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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPAC 2011-06-07 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 Mount Blanshard Room at Maple Ridge Municipal Hall, 11995 Haney Place, Road, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. ____________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Linda Morgan, Vice-Chair Community at Large Councillor Cheryl Ashlie Council Liaison Candace Gordon Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows-Katzie Community Network Alanna Robson Community at Large S/Sgt. Andrew Martin Ridge-Meadows RCMP Ineke Boekhorst Business Improvement Association Dave Fleugel Ridge-Meadows RCMP STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Sue Wheeler Director of Community Services Shawn Matthewson Recreation Coordinator Pat Shiratti Acting Committee Clerk REGRETS/ABSENTS Andrea Walker, Chair Community at Large Councillor Linda King Council Liaison Ken MacDonald Fraser Health Authority (Alternate) Lyn Taylor-Scott Ridge Meadows Association for Community Living Grover Telford Ridge Meadows Seniors Society Eleanor Palis School Trustee (alternate), School District No. 42 Valerie Spurrell Fraser Health Authority Treena Innes Community at Large Mike Huber School Trustee, School District No. 42 1. Call to Order and Introductions Linda Morgan called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Staff Sergeant Martin introduced Dave Fleugel from the Burnaby detachment as Derren Lench’s replacement. Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes June 7, 2011 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 2 of 6 2. Agenda Approval R11-022 Motion was moved and seconded That the Agenda for June 7, 2011 be adopted. CARRIED 3. Minutes of May 4, 2011 Meeting R11-023 Motion was moved and seconded That the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 4, 2011 be adopted as circulated. CARRIED 4. Delegations & Presentations - Nil 5. New Business 5.1 Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness 2011 Preliminary Homeless Count Results: Request for Comment from Council Sue Wheeler reported that the Homeless Count is conducted across the Lower Mainland every three years with the last one in 2008. In March of this year the count was held again and the preliminary numbers were released recently. Ms. Wheeler noted that a significant impact was noticed on the overall count due to the regional focus on youth homelessness. Locally, a team of close to 30 volunteers worked to find the youth as this population is often referred to as the “hidden homeless” and are usually not accounted for in the count. Our community did an exceptional job of counting these youth with 29 youth reported as homeless on the day of the count. As a result the local overall homeless numbers for our area appear to have increased when in fact the adult population numbers declined and, in the case of youth numbers, we have actually been provided a more realistic picture. SPAC was asked to review the numbers and to inform Council regarding the interpretation of the Count results. The committee will revisit this topic when the report containing the local details is published in the fall and will send Council a report at that time. R11-024 Motion was moved and seconded That an update on the preliminary 2011 Homeless Count results be given to Council, noting that the full detailed report will be available in the fall. CARRIED - Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes June 7, 2011 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 3 of 6 5.2 Housing Planning Table - Review of Initial Meeting Sue Wheeler reported that the initial meeting with a group of service providers to discuss establishing a Housing Planning Table went well. The process to request that the Community Network form a new standing committee called the Housing Planning Table will take place over the next few months. In the meantime the priority will be to focus on providing input to the Regional Community Plan that will guide the priorities for Federal Homelessness Partnership Initiative funds. A focus group meeting is planned for early June. 5.3 Request for UBCM Motion Submission Regarding Funding for Enhanced Seniors and Health Prevention Programs WHEREAS a significant capacity for maintaining the health and wellbeing of seniors exists at the municipal level through neighbourhood houses, seniors centres and community centres; AND WHEREAS limited funding for these services means they cannot meet the need for outreach programming to isolated seniors, information services on locally available social and health programs for seniors, social programming to keep seniors active and connected; BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government provide funding for enhanced seniors outreach and health preventions programs (including information services, social networking, and age-appropriate exercise programs); implement measures to control cost pressures in a broader health care system; and support better coordination among existing services. AND THAT the above recommendation be forwarded to Council for endorsement. CARRIED 5.4 Community Action Initiative: Healthy Transitions for Vulnerable Youth Funding - Letter of Support for Application Staff provided an update on the Community Action Initiative funding program which has announced a second round of funding that focuses on supporting vulnerable youth to make healthy transitions to adulthood. The call is for Letters of Intent. Ten projects within the province will be selected to receive a $10,000 grant to develop an application for funding. A working group of the Substance Misuse Prevention Committee has developed and submitted a letter of Intent. The submission is being hosted by Community Services and is a collaborative initiative of five communities (Chilliwack, Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Abbotsford) with a regional focus on Youth at Risk (aged between 18 and 25 years) who are transitioning to adulthood. The initiative will utilize an approach called Echo Therapy and will focus on building each communities capacity in this area. If the proposal receives approval to proceed with a formal application, the Committee will be asked to send a letter of support with the application. R11-025 Motion was moved and seconded - Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes June 7, 2011 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 4 of 6 5.5 Committee 2011 Work Plan 5.5.1 Progress Update Sue Wheeler circulated and discussed the details of the 2011 Committee Work Plan reviewing the work in the four focus areas outlined in the business plan: Network Development, Community Solutions Projects, Community Building Projects and Social Sustainability. 