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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPAC 2012-03-07 minutes.pdf) 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 Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Linda Morgan , Vice-Chair Councillor Robert Masse Councillor Cheryl Ashlie Candace Gordon S/Sgt. Andrew Martin Bob Goos Rajinder Kalra Lyn Taylor-Scott STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Sue Wheeler Shawn Matthewson Tracy Camire REGRETS/ABSENTS Ken MacDonald Grover Telford Dave Fleugel Deanna Tan Sarah Nelson Kathy Marshall Treena Innes lneke Boekhorst Alanna Robson 1. Call to Order and Introductions Community at Large Council Liaison Council Liaison Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows-Katzie Community Network Ridge-Meadows RCMP Community at Large Community at Large Ridge Meadows Association for Community Living Director of Community Services Recreation Coordinator Committee Clerk Fraser Health Authority (Alternate) Ridge Meadows Seniors Society Ridge-Meadows RCMP Fraser Health Authority School Trustee, School District No. 42 School Trustee, School District No. 42 (Alternate) Community at Large Business Improvement Association Community at Large Linda Morgan called the meeting to order at 7: 06 p.m. 2. Agenda Approval R12-006 Motion was moved and seconded That the Agenda for March 7, 2012 be adopted. CARRIED Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 1 of 5 ) Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes March 7, 2012 3. R12-007 Minutes of February 1, 2012 Meeting Motion was moved and seconded ) That the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 1, 2012 be adopted as circulated. CARRIED 4. Delegations & Presentations -Nil 5. New Business 5.1 2011 Regional Homeless Council Final Report Please note that lneke Boekhorstjoined the meeting at 7:10 p.m. 5.2 Sue Wheeler provided a review of the 2011 Regional Homelessness Count Final Report. Ms. Wheeler advised the count provides a better understanding of where people came from and why they are homeless. Ms. Wheeler advised that the Regional Steering Committee will be working on providing municipalities with detailed reports based on the demographic information compiled during the count, and once this report is received it will be presented to this committee. Ms. Wheeler also noted that this information will provide valuable information to local tables in their planning exercises. Recommendations for UBCM Resolutions: Councillor Ashlie advised that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) is held each September and municipalities are able to put forward resolutions to be considered and debated. Sue Wheeler advised that in the past, this committee has recommended resolutions for Council to consider forwarding. Councillor Ashlie clarified that such motions receive greater consideration is they are sent to the Lower Mainland Municipal Association (LMMA) first and receive support there but noted that the 2012 LMMA deadline has passed. It was noted that there is still a potential to forward resolutions for consideration but at this point they would not be considered by LMMA for endorsement. 5.2.1 BC Poverty Reduction Strategy -Bob Goos Bob Goos presented a suggestion that the Committee consider forwarding a resolution to Council recommending that Council consider forwarding a resolution to the UBCM Conference regarding the need for a poverty reduction plan in British Columbia. Shawn Matthewson advised that there were two resolutions put forward by municipalities that were reviewed at the 2010 UBCM Conference. Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 2 of 5 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes March 7, 2012 ACTION ITEM: Staff to add the BC Poverty Reduction Plan to the next agenda. 5.2.2 Income Assistance -Bob Goos Bob Goos presented another suggestion that the Committee consider forwarding a resolution to Council recommending that Council consider forwarding a resolution to the UBCM Conference regarding allowing individuals on income assistance to keep additional income, the same as the allowance for people on assistance that have disabilities. ACTION ITEM: Staff to review UBCM resolutions regarding poverty reduction and income assistance from previous years, and provide this information at a future meeting. Staff to provide a report on what Income Assistance is for a future meeting. 5.3 Request from Council -Amendment to the Regulation on Live Event Theatre Primary Licenses Sue Wheeler reviewed the letter that Council has forwarded to SPAC for comment. It was noted that the letter, dated February 8, 2012, was from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General regarding the amendment to the regulation respecting live event theatre liquor primary licences. ACTION ITEM: 6. Unfinished Business That this item be forwarded to the Substance Misuse Prevention Committee for review and recommendations and that this information to be brought back to SPAC. 6.1 BC Policy Changes for PharmaCare and Customer Loyalty Points Shawn Matthewson reviewed the BC Policy Changes for PharmaCare and Customer Loyalty Points that went into effect this past summer. Ms. Matthewson indicated that it appears this policy change was in response to complaints from both pharmacies and individuals. Ms. Matthewson advised that a number of local organizations have reported that people on limited incomes have lost the ability to use loyalty points to purchase food, supplements, and essentials. ACTION ITEM: That staff prepare a letter to be sent to the Ministry of Health regarding the policy changes around pharmacy loyalty points programs and Pharmacare. 6.2 Seniors Network Presentation on Vulnerable Seniors Sue Wheeler reviewed the highlights from the Senior's Network presentation to the Committee in February and noted that the presentation reviewed the United Way of Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 3 of 5 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes March 7, 2012 R12-008 R12-009 the Lower Mainland 's report on the consultation process on the needs of vulnerable seniors. Sue Wheeler advised that one area of concern highlighted by the Seniors Network was the challenge that local seniors living on limited incomes have in accessing dental services which has enormous impacts on health and wellness. Councillor Masse advised that he has approached a local dentist to potentially work together (along with others from the community) on assisting those with limited income to access dental services. Councillor Masse reviewed the program "Community Dental Day" that has since been cancelled and the local dentist is investigating a local program. ACTION ITEM: Councillor Masse will provide updates as this project moves along. Councillor Masse also advised that another area of concern highlighted by the Seniors Network was the challenge faced by seniors requiring dialysis for kidney disease. Councillor Masse inquired regarding this concern and found that the level of need in our community doesn't warrant having a local service available. ACTION ITEM: Staff to connect Heather Treleaven with Councillor Masse 6.3 SPAC 2012 -Proposed Project Budget Sue Wheeler reviewed the 2012 Proposed Project Budget along with detailed information on each of the projects with the Committee. Motion was moved and seconded That the 2012 Budget be approved. 6.4 2012 SPAC Delegation Draft List Review Sue Wheeler reviewed the 2012 Delegation draft list with the Committee. Motion was moved and seconded That the revised 2012 Delegation List be approved. CARRIED CARRIED 7. Committee Reports 7.1 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows-Katzie Community Network Updates Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 4 of 5 ) Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes March 7, 2012 7.1.1 Ministry of Children and Family Development -Success by Six Announcements Shawn Matthewson provided an update on the Success by 6 program that received 3.4 million funding from the Ministry of Children and Family Development. 7.2 Neighbourhood Conference -Jim Diers Presentation Sue Wheeler reviewed the three sessions that Jim Diers provided to the community: one session for municipal staff, one for neighbourhood participants together with interested individuals, and one for the Parks and Leisure Commission, members of Council and the School Board. It was noted that all sessions were well received and many people were inspired to get involved in their neighbourhoods and the workshop received great reviews from the participants. 8. Roundtable -deferred 9. Correspondence 9.1 Closure of the HEAT Shelters in Vancouver -Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness letter to Minister Coleman 10. Next Meeting: Agenda Deadline: Location: 11. Adjournment - Chairperson /tc Wednesday, March 7, 2012 Monday, February 27, 2012 Blaney Room, Maple Ridge Municipal Hall 9:13 p.m. Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 5 of 5