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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPAC 2010-10-06 minutes.pdf Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 1 of 6 District of Maple Ridge SOCIAL PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Social Planning Advisory Committee, held in the Blaney Room at Maple Ridge Municipal Hall, 11995 Haney Place, Road, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Joshua Leyenhorst, Chair Community at Large Katrina Elliot, Vice-Chair Community at Large Councillor Linda King Council Liaison Councillor Cheryl Ashlie Council Liaison Staff Sgt. Andrew Martin Ridge-Meadows RCMP Ineke Boekhorst Business Improvement Association Candace Gordon Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows-Katzie Community Network Paul Livingstone Community at Large Valerie Spurrell Fraser Health Caroline Rojo Ministry of Child and Family Development Treena Innes Community at Large Grover Telford Ridge Meadows Seniors Society STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Sue Wheeler Director of Community Services Shawn Matthewson Coordinator, Social Planning Tracy Camire Committee Clerk REGRETS/ABSENTS Kathie Chiu Community at Large Inspector Derren Lench Ridge-Meadows RCMP Mike Huber School Trustee, School District No. 42 Eleanor Palis School Trustee (alternate), School District No. 42 Lyn Taylor-Scott Ridge Meadows Association for Community Living 1. Call to Order and Introductions The meeting was called to order 7:10 p.m. 2. Agenda Approval R10-030 Motion was moved and seconded That the Agenda for October 6, 2010 be adopted with the following additions; • Item 5.4 Renters “Speak Up” Campaign Metro Vancouver • Item 5.5 Albion Flats Charette October 20th and 21st, SPAC representative CARRIED Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes October 6, 2010 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 2 of 6 3. Minutes of September 8, 2010 Meeting R10-031 Motion was moved and seconded That the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 8, 2010 be adopted with the following amendment; • Item 3. Should be titled “Minutes of July 7, 2010 Meeting” CARRIED 4. Delegations & Presentations – Nil 5. New Business 5.1 House of Commons Bill C-304: National Housing Strategy – Status Update Shawn Matthewson provided an update on the Federal private members bill, Bill C- 304, which entails implementing a National Housing Strategy. Ms. Matthewson advised that the final vote will take place in late October and advocate groups are urging citizens to contact their members of parliament, especially encouraging them to support this bill. Please note that Grover Telford joined the meeting at 7:16 p.m. Councillor King provided a review of the UBCM Conference that took place at the end of September and advised that Council representatives met with Minister Rich Coleman on a number of issues that pertain to housing. The response they received from the Minister was that he felt the needs for a housing strategy are so different throughout Canada it would be very difficult to create a National Housing Strategy. It was that Maple Ridge Council have participated in the Metro Vancouver efforts to advocate for a national housing strategy and that over the next year this committee will be working with the Planning Department on the update of an Affordable Housing Strategy for this community. Please note that Treena Innes joined the meeting at 7:22 p.m. and Councillor Ashlie joined the meeting at 7:24 p.m. 5.2 Burnaby Board of Trade – Homelessness Resolution – Update from Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness Sue Wheeler advised that this is something the Regional Steering Committee has been tracking as the business community is taking interest in the solutions to homelessness. Recently the Burnaby Board of Trade passed a resolution that will be sent to the federal government to call for a national housing strategy. 5.3 Federal Government Elimination of the Long Form Census – Council Response Council’s correspondence to Honourable Tony Clements outlining concerns and questions regarding the elimination of the long form census was shared. It was Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes October 6, 2010 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 3 of 6 advised that when Council receives a response to questions that they raised it will be shared with the committee. 5.4 Renters “Speak Up” Campaign, Metro Vancouver Information on the Renters “Speak Up” campaign that is sponsored by Metro Vancouver was shared with the committee. The purpose is to provide an avenue for ordinary renters to speak about their rental experience and the cost they may be experiencing. Sue Wheeler advised that this information has been sent to the Community Network encouraging agencies to make their clients aware of the opportunity to share their stories. 