HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe & Healthy - 2008-10-07SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
OCTOBER 7, 200$ CITY OF KITCHENER
The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m.
Present: Co-Chair, B. Vrbanovic
T. Bender, P. Doherty, M. Haverla, M. Hogg, P. Ji-Taylor, K. Kwiatkowski, C.
Schneider, S. Franzen, 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
R. Delaney, Administrative Assistant
1. "IN THE MIND'S EYE" tITME) AND YOUTH GANG PROPOSAL
Ms. C. Sadeler, Executive Director, Community Safety & Crime Prevention Council, Region of
Waterloo introduced Sharon Walpoles, Community Engagement Coordinator.
Ms. Sadeler advised on an issue affecting all neighbourhoods, substance abuse (including
alcohol). The substance abuse issue keeps surfacing for many reasons including a lack of
effective treatment centres. She stated that 94% of the Region's substance abuse resources
go into enforcement. It is important to develop clear strategies which should include public
engagement in dealing with this issue. The Crime Prevention Council has been directed to
develop and integrate strategies on substance abuse.
Ms. Sadeler provided an update on "In the Mind's Eye 2008 -Issues of Substance Use in Film
+ Forum". This program, unique to the Waterloo Region and developed by the Community
Safety & Crime Prevention Council, is a series of films and forums offering an opportunity to
have a look inside the world of substance abuse and how it impacts across our
neighbourhoods and communities. Through a series of events throughout the Region
combining film, workshops and keynote speakers from October and November, the
programming makes this look at substance use (including alcohol) real and relevant.
Resources to help in substance abuse can be found on the web at nttp://www.intnemindseye.ca/.
Ms. Sadeler also presented an update on a Youth Gang proposal which has been submitted to
the Provincial government as a request for funding of $2.4M over three years. The sponsoring
organization is the Region of Waterloo which has been working with various social agencies;
Lutherwood, St. Mary's Hospital, John Howard Society and ROOF (Reaching our Outdoor
Friends) along with Inspector Bob Gould, Waterloo Regional Police. The proposal has been
developed with two objectives in mind; prevention and intervention. Firstly, a community
mobilization team will identify 5 potential risk neighbourhoods and work to prevent vulnerable
youth from joining gangs, and secondly, a community treatment team will provide strategies to
help youth gang members to leave. The majority of gang members are between the ages of 17
- 25, and the most vulnerable to gang recruitment are between the ages of 10 - 12.
Ms. Sadeler summarized by stating that the Committee is in a good position to help reach out
to the community on these issues.
2. INTERNAL ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION (AEI) INVENTORY AND DIVERSITY
STRATEGY UPDATE
AEI Inventory.
Ms. A. Grafstein attended to provide an update on the AEI Inventory. The document is a
corporate environmental scan which is an inventory of City activities related to access, equity
and inclusion. The document has now become a benchmark and it indicates that staff are
thinking about diversity broadly in terms of access, equity and inclusion. The inventory
supports the direction of the diversity strategy.
Diversity Strategy Update
Ms. Grafstein presented an update regarding the City's Diversity Strategy. She advised that in
the spring of 2008, she attended a conference In Edmonton and obtained their City's Diversity
and Inclusion Framework which has been adapted for use by the City of Kitchener. A staff
team has been meeting since July and to date have completed the following:
SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
OCTOBER 7, 200$ - 21 - CITY OF KITCHENER
2. INTERNAL ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION (AEI) INVENTORY AND DIVERSITY
STRATEGY UPDATE - tCONT'D
• Developed background information including highlights of demographics and describing
why a comprehensive diversity strategy is needed for the City of Kitchener;
• Produced a "Mini Kitchener" document that reduces our city's population to a
community of 100 people and profiles this diverse group of villagers. This is intended to
understand our community through numbers that are easier to identify with than
statistics;
• Reviewed and analyzed our access, equity and inclusion inventory;
• Developed a vision and clear purpose for the strategy;
• Revised the corporate commitment for diversity;
• Agreed on the adoption of Edmonton's goals for our strategy; and,
• Identified work already happening corporately and identified gaps that currently exist.
The next objective is to look at next steps in terms of implantation options through
communication including presentations and reports.
3. WORKPLAN UPDATE -SAFE AND CLEAN PARKS & STREETS
Ms. S. Franzen presented a update on behalf of members of the working plan sub group on
Safe and Clean Parks and Streets. The objective was to investigate the role of the Committee
as it relates to safe and clean parks and streets, and to determine policies, programs and
opportunities for collaboration.
