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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-06-09 CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 9, 2009 CITY OF KITCHENER The Cycling Advisory Committee met this date commencing at 4:00 p.m. Present: Messrs. T. Kenyon (Chair), B. Forwell (Vice-Chair), and Councillor J. Gazzola Messrs. S. Burek, D. Class, N. Mehés and Ms. P. Ji-Taylor Staff: Messrs. R. Schirm (Committee Administrator), P. Wetherup and Ms. K. Reinert (Recorder) Regrets: Messrs. J. Alexander, D. Hilker, B. Laube, T. Müller The Diversity Committee had requested to make presentations to all advisory committees and Ms. Tammy Turner, Manager of Employee Strategy and Recruitment with the City of Kitchener was the representative at this meeting. Ms. Turner asked if her presentation could be placed first on the agenda in case she was called away from the meeting and since there was no quorum at this time, it was decided to commence with this presentation to allow more time for additional members to arrive. DIVERSITY STRATEGY 1. Ms. Turner has been chair of diversity in the workplace at the City of Kitchener for four years and has seen the program expanding in the community. The diversity strategy proposal is being presented to various community and corporate groups including this advisory committee nd before it goes to Council on June 22. The definition of diversity was explained as being different and to include race, culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, ability, socio-economic differences, health status. We are more aware of the range and importance of diversity, and the need to ensure that all citizens have opportunities to participate in the life of the corporation and the community and that the corporation approach needs to be proactive rather than based on demand and response from the community. Vision Compass Kitchener vision: Together, we will build an innovative, caring and vibrant Kitchener with safe and thriving neighbourhoods. (2000) Our shared vision is for Kitchener to be a community where all residents have equitable access to, and meaningful inclusion in, the social, economic and cultural fabric of civic life. (2008) Purpose ? To create a corporate culture that is inclusive and represents the diversity of our community; ? To establish a framework that supports all departments, work environments and activities within the City of Kitchener to embrace the spirit of access, equity and inclusion. CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 9, 2009 - - CITY OF KITCHENER 2 DIVERSITY STRATEGY – CONT’D 1. Our goals ? We will have a workforce that is broadly reflective of the community; ? We will identify and address barriers within our organizational systems; ? We will attract and retain a talented workforce skilled at working in an inclusive and respectful manner with one another and with the community; ? We will create processes, policies, plan, practices, programs and services that meet the . diverse needs of those we serve Proposed Corporate Commitment (values, principles): The City of Kitchener believes in recognizing, understanding and respecting all people. Our focus is on facilitating full access and a respectful and safe environment for our employees and citizens, including them fully in the life of the corporation: ? Where we continue to build an organization that values individual differences; ? Where we deliver our best service to our community; ? Where we value and retain employees, and create an environment that encourages everyone to reach their full potential; ? Where we actively identify, address and remove barriers to participation in all our decisions, services and activities; Where every individual has a responsibility to create an environment of access, equity ? and inclusion, where they are not just goals to which we aspire, but traits of our character . In conclusion, Ms. Turner asked that everyone keep inclusion in mind in all of our endeavours. ONTARIO BIKE SUMMIT – SEPTEMBER 21 TO 22, 2009 2. Ms. Eleanor McMahon, Principle of McMahon Communications introduced herself and gave a brief overview of her work experience. Ms. McMahon has over 20 years of communications and marketing experience including senior corporate communications and marketing roles in the private, public and non-for profit sectors. Following the death of her husband, OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart, who was killed in a cycling collision in June 2006, Ms. McMahon has been working to engineer legislative change in Ontario and is leading the development of a provincial, grassroots cycling advocacy organization in Ontario entitled ‘Share the Road Cycling Coalition’. The Coalition’s primary goals are encouraging cycling and, in particular, promoting safe cycling to make a bicycle- friendly Ontario. Ms. McMahon explained that her husband, having been a police officer, knew how to ride his bike safely and that he loved to ride and exercise. Unlike the history of the person who killed her husband, he had many driving offences, including hitting another person after he had killed her husband and that he obviously did not respect his driver’s licence. Therefore, she felt the impetus for a change in legislation and in November 2008, Greg’s Law was tabled in the CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 9, 2009 - - CITY OF KITCHENER 3 ONTARIO BIKE SUMMIT – SEPTEMBER 21 TO 22, 2009 – CONT’D 2. nd Ontario legislature as part of a larger Road Safety Bill, Bill 126 and it passed on April 22, 2009. Greg’s Law enforces penalties to chronic suspended drivers and places them on the same platform as speed racing The annual “Share the Road for Greg Ride”, will kick-off the Ontario Bike Summit and will be th held in Milton, on Sunday September 20. The Ride is organized in memory of Greg Stobbart, and is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of safety and sharing the road. The Share the Road Cycling Coalition will be hosting the Ontario Bike Summit on September thst 20 and 21 at the Waterloo Inn. The key objective of the Ontario Bike Summit is a need for capacity building which became apparent in discussions and interactions with bicycling organizations, governments and industry. Bicycling advocates are in need of resources to effectively enact education, awareness, safety and infrastructure partnerships and programs with key stakeholders in their communities. Another growing need is enhanced relationships with law enforcement Day 1 of the Summit will have “How To” sessions which will include how to develop a cycling advocacy committee and find out how it has been done well; Day 2 will introduce “Build a Bicycle Friendly Ontario” and what the role is for the provincial government. Politicians from all three levels of government will be attending to show what a Bicycle Friendly Ontario looks like to them. This committee can help by providing the following support; ? volunteering at the Summit ? attend the Summit ? offer feedback ? spread the word out to cycling clubs, etc. Ron Schirm thanked Ms. McMahon for her presentation and encouraged members to forward ideas on how to get involved in the Summit to himself, or if requested, he can forward Ms. McMahon’s email address. LEAF PROGRAM 3. Ms. Barbara Steiner, Senior Environmental Planner with the City of Kitchener, distributed the LEAF brochure and gave a brief description on how this funding opportunity works. The program was set up two years ago by Council and a total of $5 million was set aside to reduce, or repair, Kitchener’s impact on the environment focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gases, and to enhance the ability of the Kitchener community to live sustainably into the future. This program is available until 2010. The top three criteria for the program area; 1. contribution 2. increase public awareness 3. provide long-term sustainability CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 9, 2009 - - CITY OF KITCHENER 4 LEAF PROGRAM – CONT’D 3. $1.5 million has already been released to a green roof and school projects. The next intake of applications will be in the Fall, followed by February/March 2010. One of the areas of concern for this program is air quality which is the essence of what this committee is about plus alternative transportation; therefore, the first step for this committee is to download the longer form application from the website and speak further with Ms. Steiner APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4. That the minutes of the May 12, 2009 meeting be approved. Motioned by Mr. S. Burek Seconded by Mr. N. Mehés CYCLING FORUM – JUNE 4 5. This event was a good first step with approximately 70 participants and 72 responses to the survey. There were some responses to the cycling@kitchener.ca email account which will remain in place until August. The survey will be broadened and placed on the website; if anyone would like copies, contact Ron Schirm. Although committee members did not see the CKCO ‘live feed’ coverage at approximately 6:20 p.m., Ron Schirm was informed that it was really positive. Mr. T. Kenyon thanked Ron for organizing this event and for everyone’s support. PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL 6. Due to time constraint, this item will be deferred to the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT On motion of Chair, T. Kenyon, the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Ronald Schirm Committee Administrator