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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe & Healthy - 2003-03-18SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 18, 2003 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:10 p.m., Chaired by Mr. D. Schnarr, with the following members present: Ms. J. Breithaupt, Ms. S. Franzen, Ms. A. McConnell and Messrs. P. Doherty and J. Vickery. Ms. T. Beaulne was in attendance for part of the meeting. Others Present: Ms. L. Palubeski, Ms. N. Voll and Ms. L. Korabo. The meeting commenced without a quorum in attendance. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES On motion by Mr. P. Doherty - it was resolved: "That the minutes of February 18, 2003, as mailed to the members, be accepted." 2. FESTIVAL OF NEIGHBOURHOODS 10TH ANNIVERSARY (2003) Mr. J. MacDonald, Festival of Neighbourhoods Steering Committee, and Ms. N. Voll, District Facilitator, attended to present a funding request related to the 10th Anniversary of the Festival of Neighbourhoods to be held between April - September 2003. With the use of an overhead projector, Mr. MacDonald gave a historical presentation on the Festival covering the previous nine years. He advised that the Festival of Neighbourhoods is an annual celebration promoting and supporting positive relationships amongst citizens living together as a fundamental building block of our quality of civic life. Mr. MacDonald then circulated a summary document to members of the Committee for their information. The event is organized by a small citizen volunteer steering group and is assisted by the City of Kitchener and other partners such as the K-W Good Neighbours Council, the Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo and John MacDonald, Architect. Citizens are encouraged to organize neighbourhood-oriented events and register these events with the Committee. Mr. MacDonald stated that approximately 400 events have been registered during the course of the celebration with many of these events growing from new roots and first time participants. It was further noted that a finale is held at the end of the Festival season wherein all registered neighbourhoods have the opportunity to win a $10,000. capital grant provided by the City of Kitchener. In the past, this grant has been used to make improvements to community playgrounds, trails, street lighting, etc. The funding can be matched by volunteer effort from within the winning neighbourhood, increasing the value of the capital improvements as well as providing a sense of accomplishment and ownership of the finished project. Ms. T. Beaulne entered the meeting. Mr. MacDonald advised that the Steering Committee is requesting funding assistance of $5,000. to pay for a part-time contract Co-Ordinator's position for 2003. The grant would be a one-time request and would provide the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee with an opportunity to become involved in this healthy communities initiative. Mr. MacDonald offered to provide a report upon conclusion of this year's Festival including a job description of the contract position and results of the funding, outlining how the objectives of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee had been met. On motion by Ms. A. McConnell - it was resolved: "That the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee provide a one-time grant of $5,000. to the Festival of Neighbourhoods Steering Committee to fund a part-time contract Co-Ordinator's position in 2003; and, That these funds be allocated from the approved budget of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee; and further, That the Festival of Neighbourhoods Steering Committee provide a written report to the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee upon conclusion of the 2003 Festival, outlining how the objectives of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee have been met by supporting the funding request." SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 18, 2003 - 8 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. FESTIVAL OF NEIGHBOURHOODS 10TH ANNIVERSARY (2003) (CONT'D) Several members of the Committee expressed concern regarding the lack of understanding of the amount of funds available to the Committee for its disposition, as well as the process that funding requests must follow. Ms. L. Palubeski suggested that staff could make a presentation at the next Committee meeting to address this concern. 3. CSD-03-024 - KITCHENER DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE It was noted that the delegation registered to speak to the report concerning the Kitchener Downtown Community Collaborative was not in attendance. By general consensus, the Committee agreed to defer consideration to a future meeting. DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DAC) REPRESENTATIVE REPORT It was noted that Mr. D. Hoch, the representative of the Downtown Advisory Committee, was not in attendance to give an overview of DAC discussions and therefore this matter was removed from the agenda. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION PROJECT - SOCIAL PLANNING COUNCIL Ms. T. Beaulne introduced the Social and Economic Inclusion Project, subtitled "Closing the Distance for Youth and Seniors in Central West Ontario", and circulated a document dated March, 2003, which provided significant detail about the Project. In summary, the Project initiated over the past year explores community interest in population health initiatives using a social and economic inclusion framework. Isolation was identified as a common concern in urban and rural areas and youth/seniors have been identified as vulnerable population groups because of their experiences of isolation and disconnectedness in their communities. Ms. Beaulne advised that the second phase of the Project will begin in April 2003 and will validate what has emerged from community discussions by facilitating a process to determine how youth/seniors experience exclusion. The Project process will engage youth and seniors, community leaders and community partners in informal discussions at a series of kitchen table talks in Waterloo Region with the knowledge gained to be used to develop audit tools and action planning strategies. A direct link was noted to one of the Committee's identified themes in its Work Plan. Ms. Beaulne requested that any members interested in participating in phase two of the Social and Economic Inclusion Project advise her, and Mr. D. Schnarr expressed an interest in participating. As a final comment, Ms. Beaulne advised that she will provide an update to the Committee in 2 - 3 months time. Mr. P. Doherty left the meeting. YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES PLAN (YOP) UPDATE Ms. L. Palubeski provided an update of the Youth Opportunities Plan advising that draft Terms of Reference have been created, one meeting has been held since the last Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee meeting and that YOP sub-committees are continuing to meet. She commented that the seven identified priority areas are being discussed and broken down by sub-committee members to determine how they relate specifically to youth. The next meeting has been scheduled for April, 2003. INFORMATION ITEMS The Committee was in receipt of the following information items: · Unfinished Business List SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 18, 2003 - 9 - CITY OF KITCHENER $. ADJOURNMENT On motion the meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m. Linda Korabo Committee Administrator