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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe & Healthy - 2009-10-06SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 6, 2009 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:00 p. m. Present: Ms. K. Kwiatkowski, Chair Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Ms. L. Booth, Ms. M. Hogg, Ms. S. Franzen, Ms. D. Ahluwalia, Ms. T. Beaulne, and Messrs. B. Pegg, D. Pellerin and Superintendent B. Larkin. Staff: L. Palubeski, Manager of Program and Resource Services M. Hildebrand, Director of Community Programs & Services L. Korabo, Committee Administrator ACCESSIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING Ms. Pamela Albrecht, Accessibility Standards Trainer, attended to provide training on accessible customer service to members of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee. Ms. Albrecht advised that Provincial legislation has mandated this training for anyone who provides a direct service or has influence over policy, thus all volunteers with the City's advisory committees are receiving training. Legislation guiding this mandate is the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) stating a goal of making Ontario accessible by 2025. The AODA introduced five sets of standards for accessibility, being: customer service; transportation; information and communication; built environment; and employment. These standards were developed by committees made up of people with disabilities, government representatives and industry leaders. Following establishment of the draft set of standards, an inclusive public review /feedback process was held in which the City of Kitchener participated. Customer service is the standard currently being worked on. The public sector must be compliant by January 1, 2010, therefore training has been taking place for all staff, volunteers and third parties associated with the Corporation. In addition, all of the City's policies, practices and procedures are being reviewed and revised as there are significant penalties levied for non-compliance. This review will ensure that policies that guide and govern provision of goods and services to people with disabilities adhere to principles of dignity, independence, integration and equality of opportunity. The process of identifying gaps in policies is ongoing with a launch of revised policies to be held on December 3, 2009, in conjunction with the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. Ms. Albrecht provided a definition of disability as provided by the Ontario Human Rights Code and noted that a significant listing of disabilities, some of which are not physically obvious, are included. She advised that exclusion is a reality for many Canadians with disabilities, also noting that statistics show that a person with a disability is almost twice as likely to live in poverty. Further, over 55% of working-age adults with disabilities are unemployed and rates of violence and abuse are amongst the highest for any group in Canadian society, especially with women with disabilities. Information was also provided to the Committee concerning existing barriers that might limit full participation in society. In response to a question, Ms. Albrecht advised that approximately 70% of compliance training for the City of Kitchener has been completed to date. 2. DRAFT DIVERSITY STRATEGY Fire Chief Tim Beckett, a member of the Corporate Diversity Committee, attended to provide an overview of the draft Diversity Strategy being circulated to all advisory committees to gather input. Mr. Beckett advised that the term `diversity' refers to individual differences around race, culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, ability, socio- economic differences, health status, etc. Some of these differences are obvious while some are not. In 2005, a Corporate Diversity Committee was formed to look at attraction, recruitment, hiring and retention, diversity training, partnerships and internships and work place supports. Its goal was to ensure a proactive approach to making our work place more diverse and meeting the SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 6, 2009 - 26 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. DRAFT DIVERSITY STRATEGY (Cont'd) needs of the community. Later in 2008, a Community Diversity Committee was formed to look at the external situation. This group developed a `Mini Kitchener' brochure which provided statistics related to Kitchener based on a representative 100-person population. The statistics from this exercise proved very telling, noting things such as 27% of Kitchener residents are born outside of Canada. As it was observed that the two committees were working on similar tracks, they joined together to work more effectively. Together the following purpose was established: • to create a Corporate culture that is inclusive and represents the diversity of our community; and, • 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. In addition, it established four broad goals and objectives, being: • having a work force that is broadly reflective of the community; • identifying and addressing barriers within our organizational systems; • attracting and retraining a talented workforce skilled at working in an inclusive and respectful manner with one another and with the community; and, • creating processes, policies, plans, practices, programs and services that meet the diverse needs of those we serve. The Diversity Strategy work plan is built on a Corporate commitment that will focus on facilitating full access and a respectful and safe environment for our employees and citizens, including them fully in the life of the Corporation. Plans are in place to conduct a work force census in the Spring of 2010 to determine a baseline of what the Corporation looks like compared to the community (Mini Kitchener). In addition, a diversity lens will be applied to all operating areas to ensure that all policies and practices are carried out with this in mind. The Diversity Strategy will be presented to Council in late October /November and will be implemented once approval is received. Members of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee were asked if they could endorse the concept of the Corporate culture as laid out in the objectives presented to