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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-15 Minutes CLARINGTON SAFE COMMUNITIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE May 15, 2014, 3:00 P.M. MEETING ROOM 1A Present: Chris Newman, Firehouse Youth Centre, Chair Lindsay Dafos, Corporate Relations and Communications, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) John Givelas, Durham Regional Police Services Sheryl Greenham, Erin O’Toole’s Office Maria Perrino, John Howard Society Pastor John Wildeboer, Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church Also Present: June Gallagher, Committee Coordinator 1. MINUTES Moved by S. Greenham, seconded by M. Perrino THAT the minutes of the meeting held on April 17, 2014 be approved. CARRIED 2. BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETING th (a) Recap of Community Clean Up – Saturday April 26, 2014 Chris Newman provided a recap from the Community Clean Up. He noted that there was approximately 120 volunteers in attendance. Chris added that the BBQ was also a success. Pastor John Wildeboer thanked Chris for his organization and noted that his volunteers are looking forward to next year. b) Marketing/Events – Acquisition of A-Frame Signs Chris will follow up with Len and/or Mayor Foster about the “redeployment of existing resources”. This item will be discussed at the next meeting with an update from Len Creamer. c) Parachute Safe Communities Checklist – Update on Date for Presentation Chris reminded the Committee that the information had been distributed at the last meeting. This item will be discussed at the next meeting with an update from Martin Wind. Clarington Safe - 2 - May 15, 2014 Communities Committee d) Discussion of Subcommittee Formation Youth Leading Youth Chris explained that the subcommittee includes a group of youths to explore opportunities to engage the community in recreational or social events. He explained that the goal is to provide more supports/situations where youth help other youth. Chris noted that four youths are currently a part of the monthly meetings of the subcommittee. Chris reminded the Committee that Graffiti Cleanup Day is planned for June 3, 2014 with a focus on specific areas. He noted that Courtice Secondary School and Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School have been contacted for possible involvement with a plan for eight volunteers from each school to attend, as well as youth from the Firehouse Youth Centre, Martin Wind and Chris Newman. The plan is to starting at the bottom of Bloor Street in the plaza at 3:00 p.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. One group will be going out with Auxiliary Officers, in partnership with Safe Communities and Youth Leading Youth. This group will provide residents with information on “what to do when you see graffiti”. The second group will be doing the clean up. Currently Martin is contacting Canada Post and Hydro One to see if paint can be donated (at the very least obtain the paint codes for the boxes). Chris will contact Len to discuss where the email would be forwarded to OR whether there would be an online form which could be utilized. Councillor Hooper mentioned that some municipalities have decorative boxes or camouflaged boxes. Chris explained that the cleanup is Phase 1. Phase 2 might be a contest to try decorating some of the frequently tagged boxes, including the potential for decorating the retaining wall on Highway 2 – with a mural to provide exposure for anti-graffiti messaging. Follow up meetings will include discussions about possibilities for Phase 2. Sheryl Greenham noted that some of the utility companies have started to move their boxes underground. Chris mentioned that the Youth Leading Youth group is developing a poster, which will be forwarded to Jen Cooke for approval. Linda Dafos mentioned that posters can be placed in the OPG information centres. Chris stated that he hopes that the media will be supportive of the event. June noted that the previous minutes had indicated that Anne and Len agreed to undertake a record review to determine if there is a standard maintenance requirement. She suggested that Len might provide an update at the next meeting. Clarington Safe - 3 - May 15, 2014 Communities Committee What’s Been Happening? Chris distributed a draft of a sign/poster containing consistent message (including corporate partners) which can be customized for each event. The size will be dependent on the findings of the ‘redeployment of existing resources’. Chris will make some adjustments to the draft and distribute to the Committee. Utility Boxes See discussion in the “Youth Leading Youth” item above. rd Graffiti Clean Up Day – June 3, 2014 See discussion in the “Youth Leading Youth” item above. 3. NEW BUSINESS (a) DRPS Trending Report John Givelas, DRPS, advised of the following:  Vehicle break-ins are a “gateway crime” and a “crime of opportunity”. The “Lock it or Lose It” program is in place in an effort to decrease vehicle break- ins  Theft of motor vehicles, mischief, and graffiti are on the rise, with the better weather.  Traffic accidents have not been spiking and have kept on pace with previous years’ statistics.  New Police Chief, Paul Martin, has been tasked with looking inward at the DRPS with a view to reaching out to the community to find solutions. Councillor Hooper mentioned that vehicle break-ins have increased in his ward. He mentioned that Rolf Kluem has responded by placing the A-frame signs which are part of the “Lock it or Lose It” program. John mentioned that it is important that the community not put items, even lose change, in plain sight in their vehicles. (b) Correspondence received form Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of Friends of Simon Weisenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies June noted that the last minutes had indicated that Anne had agreed to follow up with the Safety Day Coordinating Team and the Friends of Simon Weisenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies to coordinate the necessary arrangements for a presentation. Anne will update the Committee at a later date. Clarington Safe - 4 - May 15, 2014 Communities Committee 4. OTHER BUSINESS OPG Emergency Preparedness Drill Lindsay Dafos informed the Committee that OPG is participating in a large scale Emergency Preparedness Drill on May 26-28, 2014 as part of the regulatory requirements. She noted that it includes a large media campaign. Lindsay added that no action is required and that there is nothing to worry about. She added that there will be testing of the public alerting system and the autodialing system. Lindsay added that the Durham Emergency Management Office (DEMO) will be involved. Prayer Breakfast Pastor Wildeboer announced that the Bowmanville Ministerial is sponsoring the Mayor’s Community Leader’s Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Trinity United Church. He added that proceeds are going to Autism Ontario. Pastor Wildeboer announced that the guest speaker is Margaret Spoelstra, Executive Director of Autism Ontario. 5. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled to be held on June 19, 2014, in Meeting Room 1A at 3:00 p.m. 6. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Sheryl Greenham, seconded by John Givelas THAT the meeting adjourn. CARRIED The meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m. Chris Newman, Chair June Gallagher, Deputy Clerk