ePR-05-2089 8 9 : l l AM D A V E . D I P l I T R I E

David Dimitrie 752 Kipps Lane Apt. 705 London, . . .

Mr. Kevin Bain City Clerk City Hall 300 Duffwin

519 6614092

Mr. Bain: I am writing you to ask for delegation statue et the April 27@', 2009 meeting of the Community and PrateCtive Services Committee. I would like to provide the CPSC Committee an update on the Kipps Lane Initiative on behalf on the Kipps Lane Community Association.

At this point, I only anticipate bringing one other member whose name is Ms. Sharon Eggett to be part of the delegation. I am asking that she also have delegation status. She Is a neighbour and a resident of tfla City of London. If you need more information regarding Ms. Eggetl please contact me.

Despite the diiculties I have had recently with the Kipps Lane initiative and City staff I do not see any need for this delegation to be in camera. Of course that is the Chair's decision. _ _

I am faxing this request directly to you as I anticipate the Chair will need to discuss this request with you.

I was the first resident of Kipps Lane to address the CPSC on May 28,2007 when the KLI was announced. This is simply an update as I anticipate that it is nearing its completion and I would like the members oft e 5 year old Kipps Lane Community Assodation to update the CPSC on the entir a Initiative. I will im antacting the members of our group in order to essembp my presentation and ask others H they would like to attend as part of the delegation of in the audience.

P. a2

ePR-05-2009 09:12 A M D A V E - D I M I T R I E 5196630781

Please get back to me if you have any questions ebout this requested delegation. I do anticipate providing Councillors with a brief summary of the update before the April 27m date. The summary itself won’t be long as I know delegations typically only have 5 minutes. It is up to Me. Egoett as to whether she would like to join me in the oral part of the presentation.

Sincerely,

David Dimitrie

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f i P R - 0 5 - 2 W 8 9 11:47 FIM D F I V E . D I M 1 T R I E 5196630781

DAVID DIMlTfUE Dwd Wumn Program misses those who need it

What's wrong with this picture?

On the west side of Adelaide and Kipps Lane there are expensive, lush green athletic fields manicured to pdection, a field house and plenty of ball diamonds.

Anyone can use those facilities, after a permit is purchased. The fine for non- compliance is $90.

On the east side of Kipps Lane and Adelaide there are roughly 3,000 people jammed into townhouses, aging high rises and condos.

This neighbourhood has no community centres, basketball courts, pools, splash pads, tennis courts or even meeting moms for community groups. It does have Ed Blake Park, a beautiful green space that offers only a small jungle gym for children and some park benches.

The City of London offers outstanding recreational opportunities. Unfortunately, you will have difficulty accessing them without a car and money for user fees. Those are unnecessary barriers which could be reduced if the recreation department's flnancial assistance program was better known.

Recently I 'discovered' the city offers financiel assistance to any Londoner who would like to swim, skate or take part in the hundreds of programs offered in its recreation magazine, Spectrum. These subsidies do not provide for LTC transportation for under serviced areas like Kipps Lane.

A study of the recreation department's financial assistance system program is revealing. In the last seven years, usage of the assistance program has tripled. A cursory review of the dollars spent and numbers of redpients provided by Ross Fair, general manager of community services, indicates during the last eight years usage and dollars spent on this pmgram have trlpled as Londoners learned of it4 availability.

I contacted Mr. Fair. He insisted 'a review of these numbers verifies London's most vulnerable can and are accessing parks and recreation programs and memberships."

He also explained how the financial assistance program is advertised to Londoners and how it is administered. In 2008, $320,000 was budgeted for the financial assistance program end 6,499 citizens received assistance.

This represents less than half of all Ontario Works and Onterio Disability recipients and their families in London.

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Clearly there are many more low-income Lordonen who could be benefiting from this program.

Why has the word about the recreation department's financial assistance program not gone out to more low-income Londoners? Mr. Fair indicated the program Is widely advertised in Spectrum, not-forprofit agencies, schools and many other places. That is true.

Why then don't more eligible Londoners take advantage of the assistance or even know about it? The problem is twofold. First, Community Services relies too heavily on referrals from not-for-profit agencies to advertise the program. Second, neither Spectrum nor actual community centres prominently advertise the program.

