HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil - 2009-10-13 SSPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 13, 2009 CITY OF KITCHENER
A special meeting of City Council was held at 3:05 p.m. this date, Chaired by Mayor C. Zehr with all
members present. Councillor J. Gazzola was in attendance for part of the meeting.
Notice of this meeting had been previously given to all members of Council by the City Clerk pursuant
to Chapter 25 (Council Procedure) of the Municipal Code.
Moved by Councillor C. Weylie
Seconded by Councillor B. Vrbanovic
"That an in-camera meeting be held this date of consider alitigation /potential litigation matter
and a matter subject tosolicitor-client privilege."
Carried.
It was noted that this special meeting was a strategic planning session which was being held to allow
discussion on various strategic initiatives and directions being taken by the City.
Council considered Community Services Department report CSD-09-053 dated September 21, 2009,
regarding the Older Adult Strategy. In addition, Council was in receipt this date of the Older Adult
Strategy Final Report, dated June 2009.
Mr. M. Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs & Services, advised that dmA Planning and
Management Services was retained to complete the research into older adult needs and interests and
develop an Older Adult Strategy. Mr. Hildebrand explained that the Final Report from the consultant was
being tabled this date for discussion and that no decision is required at this time.
Mr. Jim Morgenstern, Principle, dmA Planning and Management Services, gave a presentation
highlighting the key components of the June 2009 report. Mr. Morgenstern advised that there are two
major older adult market segments, today's seniors referred to as the `frail elderly' and today's baby
boomers, those born between 1946 -1964 referred to as `Zoomers'. He explained that today's seniors,
those over 65 years of age, have programs /service expectations consistent with today's elderly, have
more mobility and health challenges, issues of loneliness and isolation and require more assistance and
support to participate. Zoomers have vastly different expectations for leisure, are healthy, more affluent
and diverse. They are more technologically savvy and view aging as a new phase in life. Their interests
will be travel, lifelong learning, health and wellness, aging well and staying physically active. He added
that Zoomers will avoid seniors' activities, will demand comfortable welcoming accessible multipurpose
facilities and are willing to pay for those services. They are less likely to volunteer or pay memberships
preferring flexible participation, drop-in and shorter timeframes. He pointed out that these two market
segments are vastly different and will have a significant impact on the City in trying to provide services to
both groups.
Mr. Morgenstern then reviewed the highlights of the report as follows:
Clarifying the Department's Mandate
• lack of clarity concerning preferred outcomes, goals and service delivery principles therefore the
Department should establish preferred outcomes that are consistent across the Department;
despite their growing numbers and need for leisure services, Zoomers are not currently target
markets;
current focus of resources, services and policies on child /youth and traditional seniors;
service priorities should be established based on outcomes not age and in this regard, a review of
programs, policies and approaches is required with revision of those inconsistent with this
direction;
the frail elderly have a greater range of needs and require more support and assistance and
specialized facilities, in this regard the Department should continue in its role as a partner with
relevant agencies and not be the lead agency;
• must consider the implications for the Department's future recreation facilities.
Changes to meet the needs of future Older Adults
• Zoomers will demand high quality, multipurpose facilities and existing stand-alone older adult
facilities do not conform and are at odds with neighbourhood resource centre model and many
smaller facilities;
dedicated older adult facilities not part of future facility inventory and Rockway Senior Centre
should be phased out and alternative uses for the centre should be explored;
SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 13, 2009 - 267 - CITY OF KITCHENER
• review current model for facility provision -may warrant departure from neighbourhood based
model, consolidation and 1 or renovation;
strong community attachment to the neighbourhood association model which primarily serves
children and youth with some adult programs;
• more emphasis on emerging adults /older adult market required;
• work with the neighbourhood associations to ensure continued service and program provisions in
changing communities;
parks and outdoor facilities may require expanded supply of large community parks, special event
parks, linked open space and higher quality facilities in order to focus on adults /older adults;
• review park provision standards, design standards and park classification systems to reflect
emerging needs of adults 1 older adults i.e. green gym equipment;
different types of parks with a wider range of features and amenities oriented to adults /older
adults.