5.5 Albion Flats Charette, October 20th and 21st Sue Wheeler advised the Committee that the process to develop an Albion Flats Concept Plan is moving forward with a Charette process and has requested that a SPAC member attend this meeting. Committee members who would like to attend the Charette are the email Sue Wheeler. It was agreed that it would be appropriate to have either a present or recently past committee member attend as it is a two day commitment. If a representative doesn’t come forward, Candace Gordon agreed to represent the committee’s interests. 6. Unfinished Business 6.1 UBCM Resolution on Alcohol Pricing – Outcome Review Councillor Ashlie provided an update on the Alcohol Pricing Resolution that was put forward at the UBCM Conference at the end of September and advised the Committee that the original motion that the City of Victoria put forward was passed unanimously. Councillor Ashlie advised the Committee that she is going to become a member of the BC Coalition on Alcohol Reform and will be working with Lembi Buchanan on involving key players in the industry to support this initiative. 6.2 BC Coalition For Action on Alcohol Reform Response Received by Municipalities Supporting BC Addictions Research Centre Recommendations on Alcohol Pricing Reform Sue Wheeler shared the response Council received from the BC Coalition for Action on Alcohol Reform sent to Municipalities that supported BC Addictions Research Centre Recommendations on Alcohol Pricing received. Ms. Wheeler noted that this committee forwarded a recommendation to Council to support the recommendations and Council passed a resolution and a joint letter from Council and SPAC was forwarded to four Ministers. 6.3 Council Request for Response to Minister Coleman Letter on Alcohol Pricing Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes October 6, 2010 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 4 of 6 Sue Wheeler reviewed the response letter received from Minister Coleman regarding the support of the BC Addictions Research Centre Recommendations on Alcohol Pricing. It was noted that Council has requested that SPAC prepare a response to the Minister’s comments and that the letter be jointly signed by the chair of SPAC and the Mayor. ACTION ITEM: Councillor Ashlie will draft a letter on behalf of SPAC to Minister Coleman and Ida Chong regarding Alcohol Pricing for review by SPAC at the November meeting. 6.4 FCM Quality of Life Reporting System Report: Mending the Frayed Social Safety Net – Review of Draft Letter Sue Wheeler advised the Committee that the FCM Quality of Life Reporting System Report speaks to the fact that there is a trend with Provincial and Federal governments retreating from funding social services and how that has created pressures for municipal governments to respond by filling the gaps in services. Sue Wheeler advised the Committee that Council has requested SPAC to send a letter to FCM both to thank them for their work to advocate to the federal government on behalf of municipalities, and to highlight how the impact of senior government funding changes is impacting this municipality. Shawn Matthewson reviewed the draft letter to Hans Cunningham, President Federation of Canadian Municipalities on the Quality of Life Reporting System Report; Mending the Frayed Social Safety Net and noted that the essence is to recognize the FCM on their advocacy work for municipalities and how it relates to the work we’re doing to deliver social infrastructure. ACTION ITEM: Staff to adjust the letter to include a paragraph that is specific to BC noting that Social Services are the responsibility of the Provincial Government and not each individual Municipality. 6.5 Homelessness Action Week: - SPA Day and Harvest Chili Event Update Sue Wheeler provided a review of the Homelessness Action Week events, of which SPAC is one of the sponsors, which are taking place in the Community on Friday, October 15th. The Spa Day will be held at the Caring Place from 10am to 2pm and the Chilli Harvest lunch will take place at the ACT from 11:30am to 1:30am. 7. Committee Reports 7.1 Spirit of Community Awards Update Shawn Matthewson provided an update on the Spirit of Community Awards and noted the deadline for accepting nominations has been extended to October 30, 2010. 