Spectrum offers five lines in its latest issue, and the two community centres I recently visited, Carling and Stronach, offer some pamphlets on child care and day camp subsidies but not much else.

If Community Services chose to directly advertise these programs on city buses, prominently in recreation centres and through free public service announcements in print, radio and television, more needy Londoners could make use of London's excellent facilities. Tear-out application forms in Spectrum and downloadable forms could easily be made available.

The distribution of Spectrum or basic financial assistance information is a soft3 point. If the goal ts to reach the most households possible, Spectrum and other information muid be sent out in bulk advertising mailers which most Londoners already receive each week Instead of relying so heavily on The Free Press and Pennysaver which not all Londoners purchase or receive.

At the very least, children and teens Should be offered a place to cool off during our hot, humid summers and increasing number of poor quality air days. The Wpps Lane Community Tenants Association will make certain local families know all details of this finandel assistance proerem.

The question that remains Is how many other children, teens and adults in London do without recreational servlces because they don't know about this program or need help accessing it?

Far too many.

FIPR-05-2009 11:49 FIM DeVE.DIMITRIE 5196630701 P.04

David Dlmh& is founder of the Klpp Lane Community Assodetion. You can rwd, him at .I.*

Bill Dempsey Is a long-time newspaper exewtive and president of London Publishing Ltd.

YOU oan reach hlm at wrd@bowesnet.com The Londoner: London's Community Newspaper : Oplnion

Paoes Page 1 of 1 http://ww.thelondoner,celeditslnewguest. htm 3/6/2007

A P R - 1 3 - 2 B k 9 0 2 : Z B P M 9 f i V E . D I M I T R I E 5196638701 P . B 1

I Fax to Ms. Barb Power - Westlake From: David Dimitrie Addition to April 27th CPSC Delegation

Date: April, 13, 2009

6 pages including cover - Copy of text I read at CPSC meeting

514- LPI +%J

ay 28,2007 at announcement of Kipps

Both sides of invitation delivered to over 00 addresses in Kipps Lane, Briarhill, ron, Adelaide Area for July 24th joint I - Kipps Lane Community sociation meeting. Translated into

UT 3 other languages by City. I layed ut and type set the flyer.

5196630781 P. 82

I

Kippshne Strategy

Community and Protedve Sewices Commltteb May 28,2007

Davld Dimltrie

m the founder and leader of the Kipps friends who live in the Huron Boullee

nced Kipps Lane Initiative from to provlde me with a verbal statue report on Wells Park which are both in the Adelaide

Members of the CPSC Committee. I was delighted to learn that the City of begun a major initiative In the Kipps Lene,

ron, Adelaide area. Ironically I mapped thls area out several months ago as area for a larger community association which wuuld indude the residents

e8 at Huron Boullee.

and strategies for the initiative. I haw also met with Lynn ldham of the Nelghbourhoad Services Divislon. They explalned ok time to listen to the wok that both the Kipps Lane

on and the former tenant assoclation have been involved with over

llingness to meet as many people as possible in the ment area of this project through meetings, door to door canvassing and many approaches. It is extremely hard to dlsseminate information in thls area and gather

nCe of any community facillty. The schools are the best we h a r d rental rates are steep. A report issued last year by d this area as 'isolated."

with the work that Community Services has already made plans for this portunities for children and youth to enjoy existing services such 8 at Carting and Stronach Recreation centres and gym programs

on Betfield. Recreation services am sorely lacking in the

sociation will do everything It can to work with the City is Initiative. Preliminary plans for a community meeting Ms. Oldham has indicated that she would BSsist our meeting. A date in late July Is cumntly targeted.

e Chair and Committee members to read the letters from aommunity members have emailed to you regardlng thls project, our community and their individual

marked out in the Initiative.

