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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPAC 2015-02-04 Minutes.pdf) City 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, February 4, 2015 at 7:00 pm COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Steven Lamothe, Chair John McKenzie Annette Morgan Cpl. Alanna Dunlop Councillor Bob Masse lneke Boekhorst Josee Brazeau Candace Gordon Mana Bayanzadeh Vicki Kipps Pierre Welbedagt Jenny Tan Jassy Maghera Candace Gordon Dr. Shovita Padhi Stephanie Ediger Karleen Carreras GUESTS Mayor Read Councillor Gordy Robson STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Sue Wheeler Pat Shiratti Kelly Swift Shawn Matthewson REGRETS/ABSENTS Rajinder Kalra Sunny Schiller Councillor Shymkiw Bob Daley Ministry of Social Development & Social Innovation Community at Large Seniors Network Ridge-Meadows RCMP Council Liaison Downtown BIA/ Friends in Need Community at Large Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows-Katzie Community Network Fraser Health Community Network Member at Large Member at Large -Youth Representative Family Education & Support Centre Community Network Fraser Health Alouette Homestart Society School District 42 Trustee City of Maple Ridge City of Maple Ridge Director of Community Services Administrative Assistant General Manager, Community Development Parks & Recreation (CDPR) Social Planning Coordinator/ Staff Liaison Community at Large Committee Clerk Council Liaison Community at Large Page 1 R15-003 R15-004 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting-Februa ry 4, 2015 1. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTIONS 2. 3. There being a quorum present, the Director of Community Services called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. AGENDA ADOPTION It was moved and seconded That the Agenda for the Regular Meeting of February 4, 2015 be adopted. CARRIED MINUTE ADOPTION It was moved and seconded That the Minutes of the January 7, 2015 Regular Meeting be adopted. CARRIED 4. DELEGATIONS 4.1 Mayor's Task Force on Homeless Solutions Update The General Manager, CDPR introduced Mayor Read and the members of the Task Force. Mayor Read described the Task Force which includes Councillor Robson and Councillor Masse with staff support from the General Manager, CDPR. This action oriented committee has been formed to outline a process to attain desirable outcomes related to addressing the needs of the homeless population. The Mayor's Task Force will provide regular updates to Council. Mayor Read explained the formation of five new sub-committees: 1) Street Action Team -The purpose of this working group is to increase timely access to services that respond to the individual needs of our unsheltered population. This work will be informed by input from people who have experienced homelessness. 2) Prevention and Education Team -The purpose of this working group is to develop a pro-active community approach to youth education on the prevention of drug use. 3) Shelter Team -The purpose of this working group is to identify an immediate interim shelter solution for people in the community that are currently unsheltered while longer-term solutions are being pursued, including those identified in the Housing Action Plan. 4) Enforcement Team -The purpose of this working group is to ensure a consistent and effective approach to enforcement of community standards and safety. Page 2 R15-005 ) R15-006 R15-007 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting-February 4, 2015 5) Communities Standards Team -The purpose of this working group is to ensure alignment with community standards by agencies that provide a regional service to people with significant mental illness and/or drug addiction. 5. NEW BUSINESS 5.1 2015 Chair and Co-Chair The Staff Liaison called for nominations for the role of Chair. Steven Lamothe was nominated and he accepted the nomination for 2015 Term. Steven Lamothe was acclimated to the position of Chair for the Social Planning Advisory Committee. It was moved and seconded That Steven Lamothe be acclimated to the positon of Chair for the Social Planning Advisory Committee. CARRIED The Staff Liaison called for nominations for the role of Vice-Chair. Stephanie Ediger was nominated and she accepted the nomination for 2015 Term. Stephanie Ediger was acclimated to the position of Vice-Chair for the Social Planning Advisory Committee. It was moved and seconded That Stephanie Ediger be acclimated to the positon of Vice-Chair for the Social Planning Advisory Committee. CARRIED 5.2 Eli Mina Committee Meetings Workshop -date TBD The Staff Liaison provided information on an upcoming workshop called "Meetings, Rules and Effective Decision Making". More information will be forthcoming. 5.3 Community Network-Request for Coordination of Funding As CN Representative, Ms. Candace Gordon spoke to the importance of the funding being requested from SPAC for the coordination of the Community Network for 2015. Ms. Gordon discussed the need for ongoing support as the Community Network continues to grow. She acknowledged the support of the municipality. It was moved and seconded That SPAC continues to support funding for the coordination of the Community Network in the amount of $30,000 for 2015. CARRIED Page 3 R15-008 J Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting -February 4, 2015 5.4 Committee Review Council will be conducting a Committee Review. The SPAC bylaw amendments including the mandate review achieved during the fall of 2014 are included in this upcoming review process being conducted by Council. 