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Home My WebLink AboutSPAC 2014-04-02 Minutes Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 1 of 3 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 on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 7:00 pm. ____________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Josee Brazeau Community at Large Robert Daley Community at Large Mike Murray School Trustee, School District No. 42 Steven Lamothe, Chair Ministry of Social Housing & Development Annette Morgan Seniors Network Councillor Cheryl Ashlie Council Liaison Sheila McLaughlin, Vice-chair Community at Large S/Sgt. Roxanne Dowden Ridge-Meadows RCMP Candace Gordon Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows-Katzie Community Network Avexnim Cojti Family Education & Support Centre Ineke Boekhorst BIA & Friends in Need Food Bank John McKenzie Community at Large STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Shawn Matthewson Social Planning Coordinator Joanne Georgelin Committee Clerk Siobhan Murphy Planning Technician GUEST Bradly Christiansen Inter-Faith Bridging Cheryl Jensen Inter-Fair Bridging REGRETS/ABSENTS Rajinder Kalra Community at Large John Heffernan Ridge Meadows Association for Community Living Cpl. Alanna Dunlop Ridge-Meadows RCMP Arlana Kuzyk Community Health Specialist, Fraser Health Authority Councillor Bob Masse Council Liaison 1. Call to Order and Introductions There being quorum present, Chair Steven Lamothe called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm and introductions were made. 2. Approval of the April 2, 2014 Agenda R14-014 It was moved and seconded Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes April 2, 2014 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 2 of 4 That the Agenda of the Regular Meeting of April 2, 2014 be adopted with the following amendment; • Item 5.1 will be deferred • Item 6.5 will come before Item 6.1 • Add Item 8.1 Community Resource Fair Funding Request CARRIED 3. Approval of the March 5, 2014 Meeting Minutes R14-015 It was moved and seconded That the minutes of the regular meeting of March 5, 2014 be adopted with the following amendment; • Change “Mr. Lamothe was unanimously elected as the new Chair…” to “Mr. Lamothe was acclimated to the position of Chair...” • Change “Ms. McLaughlin was unanimously elected as the new Vice-chair…” to Ms. McLaughlin was acclimated to the position of Vice-chair…” CARRIED 4. Presentations and Delegations 4.1 Inter-Faith Bridging Presentation Bradley Christiansen of Interfaith Bridging explained the background behind Interfaith Bridges and how it was formed. Interfaith Bridging is a project funded through the Federal Government; BC is the first jurisdiction in Canada with funding that focuses specifically on faith and spiritual diversity while it works to analyze the integration of second-generation Canadian, religious diversity and the geographic concentration of ethno cultural communities. Examples of interfaith bridging projects may include: o Collaborative projects among distinct faith communities; o Tools that encourage knowledge exchange and sharing between diverse faith and cultural groups; o Faith-based forums focused on diverse faith communities and issues of racism; o Building teams and coalitions with a diverse cross-section of faith groups for the purpose of addressing interfaith religious conflict; o Interfaith, intra-faith and inter-denominational dialogues on racism and multiculturalism within established faith traditions. Mr. Christiansen indicated that the funding has ended at this point but they still intend to carry on with this project through volunteers and donations. 5. New Business 5.1 Proposed Budget 2014 - Deferred 5.2 UBCM Resolutions Shawn Matthewson explained we have an opportunity to submit resolutions for UBCM for the upcoming deadline on June 30th. Ms. Matthewson explained some of the resolutions drafted so far by the subcommittee which include: • Impact of child support payment payback • Party bus industry • Assertive community treatment teams Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes April 2, 2014 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 3 of 4 5.3 Provincial Health Services Conference – Converging at the Source Shawn Matthewson reported on recently attending the Provincial Health Services Conference where Social Planning was part of the agenda presenting on Compassionate Cities project. 6. Unfinished Business 6.1 Compassionate Cities Update Shawn Matthewson updated committee members on the recent report which went before Council recommending Maple Ridge to become a Compassionate City. Council was in unanimous agreement for this project. Ms. Matthewson stated that this new project will now become part of the SPAC business plan. 6.2 Additional Funding for CN Coordinator Shawn Mathewson stated that a recommendation from staff regarding the Community Grants will go before Council. 6.3 2014 Homeless Count Shawn Mathewson reported on her participation at the 2014 homeless count which took place on March 11 and 12. The initial count is estimated to be released on April 23 6.4 Homelessness Partnership Strategy Funding Update – IHYSH and Outreach Shawn Matthewson stated that the Iron Horse Youth Safe House and Outreach will receive transitional funding until September. There will be a community engagement process coming up to look into future funding options for HPS 6.5 Housing Action Plan Update Please note: Item 6.5 came before Item 6.1. Siobhan Murphy gave an update on the Housing Action Plan which included a snapshot of the consultation report which has concluded. The consultation involved: Stakeholder workshops, questionnaires, interactive post-it note posters, an online mapping tool. The consultation resulted in a thousand points of contact within the community. The final report will be going to Council on April 14. 6.6 Update on the Implementation Plan with RCMP regarding Bicycle Safety in the Downtown Core Shawn Matthewson reported that Council has directed SPAC and RCMP to work together on an implementation strategy addressing issues of bicycle safety in the downtown core. There are a number of areas that will be researched with an update going to Council in late spring. 7. Roundtable Ineke Boekhorst reported from the Food Bank that there is a food drive happening April 12, organized by Councillor Gwen O’Connell in Pitt Meadows to try for world record with 600,000 lbs of food being collected. Ms. Boekhorst reported from BIA that they had a very successful spring program (treasure hunt) with 100’s of families participating. Annette Morgan reported that funding has been cut for the regional senior’s coordinator position which is set to expire in June. The BC Ombudsperson will be coming to the Pitt Meadows Seniors Centre on April 15 to provide an update on seniors care in BC. Recent Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes April 2, 2014 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 4 of 4 changes have re-initiated the Seniors Task Force who will be having a screening of the video “I’d Rather Stay”, in addition the Task Force is looking at increasing the inventory of seniors housing and assisted living for seniors. Avexnim Cojti reported that in March they will have completed the first year of Welcoming Communities project, an they have received new funding for a two year local immigration partnership. Mike Murray reported that registration for kindergarten in September is higher than estimated and the school board is being forced to look for further efficiencies in their information technologies area. A public dialogue will take place shortly that will compile a list of items they will be considering for efficiency items. Candace Gordon reminded members that the Intersections event is happening on April 9. April 16 will be a neighbourhood event at the ACT called Urban Food Forest with guest speakers Mark Lakeman and Chris Zabek who will present a recent windshield survey on agricultural land in the lower mainland. Ms. Gordon further stated that April 26 is Earth Day at the market with the theme being Food for Thought where Community Kitchen will be doing a stone soup. Then on May 5 in Council Chambers there will be a forum on food cooperatives hosted by the Golden Ears Food Coop and Golden Ears Feast. Steven Lamothe reported on a pilot project when has been turned into a program and that the Royalty Projected was successful at getting many prom dresses donated. Mr. Lamont further stated they have been giving out books for the literacy program and there is an upcoming Transitional Fair at Thomas Haney for youth that are graduating with special needs. 8. Correspondence 8.1 Community Resource Fair Request for Funding Shawn Matthewson explained that SPAC has a small portion of their budget reserved each year which can be assigned as a grant to the Community Resource Fair. 9. Adjournment: 8:49 pm 10. Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 7, 2014 Agenda Deadline: Monday, April 28, 2014 Location: Blaney Room, Maple Ridge Municipal Hall _____________________________________ Chairperson /jg