HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 9, 2023
Page 1 of 6
Minutes/Meeting Summary
Community Safety and Well-Being Advisory Committee
November 9, 2023
Hybrid - Electronic Meeting
Main Committee Room
7:00 pm
Attendees: L. Appelbohm
C. Bamford
D. Magagna
A. Muhammad
P. Patel
C. Paxton
M. Kenworthy
M. Eskins, DARS Inc.
Councillor S. Butt
E. Knox, Community Safety and Well Being Advisor (Staff Liaison)
J. Currie, Legislative Coordinator (Recording Secretary)
L. Gibbs, Division Head, Culture and Community Programming
J. SanAntonio, Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Absent: K. Hamilton
J. Larendowicz
A. Rizvi
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include deadline
as appropriate)
Welcome and Land Acknowledgement
1. Review and Approval of Agenda
The Committee reviewed the agenda.
Agenda approved.
2. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
3. Approval of Minutes
Moved by C. Bamford
Page 2 of 6
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include deadline
as appropriate)
That the Minutes of the August 17, 2023, Meeting of the
Community Safety & Well Being Advisory Committee be
approved.
Carried
4. Delegations/Presentations
Councillor S. Butt welcomed L. Gibbs as Acting Division
Head, Culture and Community Programming.
4.1 Recreation and Parks Master Plan Presentation
L. Gibbs provided an overview of the Recreation and Parks
Master Plan 2024-2034 with an outline of the Project
Timeline. L. Gibbs noted that Pickering is in Phase 3:
Community Consultation and provided an update on the
Community Engagement Strategy, including a city-wide
survey, the dates of five focus group sessions, four
Charette’s, and a youth engagement partnership. L. Gibbs
invited committee members to complete the City wide Survey,
attend one of the organized Charette’s, and share feedback.
A link to more information pertaining to the Recreation and
Parks Master Plan, the Community Survey, and the Public
Open House Schedule can be found at
letstalkpickering.ca/RPMP.
Discussion ensued with Committee Members regarding:
• the Recreation and Parks Master Plan being a broad
study utilized to prioritize City projects that does not go
down to a granular level, but that new facilities moving
forward would include specific items such as universal
washrooms/changerooms;
• having sent Private Schools invitations to participate in
addition to the Catholic and Public School Boards;
• asset management being included in the Plan and
issues of repairs and if there are warranties;
• the issue of homelessness in Pickering, the use of
facilities, and how services should be provided, and;
• cricket and pickle ball being the fastest growing sports
in Pickering and Southern Ontario, and that there is
work being done to meet this growing need.
Page 3 of 6
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include deadline
as appropriate)
4.2 Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy Update
J. SanAntonio provided an update on the Equity, Diversity,
and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy. J. SanAntonio provided an
overview of the multi-year EDI Strategy, noting the ongoing
need for an EDI Strategy that is informed by internal and
external sources of consultation and is consistently evolving
with the community. J. SanAntonio highlighted a high-level
summary of preliminary findings of the consultation.
Discussion ensued between Committee Members regarding:
• the current war in the Middle East and how it is
affecting Pickering residents;
• what work is being done to address bullying in relation
to increased instances of islamophobia and
antisemitism;
• connecting with community leaders, supporting a more
fulsome education in the community, increasing
information sharing and dispelling misinformation;
• directing enquiries to the appropriate community
resources;
• the EDI Strategy being embedded in all City practices,
and the importance of emphasizing EDI in the
framework that informs each of the City of Pickering’s
policies and procedures;
• the difference between addressing EDI among City
Staff versus City Council;
• a long term vision of a career curriculum, and that part
of the EDI Strategy is to explore different models and
best practices, and;
• the importance of accountability in reference to Equity,
Diversity, and Inclusion.
5. New Business
5.1 Proposed Virtual Community Safety and Well-Being
Advisory Committee Meeting – Thursday, February 8,
2024 @7pm
Moved by C. Bamford
That a Community Safety and Well Being Committee meeting
will be held virtually, on Thursday, February 8, at 7pm.