5.5.2 Social Sustainability Strategic Planning Funding Recommendation Staff reviewed the proposed budget that aligns with the 2011 work plan. Due to additions to the work plan throughout the year, staff requested that the Committee consider deferring the Strategic Planning process to the 2012 business plan. Staff recommended that the Committee consider reallocating the dollars funded for this project to support the Housing Planning Table to update the community housing strategic plan. By determining local priorities, this type of plan would strengthen local agencies applications for federal funding in the area of homelessness and housing initiatives. R11-026 Motion was moved and seconded That the Social Planning Strategic Plan be deferred for consideration in the 2012 Business Plan and that the 2011 funding envelope for this project be redirected to support the development of a Housing Planning Strategic Plan. CARRIED ACTION ITEM: At a future meeting staff will to provide the Committee with a review of potential models that could be used for the development of a Social Sustainability Strategic Plan. 5.6 Ed and Kathie Chiu, Salvation Army- Acknowledgement and Commendation of the Achievements Staff advised the Committee that there is a farewell event planned for Ed & Kathie Chiu on Sunday, June 26th at The Caring Place along with a Church service at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow at 1:00 p.m. If members would like to attend this event, they are to RSVP to Erin by Monday, June 20th, at (604) 463-8296 extension 108 or email: admin.assistant@caringplace.ca 6. Unfinished Business 6.1 Spirit of Community Awards – Exceptional Awards Category - Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes June 7, 2011 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 5 of 6 R11-027 Motion was moved and seconded That a new exceptional awards, “Community Champions”, be created as part of the Spirit of Community Awards program which acknowledges community members or organizations that do exceptional work within our community. CARRIED R11-028 Motion was moved and seconded That Kathie and Ed Chiu be awarded the Spirit of Community “Community Champion” award, acknowledging their outstanding contributions to developing The Caring Place and contributing to developing the community’s capacity to support people in need within Maple Ridge over the past fifteen years. CARRIED 7. Committee Reports 7.1 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows-Katzie Community Network Update Sue Wheeler provided the following updates: • The Resource Fair will be held on September 25th and noted that two new partners are getting involved with the event; the BIA and the Fall Prevention Sub-Committee from Senior’s Network. • The Supportive Housing Unit will be hosting a Ground Breaking Ceremony on Friday, June 17th at 9am at Brown Avenue and 223rd. • The Substance Misuse Prevention Committee has listed their 10 top priorities in their work plan. Bylaw was revised and a campaign will be launched on September 9th, called “Fetal Alcohol Awareness Day”. • The Neighbourhood HIVE at Eric Langton School completed the second year of operation. 7.2 Port Haney Neighbourhood Change Initiative Update Sue Wheeler provided an update on the Port Haney Neighbourhood Change Initiative and noted that this extremely successful project has been running for 10 months and is nearing the end of the funding which Council provided to support the development of the neighbourhood. Achievements to date include the development of a neighbourhood vision, terms of reference, the appointment of co-chairs, and a Action Plan. Staff recommended that SPAC consider forwarding a recommendation for consideration by Council to provide additional funding to continue this initiative. Committee members involved in the initiative commented on how the greatest achievement to date is the transformation in the Neighbourhood resulting from a recognition of the strengths and assets within the Neighbourhood. - Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes June 7, 2011 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 6 of 6 R11-029 Motion was moved and seconded That the report from the Port Haney Neighbourhood Committee be accepted for information. And that a recommendation be forwarded to Council to consider extending the initiative by approving additional funding in the amount of $15,000 for the Port Haney Neighbourhood Project. CARRIED ACTION ITEM: Staff Sergeant Martin will forward crime stats for Port Haney Neighbourhood area to Sue Wheeler. 7.3 Community Connections – Neighbourhood Learning Centre Update Shawn Matthewson provided a slide show and review of the recent gathering at the Cottonwood Neighbourhood where the SPAC Spirit of Community Award was presented posthumously to Hank Van Staalduinen. Ms. Matthewson noted that the Cottonwood residents worked with Parks staff to design a kiosk, which was subsequently built by a Neighbourhood member for their neighbourhood park. The kiosk was named “Hank’s Happenings” which will serve as a way of connecting residents as a continuation of Hank’s Legacy. 8. Roundtable – Nil 9. Correspondence 9.1 2010 District of Maple Ridge Citizen’s Report 10. Next Meeting: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 – 7:00 p.m. Agenda Deadline: Monday, June 20, 2011 Location: Blaney Room, Maple Ridge Municipal Hall 11. Adjournment - 9:02 p.m. ______________________________________ Chairperson /ps -