Parks
A meeting was set up with Greg Hummel, Manager of Parks Planning, Development and
Operations to determine existing policies and programs already in place. The following
processes and initiatives were identified:
• Cleanliness Committee: encourages sports groups to clean up after games;
• New parks are now designed by landscape architects that have received Crime
Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) training;
• Parks By-law -closing of parks between 11 pm and 6 am -assists in managing
activities in the parks;
• Parks riders program through By-law Enforcement respond to calls via motorcycles;
• Nuisance By-law -manages undesirable activities and behaviours;
• CPTED review was conducted in Victoria Park and another is planned in the coming
year;
• Environmental assessment is also currently underway in Victoria Park;
• Neighbourhood associations are consulted during park development; and,
• Parks Master Plan -The city is reviewing its parks inventory to see if there are enough.
Ms. Kwiatkowski raised a concern as to whether or not there was afollow-up to the first
CPTED review of Victoria Park and if there is a need to conduct another one when the results
are not yet know. A question was raised as to whether the environmental assessment
currently being done in Victoria Park will conflict with the CPTED review, especially in the
lighting and berm issues raised by Ms. Kwiatkowski. Staff will check with Greg Hummel and
bring back results to the next meeting.
Streets
A meeting was also set up with Scott Berry, Manager of Maintenance Operations to ascertain
what already exists in the City regarding street policies and programs. The follow processes
and initiatives were identified:
• Minimum regulatory street maintenance standards, regarding debris and snow removal,
etc.;
• Regular ongoing street maintenance program;
• Major streets litter collection program;
• Customized street program for the Downtown area which has been identified as high
priority; and,
• Consultation with Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee as part of public
consultation related to person with disabilities.
SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
OCTOBER 7, 200$ - 22 - CITY OF KITCHENER
3. WORKPLAN UPDATE -SAFE AND CLEAN PARKS & STREETS - tCONT'D)
A concern was raised about the air quality in the Downtown around the Grand River Transit
Station due to the idling of buses and the effect on the health of persons who walk and live in
the Downtown area. It was suggested that this issue be referred to the Environmental
Committee and their Air Quality initiative. Ms. Beaulne suggested that there is a health impact,
therefore an issue for this Committee.
4. " 25 & 5" INITIATIVE -MANDATE AND ENDORSEMENT
Ms. L. Palubeski brought forward an initiative that has been received by the Mayor's Office
regarding the endorsement of the "25 in 5" campaign. The "25 in 5": Network for Poverty
Reduction is an advocacy group that is committed to moving forward the Province of Ontario's
poverty reduction plans. The campaign is organized by a multi-sectoral network comprised of
more than 100 provincial and Toronto-based organizations and individuals working on
eliminating poverty. They have organized themselves around the call for a Poverty Reduction
Plan with a goal to reduce poverty in Ontario by 25% in 5 years and 50% in 10 years. The
group is asking for the Committee's endorsement of the "25 in 5" founding declaration.
Ms. M. Hogg and Ms. T. Beaulne presented material relating to poverty reduction entitled
"Social Issues in Kitchener-Waterloo and Area" that was compiled by the Social Planning
Council of Kitchener-Waterloo. The material is an amalgamation of information produced from
various meetings and events held in Kitchener-Waterloo over the past year, a major
component of which is poverty reduction.
Ms. Hogg and Ms. Beaulne support the request for Council's endorsement for the "25 in 25"
advocacy group network declaration against poverty.
On motion by Ms. C. Hogg -
it was resolved:
WHEREAS the Government of Ontario, in its November 2007 Throne Speech,
committed to developing a Poverty Reduction Strategy for Ontario; and,
WHEREAS the 25-in-5 Network for Poverty Reduction, representing over 100 provincial
associations and people committed to action on eliminating poverty, has launched a
campaign to reduce poverty in Ontario by 25% in 5 years, and has developed a
Declaration which outlines the actions required to achieve this, based on sustained
employment, livable incomes and strong supportive communities; and,
WHEREAS the 25-in-5 Network is seeking endorsements from municipal councils for its
declaration, and has already received support from such cities as Cambridge, Ottawa,
London and Toronto;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener endorse the 25-in-5
Network's Declaration.
5. ADJOURNMENT
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Rita Delaney
Administrative Assistant