5.5 Committee Work Plan 5.5.1 Housing Action Plan Implementation Strategy The Director of Community Services reported that Social Planning and Planning staff will be working together on the strategic implementation of the Housing Action Plan . 5.5.2 Social Sustainability Strategic Plan -Staff Recommendations It was moved Staff report recommends that SPAC move forward with a Social Sustainability Strategic Plan. The work will proceed in chapters with the first focus area being a youth strategy. That the Social Planning Advisory Committee proceed, within the Committee funding and resources over the next two years, with the preparation a series of chapters and recommendations to inform a Social Sustainability Strategic Plan for the City of Maple Ridge. CARRIED 5.5.3 Developing Youth Focus Groups Work with Youth Services to develop focus groups with our local youth between ages 13-19. 5.5.4 Youth Strategy-First Chapter in the Social Sustainability Strategic Plan The social planning department will work to engage the community in creating the first chapter in the strategic plan. 5.5.5 BC Social Policy Framework Research 6. OLD BUSINESS This work was included in the 2015 work plan to focus on informing the Committee regarding this work, which will then be forwarded to Council for their information in 2015. 6.1 Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) Funding Update At the Community Housing Table (CHT), there was a discussion outlining concerns about the process to apply for HPS funding and the ultimate disbursement of the funding. Some of the major concerns include the rushed nature of the process, the seeming regional disparity and the criteria which tended to exclude smaller organizations. A number of community housing tables have raised concerns and would like to provide feedback to the RSCH Community Entity. Metro staff will be sending out a survey in order to solicit feedback from both successful and unsuccessful applicants for the funding. The CHT also felt that it would be difficult to Page 4 ) Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting -February 4, 2015 provide feedback until the funding announcements are made. 6.2 Iron Horse Youth Safe House (IHYSH) Update The Executive Director of AHSS expressed appreciation to Mayor Read and the community for their support during this time of uncertainty. Local businesses came together after the appeal for emergency funding and an attempt was made to keep the shelter going. The IHYSH Board kept the program operating for the month of January and redesigned the support services to keep in operation while closing the shelter portion of Iron Horse. AHSS is appreciative of all the community support received. 6.3 Integrated Response Team Update -Deferred 6.4 Moments to Milestones Film Debut The Community Network's Housing Planning Table has a showing of the "Moments to Milestones" film on Thursday, February 26, 2015 from 7 -9 pm in the Maple Ridge Council Chambers. The discussion panel includes Dr. Gabor Mate, Andrew Billings from BC Ambulance Service, and Sherry Mumford from Fraser Health. Seating is limited so please RSVP to pshiratti@mapleridge.ca 7. DELEGATIONS 7.1 8. Salvation Army Caring Place Update -Darrell Pilgrim Darrell Pilgrim, Executive Director of the Salvation Army Caring Place, gave a brief update on the status of the Caring Place programs. He explained that the Shelter Policy changes made by the Caring Place in October 2014 have been very successful and have created opportunities for individuals to make different choices. The Salvation Army Caring Place continues to operate a number of programs including a meal program, drop-in, Sonja 's Cradle and School Bag Lunches. However, the Christmas season fundraising goal was not met and the Caring Place annual fundraising dollars are down by approximately $40K. Mr. Pilgrim reported that although no decisions have been made yet, this will have implications and impacts on the delivery of local services, including a cut back affecting current services and programs. Mr. Pilgrim also informed the Committee that the level of need in the community for meal programs remains high. He highlighted the school lunch program that delivers 175 bagged lunches to school children each day, indicating that this program demonstrates the need to focus on preventive initiatives to address homelessness. Mr. Pilgrim concluded by inviting everyone to take part in the Salvation Army Caring Place's upcoming fundraiser: The Coldest Night of the Year. The annual walk will take place on February 21st. He concluded by thanking the Committee for their support. ROUNDTABLE John McKenzie noted that Crystal Glass had donated a number of "Raise the Roof" toques for the Committee. John requested that a thank-you for the donation be sent Page 5 Social Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting-February 4, 2015 9. 10. to Crystal Glass. CORRESPONDENCE -Nil ADJOURNMENT -9:07 pm Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 4, 2015 Agenda Deadline: Wednesday, February 18, 2015 Location: Blaney Room, Maple Ridge Municipal Hall ~ ----~ ' Chairperson /ps (notes) /ss (formatting) Page 6