Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCompass Kit - 2009-03-28 - All Advisories Committee COMPASS KITCHENER ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR MEETING MINUTES March 28, 2009CITY OF KITCHENER Present: Theron Kramer (CK), Sarah Marsh (CK), Bart Forwell (Cyc), Kerry Kirby (H), Bob McColl (E), Karen Kwiatkowski (S&H), Lawrence McNaught (A&C), Cleta Young (MACKS), (CK) Compass Kitchener (E) Environment (H) Heritage (S&H) Safe and Healthy (KYAC) Kitchener Youth Action Council (AC) Arts and Culture (EDAC) Economic Development (DAC) Downtown (MACKS) Mayors Advisory Committee Kitchener Seniors (Cyc) Cycling Advisory Committee Staff: Shelley Adams, Rod Regier, Silvia Wright, Breanna Pilon, Jenn Grein The meeting commenced at 9:40 at the Downtown Community Centre, Charles Room. Theron Kramer, chair of Compass Kitchener, welcomed all attendees! Theron reviewed the agenda for this mornings meeting, starting with committee workplan updates. Committee Workplan Updates Safe and Healthy: Karen updated the group on behalf of the Safe and Healthy Advisory Committee. This is Karen’s first year as Chair and third on the committee. The group is currently in the process of confirming the workplan, they have been focusing on the Terms of Reference review as there are many new members and it’s important they understand what the committee is about! It is important to their group to understand how they fit into the bigger picture, updating the Terms of Reference will hopefully help with this. Arts and Culture: Lawrence updated the group on behalf of the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee. He is the Vice Chair and this is his second year on the committee. The group’s workplan was tentatively prepared by a member, followed by committee discussion and mainly focuses on review of outstanding items from CulturePlanII. Within this committee is a Public Art Working Group that advises Council on public art. There will be a public meeting Tues, April 7 on Civic District as an arts and culture ‘hub’ – this has been endorsed by Council and many meetings have already taken place. Information gathered has been brought together and will be presented at this open house taking place at the KPL. Heritage Advisory Committee: Kerry updated the group on behalf of the Heritage Advisory Committee. He has been chair of the committee for 5 years and with this two year term it will be a total of 8. Several sub-committees have been created to look at listing of heritage properties. Leon and Michelle prepare the workplan for the group. COMPASS KITCHENER ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR MEETING MINUTES March 28, 2009CITY OF KITCHENER Economic Development Advisory Committee: As staff resource for the Economic Development Advisory Committee, Rod provided an update on their work. A sub committee has been established to work on the Terms of Reference review. Their workplan has a variety of items including next stages for the cluster strategy, as well as work with life sciences. There has been some substantial milestones in digital media and the School of Pharmacy will be opening in three weeks! These are items the committee has been focusing on over the past year. Another item the group would like to tackle is parking, and they are also interested in having a discussion with the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee as EDAC has identified arts as an important component in the digital economy. Potentially this could tie into further implementation of CulturePlanII. EDAC is the primary resource to civic district and has made substantial movement in this area. Go and LRT are also on the workplan and the group is very enthusiastic about supporting these. EDAC has decided to add an Economic Reality Check as a standing agenda item, during this time, members will review how changes in the economy are effecting the city. Downtown Advisory Committee: As staff resource for the Downtown Advisory Committee, Silvia provided an update on their work. This committee started off this year a little different…with a blank slate! Save two items brought forth from last year, the committee started by making a laundry list of possible items. This was then separated by the themes in a Plan for a Healthy Kitchener, then plotted on dates throughout the year. The format of their meetings has changed slightly, they have split the 2 hour meeting into 2 1hour meetings where time allows, first hour as a formal meeting, second hour each sub committee meets. The goal of this Downtown Strategic Plan sub committee is to work with a very low budget and form the plan around the healthy community framework. On another note, they would like to change the Terms of Reference to cover Neighbourhood Associations rather then wards. Cycling Advisory Committee: The Cycling Advisory Committee is officially the newest committee!! Bart is the Vice Chair, and the group has had 3 meetings. The group started by creating a laundry list of what they would like to work on and they will be continuing with this at their next meeting. Many different work areas have been identified including trails, parks, connecting parks, and pedestrian connections between the Doon area to the rest of Kitchener. The group is currently working with the 1998 Bike Trails Master Plan and plan to update as it is slightly out of date. Most importantly, everyone on the committee is very eager to turn ideas into actions, it will be a long process, but there is good energy! Silvia requested to connect with the group regarding bicycle racks in the downtown. Mayors Advisory Council for Kitchener Seniors: Cleta updated the group on behalf of the Mayors Advisory Committee for Kitchener Seniors. Their primary focus is currently on Salute to Seniors. This is an annual affair that recognizes volunteers with Kitchener, both individuals and committees, and they already have some nominations! Monthly, representatives from Breithaupt, Rockway and Downtown Community Centres report on their respective activities. MACKS members attend forums and planning focus groups. Areas of interest include arts and culture, health, education and technology, environment