F I P R - 1 3 - 2 0 ! 8 9 02:21 PM D F I V E . D l M I T R I E 5196630701

Agenda Item # page # r - 7 - P. 03

2

am encouraging our members and other residents to wrlte MI. Uvingstone, , Mr. Fair and CPSC members to let them know their feelings about their

the guns, violence, drugs, crime, poverty and other this area for decades.

not form lotten are templates. mi8 is not a letter writing our in boxes. I'm encourpgtng resident6 to put their own

f o m d our tenants a d a t i o n three years ago I had no idea of the depth and

8t study funded by the Federal government and carrled out by researchars from

studied one of the few remaining copies of this report. It is troubllng. Problem

tinue decade6 later. Property and crime statistiCa mirror many of the

is community. An elderly couple who are long-term about The 300 page Northbrae Ridgeview Helghts

ern on behalf of local residents in 1973.

f recreational facilities, poor City plannlng of housing

dons such as Neighboumood Resouwe CenUw, r hours and development of area parks are explored is study was not wed as an early warning signal

this current strategy will s o h decades of poor City planning,

or asklng for any large scale spending on community centres. pods . The Clty needs to break down tha badem of mlal core assbciated with the use of existing facilities at

mry, Stronach Recreation Centre, North London Optimist , Carling Recreation Centre and the pool located near the Huron

issues highlighted In the LPS Kipps Lane Crime Blitz last June. I am

where I'm told children jump the fence and swim at night of funds for the afternoon d o n .

facilities have dl seen major expansion and renovdons in recent ye=. We

es good fiscal and practical sense to see a return on the City's these faciiitiee more accessible to the residsntB livlng in this

re realistic goal would be a amallor Ncighbourhood Resource Centre baaed out exbting building which auld minor the excellent work done presently at cf8ntres

in my five years of freelance writing for East Side Story and the London Advocate. I have seen the fantastic work which Maiy Stamaman has

as Crouch on Hamilton Road. I have had a first hand look at many cammunlty

mpllshed at Crouch. It could be a template for this area.

> hope this initiative can flnally bring together residents from the apartments, lominiums, to~lhouses and single family dwellings in the area thls lnltiative io h g . Parts of this area have vev h i h density zoning. Ideally it would also bdng vler representatives of local businesses. faith groups and anyone else who cares

51966218701 P . B 1

3

is community. I 688 the Kipps Lane Community Assodalion as a building block community can build on to form a community assodation as strong as some of

I taw at a recent Urban League meeting I attended.

inly hope that Wards 3 and 4 Coundlors will take an aotive, consistent, handkon ible role in this mmunity during this Initiative and long afterwards. We need

, leadership and atperience. Mpps Lane utraddlbs the two wards.

Bed mpc sta6 wha has a lo

Tha me.

I condude I would like to ask staff present if they could give a verbal status In development plans for Ed Blake Pa& and Adelalde Wells Park. I did contact sdvance wlth this request There is a great deal of confusion presently as to my dtwelopment is ta occur in these Mpps Lane area parks. Much confusion ien regarding a proposal the potenttat construction of a track at Ed Blake Park by achooi board. Perhaps staff could tell me where thlngs stand as of today.

(ou for your time. I wlcome any questions as do some of the guests who joined

Agenda Itern #

Kipps Lane Community Association 705752 Kip* Lane, Phone: 519 663-8068, Email: kltarnail@syrnpatico.ca Web Site: www3.sympatim.ca/dlmitrie

The Kipps ILane Tenants I Community Association began as a tenants association to help ten- ants in the kipps Lane area to deal with tenant-landlord problems and help tenants to get to know each other. In September 2006 it became a community association open to all tenants and resi- dents in tha Kipps Lane, Briarhill, Huron Boullee, Adelaide area. The KLCA web site has generat-

over 10,000 visits since it began two years ago. Try the Cornmunlty Photo Gallery Link.

I

Cohnmunity Meeting - Everyone Welcome When: Tuesday July 24th, 2007 Where:

Details: Get to know your neighbours. Tell City staff and the KLCA how you would Improve Kipps Lane -Huron-Adelaide-Briarhill area.

Sir George Ross S.S. First Floor, Follow signs 365 Belfield (off Kipps Lane) 7 to 9 pm, Refreshments provided

City Skaff Will be There - They are Eager to Listen to You As part 04 its mandate to support the strategic priority of a strong and vital community for the City of Lohdon, the Neighbourhood and Children's Services Division is moving forward with the development of a strengthenlng neighbourhood's strategy. As a first step we are focuslng on the KiF)ps Lane neighbourhood. We recognize that ultimately strengthening a sustainable neighboudhood is not something that any one resident or community partner can do alone.