them today. Mr. Beckett noted that the initial focus of the Strategy will be the City's work force, with it rolling out into the community. Ms. T. Beaulne acknowledged her agreement with implementing an internal strategy but questioned how it would be rolled out to the community. Mr. Beckett noted that Human Resources hiring policies are being changed to accommodate an experience equivalency in many positions. In addition, assistance has been hired to aid in our understanding of foreign credentials, etc., and this will assist the Corporation's hiring practices. In response to a question concerning involving the community, Ms. L. Palubeski advised that she is a member of the staff committee and discussions have been held concerning reaching out to the community for `champions' to act as connectors with various ethnic groups thereby aiding with the community component of this strategy. Ms. D. Ahluwalia suggested developing a work plan for Year 1 to allow for quick successes to then be followed by a community outreach plan. She asked that the Committee consider developing atwo-three year work plan to lay out strategies. Mr. Beckett advised that he will bring that suggestion forward. Ms. Palubeski inquired as to what exactly will be presented to Council and it was noted that the Committee will develop a work plan. The Committee's structure will remain status quo for now but will add people as required. Mr. Beckett indicated that the Committee was open to ideas and suggestions about engaging the community in order to learn about best practices. Ms. T. Beaulne suggested that other municipalities and school boards be contacted about the possibility of forming a network as all are working towards similar ends. The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee supported the Diversity Strategy as presented. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 6, 2009 - 27 - CITY OF KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE Mr. D. Pellerin provided an overview of topics discussed by the Downtown Advisory Committee at its September meeting: • Downtown Fapade Program -helping to improve the perception of safety; • Rapid Transit Program -ongoing negotiations concerning funding, construction to be undertaken in 2012-2014; • Go Transit -extending service to Kitchener from Georgetown along North Main Line; • Consolidated Courthouse -construction beginning in Fall of 2010; • Charles and Benton Parking Garage -construction on schedule; • Centre Block - evaluations ongoing, Development Agreement to be signed by November 30, 2009 for project to move forward; and, • Kitchener Public Library -preliminary design of underground parking structure is being completed, construction will commence June 2010. 4. FESTIVAL OF NEIGHBOURHOODS -NEWCOMER AWARD Ms. T. Beaulne advised that for a number of years the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee has sponsored an award at the Festival of Neighbourhoods Grand Finale celebration. She commented that the Festival celebrates creative ways to bring neighbours together and for the past few years, the `Newcomer Award' has been sponsored by this Committee. The `Newcomer Award' is chosen via a random draw of all neighbourhoods that have registered an activity for the first time. The prize is $250. towards costs of an activity in the following year. She indicated that monies have been included in the budget for this contribution and requested that a member of the Committee attend the Grand Finale celebration on Sunday, October 25, to make the draw and award the prize. Ms. K. Kwiatkowski offered to attend. 5. OVERVIEW OF ANNUAL ALL COMMITTEE GATHERING Ms. T. Beaulne advised that she attended the Annual Committee Gathering on behalf of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee on Saturday, October 3, 2009. Most advisory committees had representatives in attendance who were then asked to consider opportunities for coordination and collaboration with other advisory committees by highlighting identified priorities in their work plans and making note of any connections with other committees who may have a similar focus. Ms. Beaulne noted that our priorities connected with those of Compass Kitchener and the Kitchener Youth Action Council. Further, she observed that Compass Kitchener and the Mayor's Advisory Council for Kitchener Seniors showed connections with our Committee. 6. DEVELOPMENT /APPROVAL OF WORK PLAN Mr. L. Palubeski advised that based on the excellent ground work done by members, a draft work plan has been produced and is being circulated for the Committee's consideration. She advised that the work plan must be presented to Council before it can be acted on and asked that the Committee consider approving the plan as submitted. Staff could then prepare a report and forward same to Council at its meeting of October 26, 2009. She advised that the Committee's November meeting currently has two presentations scheduled that are identified in the work plan. It was staff's feeling that once the Committee heard these presentations, additional work plan action items might be identified and could be added. A general discussion ensued concerning the addition of tasks related to the action item ensuring that youth are included and engaged in Downtown development initiatives. It was suggested that consideration be given to undertaking a community scan /outreach initiative and involving the Kitchener Youth Action Council. The scan could gather information on where youth live, hang out and attend school. A concern was raised within ensuring there is no overlap with the work that will be coming out of the Youth Services Strategy to be presented to Council in the near future. It was suggested that in addition to the community scan, the Committee could provide assistance and strategic SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 6, 2009 - 28 - CITY OF KITCHENER 6. DEVELOPMENT /APPROVAL OF WORK PLAN (Cont'd) support to the high level actions in the Youth Services Strategy. Mr. M. Hildebrand agreed with this approach noting that there would be some value added issues that the Committee could become involved with. It was agreed to add these two items to the draft work plan and forward same for approval by Council. 7. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p. m. Linda Korabo Committee Administrator