New approaches to service provision
• revised scheduling and allocation policies and practices;
• phase out memberships, implement flexible fee and program structures;
• phase out subsidies based on age and replace with ability to pay;
explore opportunities to expand program offerings directed to adults 1 older adults;
• review community development approaches aimed at sport development and determine if a
different role is required for older adults;
• review marketing and communication tools to ensure they reflect needs for convenience and
access, changing demographics and increasing diversity;
• review range and scope of volunteer opportunities, methods of recruiting and engaging, to better
reflect emerging interests;
dedicate resources and place a higher priority on research aimed at understanding emerging
needs and interests;
training for all staff, volunteers and neighbourhood associations;
• Department structure will need to adapt as services transform and there is less emphasis on age-
segregated services.
Councillor B. Vrbanovic asked about some of the challenges that may be faced by neighbourhood
associations in offering programs for older adults. Mr. Morgenstern advised there will be a shift in the
target audience and in developing the types of programs for that audience. As well, there will be issues
with the current facilities as Zoomers will be looking for more services and conveniences such as online
registration. He added that the neighbourhood associations may not be entirely in sync and therefore
will need to evolve and improve. Councillor G. Lorentz raised a concern regarding the phasing out of
Rockway Senior Centre and how the City would deal with the current seniors who use the facility. Mr.
Morgenstern advised this will not be an easy transition, however, statistics have shown that the number
of seniors using the centre has decreased by 4% yet the older adult population has increased
significantly. He added that in future the Zoomer older adult will not use Rockway therefore the City
must focus on the best use of that facility. He suggested that the current programs and services offered
through Rockway should be delivered through the other community centres. Councillor K. Galloway
asked if research has shown that Zoomers will pay for the new and diverse services. Mr. Morgenstern
advised they would and that Zoomers will be looking for convenience and quality of services. Mayor C.
Zehr asked if Zoomers will be looking for more group programs or facilities that offer individual activities
and, if the changing ethnic makeup of the community will have an impact on these services in the future.
Mr. Morgenstern advised that the Zoomers will be looking for both individual activities and services
offering social interaction. In regard to the changing ethnic makeup, he advised there is not a good body
of research and more research is required in this particular field. Mayor Zehr suggested that there may
be opportunity to ask questions through City surveys on future services and how the changing ethnic
makeup of the community may impact on future trends. Mayor Zehr inquired as to how other
municipalities are providing these services in comparison to the City's neighbourhood association and
community centre model. Mr. Morgenstern advised that in large urban centres, the smaller community
centres are the exception rather than the rule and this model may be at odds with the growing trend
where the expectation is to have amultipurpose /service facility. He added these types of facilities may
provide an opportunity for the City to offer various services more efficiently such as a recreational facility
that also offers non-recreational programming and library services.
Mr. M. Hildebrand advised that the next steps in developing the Older Adult Strategy will be to conduct a
public and stakeholder review and report back to Council with recommendations.
SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 13, 2009 - 268 - CITY OF KITCHENER
Council considered Development & Technical Services Department report DTS-09-152 dated October 7,
2009 regarding the City's Pandemic Planning.
Fire Chief T. Beckett advised that as part of the Emergency Plan, the City has developed a Pandemic
Plan in the event that a pandemic and in particular an influenza pandemic occurs. Chief Beckett gave a
presentation providing highlights of the Plan including:
• Leadership structure and key roles in a pandemic;
Corporate response to an escalation;
• Preparations required prior to a declared pandemic such as identifying essential skills, action
plans, skill sets of existing staff, training and education of staff and establishment of policies and
protocols;
• Recovery processes once the pandemic passes;
• A corporate communication plan.
Chief Beckett advised that the City of Kitchener Plan has been developed working closely with the
Region of Waterloo and in the event of a declared pandemic emergency, the Regional Public Health Unit
is the lead agency and much of the City's direction will come from them.
Councillor B. Vrbanovic advised he has seen hand sanitizers placed at various entrances to large public
buildings in Toronto and asked if this has been considered for City-owned facilities. Chief Beckett
advised this issue had been discussed and it was decided not to put sanitizers at the entrances due to
cost and maintenance issues however, divisions were encouraged to purchase and have available hand
sanitizers at their public counters. He added that soap and water is the best defence and that hand
sanitizers should only be used as an alternative when washing hands is not possible. He added that
hand sanitizers can dry the skin which could cause problems for users. Councillor Vrbanovic asked that
the matter be reviewed again and consideration be made especially in facilities where the public gather.
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:33 p.m.
MAYOR CLERK