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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPAC 2009-05-06 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 Blaney Room at Maple Ridge Municipal Hall, 11995 Haney Place, Road, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Ian Brooks, Chair Councillor Cheryl Ashlie Alex Bodden, Staff Sgt. lneke Boekhorst Gwen Champagne Katrina Elliot Candace Gordon Mike Huber Councillor Linda King Betty Levens Joshua Leyenhorst Eleanor Palis Valerie Spurrell STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Sue Wheeler Lynn Marchand Shawn Matthewson GUESTS Tiffany Parton Margaret Ickert Gertie Goudswaard Roger Larmer Risha Golby REGRETS/ABSENTS Kathie Chiu Paul Livingstone Connie Schmid Caroline Wilkin Lyn Taylor-Scott Community at Large Council Liaison RCMP Business Improvement Association Community Living BC Community at Large Ridge Meadows Child, Youth & Family Network School Trustee, School District No. 42 Council Liaison Ridge Meadows Seniors Society Community at Large School Trustee (alternate), School District No. 42 Fraser Health Director of Community Services Committee Clerk Community Services Friends in Need Food Bank L.A.S.T (Life After School Transition) L.A.S.T (Life After School Transition) L.A.S.T (Life After School Transition) L.A.S.T (Life After School Transition) Community at Large Community at Large Ridge Meadows Seniors Society Ministry of Children and Family Development Ridge Meadows Association for Community Living Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 1 of6 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes -May 6, 2009 1. Call to Order and Introductions The meeting was called to order 7:06 p.m. 2. Agenda Approval R09-014 Motion was moved and seconded That the Agenda for May 6, 2009 be adopted with the following change and addition: Item 5.1 be deferred Item 6.5 be deferred The following be added as correspondence: 8. 7 "3 Ways to Home" News Bulletin, Issue 14 April 2009 8.8 Bridges Out of Poverty -Elizabeth Fry Society -May 20th 3. Minutes of April 1, 2009 Meeting R09-015 Motion was moved and seconded That the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 1, 2009 be adopted 4. Delegations & Presentations 4.1 L.A.S. T. (Life After School Transition) Gwen Champagne Community Living BC Margaret Ickert Bowman Employment Services Gertie Goudswaard Community Services CARRIED CARRIED Roger Larmer Ridge Meadows Association for Community Living Risha Go/by School District #42 Gwen Champagne provided an overview of mandate of L.A.S.T. (Life After School Transition) to educate community, and support youth with developmental disabilities to gain meaningful employment. Each of the presenters shared their agencies' role and connection to the program. Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 2 of6 J Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes -May 6, 2009 The Committee discussed the challenges that they face in finding employers that will embrace hiring people with disabilities. Although there are high levels of support for both the clients and the potential employers, the community is not responding by providing employment opportunities. L.A.S.T.'s goal of presenting to SPAC is to ask for help in promoting the opportunity and to ask for suggestions to address the challenges. Suggestions included approaching Council to renew the 10 X 10 Challenge, work with business owners who currently provide employment opportunities to share their experiences, consider working with the farming community to explore opportunities, and work with the BIA to participate in the Business to Business Campaign. Margaret Ickert, Gertie Goudswaard, Roger Larmer and Risha Golby left the meeting at 7:44 pm 4.2 Friends in Need Food Bank Tiffany Parton Tiffany Parton gave a PowerPoint presentation which provided an overview of the Friends in Need Food Bank operation and the current increase in community numbers accessing the service. The number of people accessing the food bank has increased by 30% since November 2008 with the current number of 5700 people registered. The numbers continue to grow at a rate of approximately 30 new people per month with a dramatic increase in the number of children under 12 years of age and an increase in the number of seniors. ACTION ITEM: Sue Wheeler to provide the comparison of Quarter 1, 2008 Food Bank statistics to Quarter 1, 2009 statistics to the Committee members at the June meeting. Tiffany Parton left the meeting at 8:17 p.m. 5. Unfinished & New Business 5.1 Alouette Home Start Society -Youth Safe House Lease Recommendation Item 5.1 deferred to the June 3 rd , 2009 meeting. 5.2 The Federation of Canadian Municipalities "Sustaining Momentum: Recommendations for a National Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness": Metro Vancouver Staff Report Recommendations and Request The January 23, 2008 Metro Vancouver Staff Report was reviewed and discussion took place regarding the recommendation that the Action Plan be endorsed by the Committee and sent to Maple Ridge Council to seek their endorsement. Sue Wheeler circulated a letter dated March 25, 2008 from Metro Vancouver. Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 3 of6 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes -May 6, 2009 R09-016 Motion was moved and seconded That the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Sustaining the Momentum: Recommendations for a National Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness be sent to Maple Ridge Council for endorsement. CARRIED It was recognized by the Committee that the recommendation from Metro Vancouver is to endorse the report but that the targets included in the report need to be considered as minimums and reviewed regularly. The Committee is supporting the document but taking note of the target. 