7.2 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows-Katzie Community Network Update: Candace Gordon Candace Gordon provided an update on the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows-Katzie Community Network and noted that a major project that is underway is to research Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes October 6, 2010 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 5 of 6 and report on the impacts that senior government funding changes are having on our community. Ms. Gordon noted that once all the information has been accumulated and approved by the Community Network it will be shared with SPAC. Candace Gordon also noted that at the last CN Facilitator’s meeting a discussion took place regarding the community gaming facility that will come into operation on October 20th and benefits that come from this facility that are anticipated to flow to the municipality. Ms. Gordon noted that the Facilitator’s group, noting the recent loss of gaming funding to the social service sector, would like to discuss with the Municipality the concept some of the benefits flowing back to the community agencies. ACTION ITEM: Add “Impacts of Funding Cuts” report from the Community Network to a future agenda. Candace Gordon provided a review of the very successful Community Resource Fair that took place in the Haney Place Mall on September 25th in partnership with Downtown BIA and the Fall Prevention Booth. Ineke Boekhorst noted that from the BIA’s perspective it was a great success. 7.3 Healthy Communities Initiative – Valerie Spurrell Valerie Spurrell provided an update on the Healthy Communities Initiative and noted that Fraser Health Municipal Council identified the desire for municipalities and Fraser Health to work together on the Healthy Communities Initiative. Ms. Spurrell provided a review of the forum that took place where a presentation on the health of our communities took place. Ms. Spurrell noted that the next step will be to meet on Tuesday, October 12th with representatives from the community to talk about what the solutions are and noted that the City of Pitt Meadows will be involved in this discussion. 7.4 South Haney Neighbourhood Change Project Update Sue Wheeler provided an update on the South Haney Neighbourhood Project and noted that had their first meeting last week where 14 people from the community attended. Ms. Wheeler noted that the group wanted to clearly distinguish between this process and other processes that are taking place in the neighbourhood. They agreed to name project “Port Haney” Neighbourhood Change Initiative, noting that they wanted to honour a positive connection with the history of the area. Sue Wheeler noted that the next step is to work on a visioning process and the next meeting is scheduled at Ridge Meadows Community Living on Tuesday, October 26th from 7-9pm Please note that Katrina Elliot left the meeting at 9:02 p.m. 8. ROUNDTABLE Valerie Spurrell Valeria noted that the grant for Fall Prevention education sessions was approved. Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes October 6, 2010 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 6 of 6 Staff Sgt. Andrew Martin Staff Sgt. Martin noted that construction continues on the jail cells. Ineke Boekhorst Ineke noted that on Saturday, October 9th the Friends in Need Food bank will be outside local grocery stores promoting the new $2.00 Share Coupons that can be kept in your wallet or purse to be swiped for a donation at any grocery store till. The $2.00 donation provides the Food Bank with more than double the $2.00 buying power so it is the most effective way to donate. Ineke also noted that on Sunday, October 10th there will be a 10-10-10 Celebration in Maple Ridge organized by Peter Tam that starts at 9:10 a.m. for Global Action to Climate Change. Candace Gordon Candace noted that the Golden Harvest event is on Friday, October 15th between 6-8 p.m. and tickets are $15 each. The event is sponsored by the District of Maple Ridge Agriculture Committee. 9. CORRESPONDENCE. 9.1 Early Development Instrument (EDI) – Human Early Learning Partnership Research Reports: 9.1.1 School District 42 – EDI Community Summary Fall 2010 9.1.2 EDI Mapping Package – School District 42, Maple Ridge- Pitt Meadows Wave 4, Year 1 (2009-2010) 9.2 SPARC BC Report: Unpacking the Housing Numbers- How Much New Social Housing is BC Building? http://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/BC%20Of fice/2010/09/CCPA-BC-SPARC-Unpacking-Housing-Numbers.pdf 10. Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 3, 2010 – 7:00 p.m. Agenda Deadline: Monday, October 18, 2010 Location: Blaney Room, Maple Ridge Municipal Hall 11. Adjournment - 9:10 p.m. ______________________________________ Chairperson /tc