Carried
Page 4 of 6
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include deadline
as appropriate)
5.2 Highway Traffic Act Amendments Council Resolution
#195/23
E. Knox provided a summary of the proposed Highway Traffic
Act Amendments.
L. Gibbs provided clarification that the Regional Council
Resolution #195/23, Highway Traffic Act Amendments are to
be provided as a request to amend in writing to the province.
Discussion ensued between Committee Members regarding:
• clarification that the Region of Durham will be providing
the written request to the province, and;
• clarification that the recommended amendments to the
Highway Traffic Act would expand the Automated
Speed Enforcement beyond School Zones and that the
mandatory 90-day advanced warning requirement be
reduced to 10 days for initial deployments.
Moved by A. Muhammad
That the Community Safety and Well Being Committee
endorses the Highway Traffic Act amendments.
Carried
5.3 Intimate Partner Violence – Council Resolution
#235/23
E. Knox confirmed that an Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
epidemic has been called and that IPV has been incorporated
into the draft Community Safety and Well-Being Plan as
Priority 2.6.
5.4 DARS Shower Program Renewal – council Resolution
#302/23
E. Knox provided for the Committees information, that the
DARS Shower Program Renewal was approved by Council at
the October 23, 2023, meeting. Application for renewal is not
required until the end of 2024.
5.5 Draft Community Safety and Well-Being Plan Updates
E. Knox provided an update on the draft Community Safety
and Well-Being Plan. The Plan was brought to Council at the
November 6, 2023, Executive Committee Meeting by L.
Gibbs. E. Knox noted that the status of the establishment of
Page 5 of 6
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include deadline
as appropriate)
the Homelessness Taskforce was brought forward at the
Executive Committee Meeting and that the CSWBAC should
begin to discuss items such as composition and objectives
that the Taskforce may include.
Discussion ensued between Committee Members regarding:
• approaching local churches and mosques to open
dialogue regarding the Homelessness Taskforce, and
the existing services and value they already offer;
• a focus on wrap around services;
• the difficulty in providing appropriate assistance to
those who choose encampments rather than available
shelters;
• those experiencing homelessness having a lack of trust
of those providing services being a barrier;
• the benefits of receiving the input of those who have
experienced encampment living;
• the urgency to address issues such as regional versus
municipal responsibilities and the need for
municipalities to step in, and how the Homelessness
Taskforce can contribute;
• the benefit of day availability for those who will be
joining the Homelessness Taskforce;
• DARS received funding from the Region and is
partnered with Peace Lutherans Church, and will host a
Thursday night hub, opening doors to those who are
unhoused, in situations of extreme weather conditions;
• working with local businesses;
• going beyond providing housing and incorporating wrap
around services;
• seeking alternate solutions to traditional shelters such
as collaborative or cooperative housing;
• connecting with Point In Time (PIT) Survey to
determine the demographics of those experiencing
homelessness to provide context of various supports
that may be beneficial;
• DARS being the PIT count contact for Pickering;
• inviting Durham Region Police Services to join the
Homelessness Taskforce, to provide familiarity with
police to those experiencing homelessness, to limit fear
and trauma;
• how to address those experiencing homelessness and
their pets;
Page 6 of 6
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include deadline
as appropriate)
• education regarding donating items that are
considerate of the usefulness to those in need;
• DARS FaceBook page being a valuable resource;
• considering that many of those experiencing
homelessness have various histories and that we have
a homelessness epidemic as well as a mental health
epidemic, and;
M. Kenworthy left the meeting at 8:45pm.
• the City of Pickering having very giving communities
who donate quality items, and that those in need
deserve dignity and should feel good about receiving
donations.
C. Paxton left the meeting at 8:50 pm.
At 8:50 pm the meeting was adjourned due to the loss of
quorum.
The remaining agenda items will be considered at a future
Meeting.
5.6 Neighbourhood Watch Update
6. Other Business
None
7. Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for February 8, 2024
8. Adjournment
Meeting Adjourned: 8:52 pm