and multiculture. Guest speakers have presented information on transportation planning and concerns for accessibility rulings. Kitchener Youth Action Council: As staff resource for the Kitchener Youth Action Council, Breanna provided an update on their work. The group meets weekly on Thurdays, and has several items currently in the works including the COMPASS KITCHENER ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR MEETING MINUTES March 28, 2009CITY OF KITCHENER Youth Awards, nominations due April 3, with the event taking place on April 6, Pride Prom, Unity Jam, and a Youth Strategy as well as some events for Earth Week. It is important to have good youth awareness so people realize that there is many more youth doing good things, then bad things. The group has been to Council this year to support sidewalks in Kitchener and is currently working with several other groups to get youth more involved. As youth are often required on other Advisory Committees, folks around the table today agreed it would be great for KYAC to take a look at how to get youth involved on these other committees. Breanna will take back to the group for discussion. Environmental Advisory Committee: Bob updated the group on behalf of the Environmental Advisory Committee. With nearly half the committee new members, the group is just getting up to speed. The workplan has been set, and there are some interesting challenges, and exciting things for the committee to work on. Sub committees have been set for the Air Quality in Kitchener report, Grants and a number of other items. The group’s biggest challenge will be reworking the Air Quality Plan for Kitchener. The committee plans to work with other committees on joint ventures that affect both groups, and welcomes the opportunity to work together! Compass Kitchener: Shelley updated the group on the committees work. This meeting, the Advisory Committee Chair Gathering, is part of Compass Kitcheners workplan, as well as the All Committee Advisory Committee Gathering, and was a recommendation put forth in the Plan for a Healthy Kitchener. Sarah will be updating the group shortly on the Annual Report Card to Citizens which is a major focus of Compass Kitcheners workplan. The group will also be working on development of a Healthy Community Lens for Council to consider when reviewing all reports. Two other large projects include completion of the Community Engagement Strategy, and Diversity – Access, Equity and Inclusion. The Community Engagement Strategy was drafted last year, Council approved in essence and the group will be moving forward with finalization this year. The goal is to get as many diverse citizens involved in city processes and projects as possible, throughout each project. Diversity – Access, Equity and Inclusion will aim at making the organization reflect the diversity of our community, as well as consider how the city works with foreign trained professionals, coaching and mentoring programs, recruiting in external organizations, communications including advertising in or putting information out in diverse publications. A draft strategy will be to Council in May. Annual Report Card Update ? Sarah presented on behalf of the Annual Report Card sub committee, commenting that an incredible amount of hours have been put into this project! The result will be a full spread in Your Kitchener, published in June, and will look at all strategic directions indicated in a Plan for a Healthy Kitchener. Indicators were created for each of the themes, based on info found throughout the community and endorsed by Council. All information is gathered and provided by staff and this sub committee, and the full committee is responsible for grading. ? Once this years grading has been completed, the subcommittee would like to meet with each of the Advisory Committees to consider how all of the indicators fit and work together to make sense. They would like to get input from the committees on the indicators that have been chose and adjust where necessary. October All Committee Advisory Committee Gathering Agenda COMPASS KITCHENER ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR MEETING MINUTES March 28, 2009CITY OF KITCHENER ? Theron posed a question to the group: Do we want to do this exchange of information again at the All Committee Gathering, or are there other things we ought to be talking about at these meetings that we may not be now? ? After much discussion and many suggestions, the group agreed that each committee will consider their committees overlap with other Advisory Committees and have meetings with them to collaborate and bring actions, work and outcomes to the October All Committee Gathering. Additionally, each Arts and Culture and the Environment Committee will lead a portion of the All Committee meeting to work with the different groups and consider how each group effects the respective Arts and Culture and Environment Committee, and how committees can work together moving forward. Terms of Reference Review and Information on Process – Theron Kramer ? This recommendation came forth from the Advisory Committee Review. Each Advisory Committee must complete a review of their Terms of Reference for clarity and relevance of mandate and submit recommendations to Council for ratification prior to the end of June 2010. ? It is important to note that workplans are now required to be presented to Council as well. ? The representation area on each committees Terms of Reference should list key coverage areas ie. Youth, certain background or education preference. It is important to keep this section on, and update it with requirements for the committee. All recruitment moving forward will be completed by the Nominating Committee. This group will be considering how to be certain there is a proper coverage. ? A summary of the recommendations is attached to these minutes. S:\General\Compass Kitchener\Compass Kitchener\Advisory Committee Review\Summary Of Recommendations.doc Arts & Culture ? Although we did not have enough time to discuss this topic, it will be looked at more thoroughly at the October All Committee Meeting. Theron thanked all who were able to attend.