5.3 Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy "Shaping our Future" -Draft and Consultation Sue Wheeler circulated a copy of "Metro Vancouver 2040 -Shaping Our Future" for perusal and Mr. Brooks advised that Metro Vancouver is holding meetings throughout the Metro Vancouver up until May 31st. He provided an overview of the April 29th meeting he attended and encouraged the members to complete a feedback form. Ms. Wheeler advised that this information was being brought to the Committee for information only and gave an overview of the process. 6 COMMITTEE UPDATES 6.1 SPAC Spirit of Community Awards Shawn Matthewson provided an overview of the SPAC Spirit of Community Awards and advised of the sub-committee members. She provided information regarding the Good Business Award and the Good Neighbour Award including the nomination process and time line. 6.2 Child, Youth & Family Network (CYFN) Update Candace Gordon advised that the CYFN is now called "The Community Network of Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Katzie". She advised that they are currently seeking a new coordinator and that there are currently over 145 members. Ms. Gordon indicated that the new Community Network Website project is nearly operational with training of community partners currently taking place. Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 4 of 6 ) Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes -May 6, 2009 6.3 School Community Connections Project Review Ms. Wheeler provided an overview of the School Community Connections Project and advised that a facilitated process will be held in early June to share the results of the consultation processes and to encourage agencies to consider a combined response to the demonstrated needs. 6.4 Building Community Solutions Project Katrina Elliott provided an update of the April Building Community Solutions (BCS) meeting and advised that the group received the news that the Coast Capital Savings grant "expression of interest" which was submitted was approved and that they were invited to apply under the Community Investment Grant for up to $30,000.00. Ms. Elliott advised that the group will be submitting an application and that in the meantime they are continuing to seek alternate funding sources. Ms. Elliott gave an overview of other events supported by the BCS including: Westridge Good Neighbours Movie Night, March 27th and semi-annual Plant Swap, April 4th; the Mountainview Community Association's 4th Annual Easter Egg Hunt, April 11th; and the upcoming BCS Celebration of Neighbourhoods -Sharing the Sweet Life", June 4th. She Wheeler advised that the Community Indicator Snapshot project is nearing completion and will be available at the July meeting. This document will be utilized during the strategic planning process to assist in determining the community priorities for Social Planning for the next few years. 6.5 Neighbourhood School Garden Item 6.5 deferred to June 3, 2009 Agenda. 7. ROUND TABLE Valerie Spurre/1 Ms. Spurrell provided an update on the flu outbreak and advised that there have been over 100 cases reported in British Columbia. She advised that the public can access information at www.fraserhealth.ca. Cheryl Ashlie Councillor Ashlie advised of the quarterly Substance Misuse Prevention Committee meetings and that the current focus is on growing evidence of prescription medication and substance misuse in our community's senior population. Alex Bodden Staff Sgt. Bodden provided an overview of the status of filling vacancies at the RCMP: announcement of the new Superintendent Dave Walsh , new Teen Resource Team Leader Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 5 of6 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes -May 6, 2009 Corporal Alannah Dunlop will commence June 3 rd, and the position of Inspector has been posted. He advised that property crime numbers are falling but serious crime numbers are on the rise. He will bring community crime stats to future meetings to report. lneke Boekhorst Ms. Boekhorst advised that the Business Improvement Association has signed an agreement with the District of Maple Ridge and the Chamber of Commerce for the Our Spirit Our Town initiative and provided an overview. Shawn Matthewson Ms. Matthewson provided an overview of the Hearts at School event, an initiative from the Happy Heart Program that took place at the Greg Moore Youth Centre with almost 300 Grade 6 participants. Ms. Matthewson advised that the CYFN Early Childhood Development's Connecting for Kids public forum taking place on May 30th at the Heritage Hall in Pitt Meadows. 8. CORRESPONDENCE 8.1 Seniors Forum Fact Sheet 8.2 Seniors Forum Flyer 8.3 Seniors Forum Pamphlet 8.4 Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Katzie Seniors Network 8.5 McCreary Adolescent Health Survey -Media Release and Report: "A Picture of Health"; www.mcs.bc.ca (Press Release and Adolescent Health Survey) 8.6 BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) Research Report -Poverty and Education 8. 7 "3 Ways to Home " News Bulletin, Issue 14 April 2009 8.8 Bridges Out of Poverty -Elizabeth Fry Society -May 20th These items were received as information. 9. Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 3 -7:00 p.m. Location: Blaney Room, Maple Ridge Municipal Hall 10. Adjournment -9:05 p.m. Chairperson /Im Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Minutes Page 6 of 6