PUBLIC MINUTES

STREET ACTIVITY SUBCOMMITTEE

Meeting #:
Date:	Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at 12:00 P.m. - 1:00 P.m.
Location:	Committee Room E, Ground Floor, City Hall

PRESENT:

• Mr. B. Penner (Downtown Saskatoon), Chair
• Inspector C. McBride (Saskatoon Police Service)
• Ms. D. Mercier (Broadway Business Improvement District)
• Mr. R. Pshebylo (Riversdale Business Improvement District)
• Senior Planner E. Miller (Neighbourhood Planning, Community Services Department)

ALSO PRESENT:

• Community Support Program Supervisor R. Garrison
• Committee Assistant D. Sackmann

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

The Chair called the meeting to order.

2.

CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA

The Committee requested that the matter Supervised Injection Site in Pleasant Hill be added to the next meeting's agenda.

• Moved By: D. Mercier

  That the agenda be confirmed as presented.

  
  CARRIED

3.

DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of conflict of interest.

4.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

• Moved By: R. Pshebylo

  That the minutes of meeting held on June 26, 2019 be adopted.

  
  CARRIED

5.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

6.

REPORT OF THE CHAIR [File No. CK. 225-74]

7.

REPORT OF PROGRAM MANAGER [File No. CK. 225-74]

The Program Manager advised that one Community Support Program Officer resigned at the end of August and that a replacement has been hired as of September 4, 2019 this is the shortest turnaround time the program has ever had.

• Moved By: R. Pshebylo

  That the information be received.

  
  CARRIED

8.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM

8.1

Community Support Program Supervisor's Report [File No. CK 5605-3]

The report of the Community Support Program Supervisor was provided.

Community Support Program Supervisor Garrison reviewed the report and answered questions of the Committee highlighting the following:

• Two Community Support Officers this summer travelled to Edmonton to view the operations of the supervised consumption site.  Best practices were shared and discussed and brought back to Saskatoon.
• Months of June, July, and August were busy with calls for service and attending occurrences.
• Community Support Program co-presented with Saskatoon Police Services a lunch and learn at Federated Co-Op this was well attended.
• The 7th anniversary of the Community Support Program was acknowledged.
• Community Support Program is exploring using a phone App as a tool to facilitate communication quickly and efficiently on common issues between stakeholders in the community and Community Support Program. Messages on the App are sent and delivered instantly. Groups can be created, such as a Closed Group with set perimeters around its use. The Chair noted that Chris Beavis has agreed to be the current Administrator for the group chat. The App is free.

Community Support Program Supervisor Garrison apprised the Subcommittee that recently it has come to his attention that the Response Times shown in Table 4 of the report have been calculated incorrectly for a while and an attempt will be made to rectify this. The Chair suggested that the 2019 numbers be amended and that in upcoming reports it is denoted that the numbers for previous years were calculated in error.  Senior Planner Miller noted that the numbers are reported to City Council on an annual basis.

The Subcommittee requested that future reports include statistics on Crystal Meth calls/addiction.  If possible, separating the Meth calls based on an area of the city would be beneficial.

The Subcommittee also requested that future reports include any calls or issues that need attending regarding the supervised injection site.

The Subcommittee further requested, if possible, to be provided a list of the category-type calls/issues being dealt with, such as priority 3 calls.  Inspector McBride undertook to provide this.

• Moved By: R. Pshebylo

  That the information be received.

  
  CARRIED

8.2

Walk Your Bike Sidewalk Markings [File No. CK 5605-3]

At its meeting held on June 26, 2019 the Subcommittee discussed the above and noted that in order to help the Community Support Officers with enforcement, the repainting of the sidewalk markings should be done early in the spring. Senior Planner Miller undertook to contact the Administration in this regard and provide an update.

Senior Planner Miller advised the Subcommittee that she further discussed the matter with Administration and the issue is a matter of resources for the Working Group.  Cross walks are prioritized over bike sidewalk markings.  Administration noted that the Subcommittee could submit a letter to City Council encouraging them to allocate more resources to this Working Group.  The Subcommittee commented it felt the issue was of concern for the general public and should be a priority in order to help prevent any public injury.

• Moved By: R. Pshebylo

  That the Subcommittee write to the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development & Community Services requesting that the "Walk Your Bike" sidewalk markings be painted early in the spring in order to foster community safety, assist with education efforts to keep bikes off sidewalks, and to help with enforcement.

  
  CARRIED

8.3

Alternative Sources of Funding for the Community Support Program [File No. CK 5605-3]

At its meeting held on June 26, 2019 the Subcommittee discussed the matter of alternative sources of funding for the Program.  Currently the Program is funded from parking meter revenue through the Urban Design Streetscape Reserve.  Concern was expressed regarding deficiencies becoming evidence in the Business Improvement Districts (BIDS), and maintenance items which will be overdue unless an alternative funding source becomes available.

Senior Planner Miller advised the Subcommittee that a report was being presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development & Community Services (PDCS) in October that addressed future operating programming and funding models on the Community Support Program.

It was noted that members of the Subcommittee could attend the PDCS meeting as either a member of the Subcommittee or as a BID and speak to the matter.

• Moved By: R. Pshebylo

  That a request for an alternative source of funding for the Community Support Program be submitted to City Council through the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services for budget consideration.

  
  CARRIED

9.

MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2020 [File No. CK 225-74]

The Committee Assistant reported the following meeting schedule for 2020 for the Street Activity Subcommittee as follows:

• Wednesday, March 18, 2020
• Wednesday, June 17, 2020
• Wednesday, September 16, 2020
• Wednesday, December 16, 2020

• Moved By: Inspector McBride

  That the information be received.

  
  CARRIED

10.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 1:25 p.m.