategy (CES) which emerged as a direction from the Plan for a Healthy Kitchener (P4HK).
P4HK included a recommendation surrounding diversity which read `...in the City's efforts to
engage the public in initiatives and decisions that affect them, include communications and
outreach appropriate for and accessible to diverse audiences'. Essentially, this is the action
item included in the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee's work plan, therefore,
the Sub-committee assigned to this item will not need to undertake any discussions.
Ms. Grafstein advised that Compass Kitchener is acting as the Steering Committee for the
CES and a working group has been established comprised of: a citizen-at-large with
affiliations to related community initiatives; an academic expert in community engagement; a
graduate level student studying community engagement; and, various City staff. Work on the
strategy began in October 2007 and the established Terms of Reference laid out it's purpose
as providing the City with a framework for community engagement that will provide a strong
foundation for planning and staff, allocation of resources and continuance improvement.
Emphasis was to be on exploring two-way communications and engagement and on how to be
more inclusive in communication practices. Stakeholders in developing this strategy are:
citizens at large; citizens who are engaged; citizens who face barriers to engagement; staff
with engagement responsibilities; Compass Kitchener and members of Council Through its
development, it is hoped to gain a better understanding of what the barriers to engagement are
and how the community can best be engaged.
At a previous Committee meeting, information was shared concerning an external
environmental scan of multi-cultural groups /organizations. The information gathered on
current mandates of these external entities will be of great assistance to the community
engagement work when reviewing how best to distribute information to broader audiences.
Ms. Grafstein noted that the research undertaken has shown that differing approaches are
undertaken by municipalities ranging from passive to more active involvement.
In closing, Ms. Grafstein advised that a report and draft Community Engagement Strategy
Policy will be presented to City Council for approval at its June 23, 2008 meeting. If approved,
the report's findings will be shared with the community and feedback requested. At the same
time, staff will work to develop tools and procedures required to support this strategy.
2. YOUTH ENGAGEMENT -YOUTH SERVICES STRATEGY -CONSULTATION
Ms. L. Palubeski advised that the Committee had identified a desire to be involved in the
participation of a Youth Services Strategy (YSS) during the stakeholders consultation phase.
This item was listed on the Committee's work plan as action item #1 under `Youth
Engagement'.
SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JUNE 10, 200$ - 15 - CITY OF KITCHENER
2. YOUTH ENGAGEMENT -YOUTH SERVICES STRATEGY -CONSULTATION tCONT'D)
Staff are now undertaking consultations to develop a program and service delivery model for
youth services. Members were advised that information had been compiled in 2001 at which
that time over 900 youth were consulted for input. The purpose of current consultations was to
focus on identifying gaps in programs and services and are being held with parent groups,
neighbourhood associations, senior management and other City staff and members of Council.
It was noted that the YSS draft mandate is to ensure inclusive and meaningful opportunities for
youth to participate in community life through access to recreation, resources, leadership
development and civic engagement. For purposes of clarification, it was noted that youth are
identified as those ages 12-24.
Ms. J. Campbell then led the Committee through a series of questions and recorded input on
what members see as the priorities of youth in Kitchener and what challenges /barriers exist
for youth accessing suitable programming.
Ms. Campbell thanked the Committee for its input and noted that all data gathered will be
analyzed and a Youth Services Strategy will be presented to the Community Services
Committee in October 2008.
3. SAFER CITIES REPORT -INSTITUTE FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRIME, UNIVERSITY
OF OTTAWA
Ms. S. Adams circulated a draft staff report which the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory
Committee is being requested to support. The staff report contains a recommendation being
put forward in the Making Cities Safer: Canadian Strategies and Practices report of the
Institute for the Prevention of Crime (IPC), University of Ottawa.
As a matter of background, it was noted that the IPC established a national municipal network
bringing together 14 representatives from across Canada to collaborate and finding common
elements that advance public safety /security and the quality of life for Canadians. Based on
experiences of these representatives and a review of best practices, themes were identified
that significantly added to the knowledge about what causes crime, victimization and fear of
crime and what can be done to prevent it.
Ms. Adams advised that she was one of the 14 municipal representatives that collaborated on
the report.
She stated that the `Making Cities Safer' report provides a review of various initiatives and
strategies municipalities have in place to reduce crime and enhance community safety. It also
examines crime trends and current practices and sheds light on international experiences to
conclude that there are four common elements to success:
1. Strong leadership from local authorities and alignment of community safety with
other local priorities;
2. Co-ordination among all orders of government and appropriate funding for
municipalities for initiatives that target root causes of crime;
3. Keeping the focus local and setting priorities, establishing partnerships and
engaging the public; and,
4. Effective use of data, knowledge and information for conducting evaluations to guide
decisions on what works and how to apply resources to tackle local problems.
In addition the report identified guiding principles for municipalities to plan and sustain
successful crime reduction and community safety initiatives. These call for Provinces and the
Federal government to play a greater role in preventing crime by:
• Establishing responsibility centres to lead and co-ordinate crime reduction and
community safety strategies;
• Collaborating with municipalities in addressing priorities at the local and community
level;
• Investing in improving the effective use of knowledge and data;
• Investing in sustained funding for targeted programs; and,
• Providing the avenue for effective public engagement.
SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JUNE 10, 200$ - 16 - CITY OF KITCHENER
3. SAFER CITIES REPORT -INSTITUTE FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRIME, UNIVERSITY
OF OTTAWA tCONT'D)
Municipalities are the most appropriate location for comprehensive community safety planning
that brings together residents, schools, youth services, health, police and other agencies as
the level of government closest to the services that can tackle the factors leading to crime.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Big City Mayors' Caucus support the
findings of the report and have called for similar action through recently approved motions
which reflect these guiding principles.
