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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafe & Healthy - 2010-01-05SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 5, 2010 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m. Present: Ms. K. Kwiatkowski, Chair Ms. D. Ahluwalia and Messrs. D. Bellamy, B. Pegg, D. Pellerin and Superintendent B. Larkin. Ms. S. Franzen was in attendance for part of the meeting. Staff: M. Hildebrand, Director of Community Services and Programs L. Palubeski, Manager of Program and Resource Services J. Metzger, Crime Prevention Council L. Korabo, Committee Administrator 1. DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE Mr. D. Pellerin referred to a summary of economic development project updates attached to the agenda and provided a brief synopsis of the following topics discussed at the December Downtown Advisory Committee meeting: • green energy; • Health Sciences Campus; • mixed use corridor along King Street; • Downtown Strategic Plan; • Urban Square consultations /designs; • new Market vendors and cooking area; and, • Centre Block development. 2. CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL -CONSULTATION The Crime Prevention Council (CPC) is conducting various consultations in the community with both the public sector and organizations /agencies to gather input for the development of a Strategic Plan which will outline where and how to focus efforts in the coming years. Ms. Andrea MacArthur and Ms. Juanita Metzger, CPC, facilitated a consultation session to gather input that will contribute to the establishment of priorities in the CPC's 2010-2014 Strategic Plan. To open the consultation, members were asked to state their current knowledge of the CPC and its activities. The following questions were then asked and responded to by members, for the information of the delegation: • how is the CPC doing in educating the community in matters of crime? • should there be a different approach to educating specific groups /organizations versus the general public? • what sectors are most important for the CPC to focus on and what additional issues should be taken on? For the information of the Committee, the CPC currently works with the following sectors: neighbourhoods; schools; child welfare; municipalities; housing; education; and, recreation. • are there any obvious gaps that need to be covered? Following the consultation, a general discussion ensued wherein it was noted that the Committee would like to establish a more ongoing, connective role with the CPC, however, in order to understand how this might evolve, it is first necessary to learn more about the organization. The delegation thanked the Committee for its input, noted that the Strategic Plan would be developed during the Spring of 2010 and agreed to bring back the finalized plan, allowing for continuing discussions for the benefit of both groups. 3. WORK PLAN At the Committee's December meeting, presentations from The Working Centre and the Kitchener Business Improvement Area (BIA) were received. These presentations provided overviews of the work /programs occurring and were extremely informative for the Committee. They were followed up with funding requests from each organization. As a follow up to these SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 5, 2010 - 2 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. WORK PLAN (CONT'D) presentations, it is now appropriate for the Committee to discuss possible related tasks and / or linkages for the coming year. Ms. K. Kwiatkowski noted that both agencies were asked to provide semi-annual updates and therefore, will be invited back to the June 2010 meeting. She asked if members saw a role for this Committee other than to receive updates and monitor how funds, authorized by the Committee, are being spent. Mr. M. Hildebrand asked if the question was put to the delegations concerning any future role that the Committee could play or leverage it could provide. It was also noted that The Working Centre provides tours of its facility at 97 Victoria Street North and this may provide an opportunity to gather additional information on the work done by this agency. Ms. Kwiatkowski noted that, in her opinion, the diagram distributed during the presentation showing all of the agencies working to support the Outreach Project gave an excellent overview. With regard to the presentation by the Executive Director of the Kitchener BIA, a question was raised concerning the current wording of a task listed in the Work Plan, being: `discuss opportunities to strengthen relationships between business and social service agencies'. In response to a question, Mr. B. Larkin advised that the BIA has a very good working relationship with The Working Centre and other social agencies located in the Downtown. Based on this information, the Committee suggested that the task be re-worded to provide that more of an educational or awareness role be taken on by the Committee whereby information could be provided to the BIA's Board on what social agencies are doing to make the core a better place. Opportunities to provide this educational piece were discussed but no concrete decisions were arrived at. It was noted that The Working Centre survey of Downtown business owners conducted in conjunction with the Outreach Worker Project showed no significant concerns regarding activities in the core, but did note that the issue of perception verses reality was still a concern. Referencing the action items related to youth in the Downtown and specifically with regard to the listed task of exploring opportunities to outreach and connect with the Kitchener Youth Action Council (KYAC), it was suggested that Ms. L. Palubeski investigate opportunities for KYAC members to provide input into the Urban Square Design consultation currently underway. Mr. D. Bellamy offered to attend the next KYAC on the Committee's behalf and ask for feedback on any opportunities for connections with the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee or other organizations that would permit more avenues for involvement for youth in the community. The Committee agreed with this suggestion. As the time allocated for the meeting had now expired, Ms. K. Kwiatkowski closed off the discussion of this topic but noted that it would be continued at the February 2, 2010 meeting. 4. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Linda Korabo Committee Administrator