The 14 municipalities who collaborated on the report are: Vancouver; Surrey; Edmonton;
Calgary; Regina; Saskatoon; Winnipeg; Waterloo Region; Toronto; Ottawa; Montreal; Quebec
City; St. John; and, Halifax.
Ms. Adams noted that the official release of the `Making Cities Safer' report will occur at the
Municipal Network on Crime Prevention's upcoming meeting scheduled for June 24-25, 2008,
in Ottawa.
At this time, the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee is being requested to
endorse the `Making Cities Safer' report and its' recommendations, in advance of the National
release.
On motion by Mr. C. Schneider -
it was resolved:
"WHEREAS social development efforts significantly improve upon crime prevention through law,
correctional and enforcement methods alone; and,
WHEREAS all orders of government have a critical responsibility in supporting and resourcing
these efforts; and,
WHEREAS municipalities are the order of government closest to the people and have a unique
opportunity to identify and reach the most vulnerable populations; and,
WHEREAS many municipalities across the country have taken on this task often with limited
resources; and,
WHEREAS this task demands a high level of multi system co-operation; and,
WHEREAS municipalities frequently model partnerships for action; and,
WHEREAS communities cannot sustain these efforts without clear political leadership and
support;
BE IT RESOLVED that based on the City of Kitchener's experience and knowledge in
municipally based crime prevention, we endorse, in principle, the identified themes and guiding
principles for municipalities to plan and sustain successful crime reduction and community
safety initiatives as set out in the Making Cities Safer: Canadian Strategies & Practices report;
and,
That other municipalities be encouraged to similarly engage in actions to reduce and prevent
crime and victimization and fear of crime through local actions as outlined in the report; and,
That the City of Kitchener request the Federal and Provincial governments to model their social
development efforts for crime prevention on the level of co-operation witnessed in communities
across the country; and further,
That the Federal and Provincial governments be requested to provide strategic and long term
resources to municipalities for crime prevention efforts through the establishment and support of
permanent centres of responsibility that nurture and sustain local crime prevention."
4. FESTIVAL OF NEIGHBOURHOODS - 200$
Ms. T. Beaulne presented information on the 2008 Festival of Neighbourhoods (FoN) and
requested the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee endorse the Festival as an
important community capacity-building initiative and also commit to providing a grant of $250.
to sponsor the annual `Newcomer Award' to be announced at the FoN Grand Finale event.
SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JUNE 10, 200$ - 17 - CITY OF KITCHENER
4. FESTIVAL OF NEIGHBOURHOODS - 200$ tCONT'D)
She noted that support of the Festival is identified in the Committee's work plan as an ongoing
initiative to support opportunities to expand the role and scope of the Festival as they relate to
community and neighbourhood capacity-building. In support of this, she distributed an outline
of the 2008 request.
In the past, it was recognized that the Committee had sponsored the `Newcomer Award' and in
doing so, showed community leadership. The Award is given to a new participant and the
grant is meant to be used towards sponsoring an event in a subsequent year of the Festival.
Selection of the winner is by random draw of all first-time registrants.
On motion by Mr. C. Schneider -
it was resolved:
"That a grant in the amount of $250. from the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory
Committee budget to sponsor the `Newcomer Award' of the 2008 Festival of
Neighbourhoods event, be approved."
The information circulated with regard to the 2008 Festival of Neighbourhoods indicated that
the Committee would be acknowledged on any marketing material; would recognize the
Committee's support at the Festival's Finale; would provide an opportunity for the Committee
to display materials at the Finale; would recognize the Committee in media releases and
advertising; and, would provide additional assistance where possible to support the
Committee's goals.
Ms. Beaulne requested that a member of the Committee attend the Grand Finale and present
the `Newcomer Award'. For the information of the Committee, it was noted that Ms. Jennifer
O'Connor had recently been hired of the Festival Co-ordinator.
Ms. M. Hogg then requested members to consider further actions that would assist the FoN in
identifying additional sources of funding as it looks to expanding its scope without changing its
focus.
At the request of the Committee, Ms. Beaulne advised that the FoN Organizing Committee
would meet and provide a listing of ways that the Committee could further assist with
expansion plans. It was agreed that a further presentation would be made at the Committee's
September 2008 meeting.
5. POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY
As a follow up to a presentation made at the Committee's April 1, 2008, meeting, Ms. T.
Beaulne and Ms. M. Hogg provided an update on actions related to the development of a
Poverty Reduction Strategy.
The Province of Ontario is hosting a series of 14 public consultation sessions throughout
Ontario and these will be attended by the Minister of Children and Youth Services, Deb
Mathews. The Honourable Ms. Mathews also heads the government's Poverty Reduction
Strategy Committee.
A consultation is scheduled to be held in Kitchener on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at the Lion's
Arena from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. All members of the Committee will be invited to this invitation-only
event. The consultation will be in the form of a roundtable with apre-approved list of questions
to be discussed.
Ms. L. Palubeski then briefed the Committee on what is happening locally concerning with the
Alliance for Children and Youth and its actions to reduce child poverty. She further advised
that the Alliance is also participating in the provincial consultation session.
SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JUNE 10, 200$ - 1$ - CITY OF KITCHENER
5. ADJOURNMENT
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
Linda Korabo
Committee Administrator