Part of the immediate plans include increasing our recreation programs for children and youth in this neighbourhood. We are excited to share these plans with you. $'e value the role and contributions of all of the residents in this neighbourhood and look forward to sharing our Kipps Lane Strategy with you.

Summer Fun in Your Neighbourhood

You've Read About it in the News - Now Let's Talk About these Issues with the KLCA and Neighbours

Safety an the ongoing Road-Sewer Construction Project on KIpps Lane Tenants Charged Extra Fee8 to use Alr Condltlonera Posslble Development of Ed Blake Park, Lack of Parkal Recreation In Area

* Vtolence and Property Crime, Gangs and Graffltl. Safety In your Neighbourhood. Planning and Development of Adelalde Wells Park (wooded lot next to Thamer RlverTrali

and Adelalde Rd.) What do you want to see in this Park?

- i -0 'd

' __________-_..___-________I____ ---------91-911-.1..-.19..~ .-.------ --------I

Asociacibn de la Comunldad Klpps Lane

Web Slte: www3.sympatico.calDimitrie (705-752 Kipps Lane, Telefono: 51 9 663-8068, Email: kitama ll@ svmDatic 0 . q

+un16n de la Cornunidad - Todos B~onvenldos

C&ando: nde:

Dptalles:

Cbnozca a sus vecinos. Dfgale a1 personal de la Ciudad y ei KLCA, cbmo mejorarfa el &rea de Klpps Lane-Huron-Adelaide-Briarhill.

E/ personal de la Cludad estar6 alli. Elloa esth ansiooos de escucharlo.

E ta reunlbn de la Asociacibn de la Comunidad de Kipps Lane ha sldo posible g 1 acias a la ayuda de la Ciudad de London y a la Dlvisl6n de Servicios a la vhcindad y 10s niiios.

Martes 24 de Julio del 2007 Slr George Ross S.S. Primer piso, siga las senales 365 Belfield (De Kipps Lane) 7 a 9 p.m., se ofreceran refrigerios

Bbhi a p giY @ng &&ng - Xin mZH dt CQ mgi ng&

KAi uia : 'me Ba nghy 24 t h h g 7 n h 2007

6 dBu : Tnrbng Trung hoc St. George Ross

365 U u h g Belticld (qupo ph& t&n du&rig Kipps Lane)

Chi t i k7 gib dbn 9 gib t6i Cung chp giii khat

LBm quen v&i lAng gibng o h bpn. Cha nhlln vi& thkh phb Cdng Ddng Kipps Lane bi6t b@n s€ lilm th& nio dd phAt tridn Kipps Lane-Huron-Adelaide-Briarhill.

T h g 1, theo dhu hi&

NH8n vi8n thhh ph6 se c6 m&t - Ho mong m6i Uuqc nghe 9 kidn clla qui vi.

Budi gbp g8 cira H4i COng Dbng Kipps Lane nhy UUW thy0 hi4n vbi sw h6 ~rp. C34 ThBnh ph6 Landan v i cu quan phyc vlf lhg gibng vh tra em.

HOi D o h COng D&ng Kfppcl Lme

Khu Mwg: www3.sympatico.crddirnitrie 705-752 Kipps Lane Dies Thod 519-663-8068. DItn thw: W a l @ s v m o

vh HQi khu vw

See other $/de for transktlon

Agenda item # Pa e # -A

ePR-16-2089 09:57 A M DeVE.DIMITRIE 51966X0701 P.01

Fax: To Ms. Barb Westlake-Power From: David Dimitrie

All Pages For inclusion in my delegation to April 27th meeting of CPSC.

On The Page following this cover page Councillors Can see how Residents in the “Resident - led group” at this meeting called the Kipps Lane Residents Working Group decided to deal with people at their meeting who In their opinion aren’t following their guidelines. You will note they have in point 3 included USE OF THE LONDON POLICE.

I have the documents called “GUIDELINES” whlch are to be used at these meetings and they are four pages in length. In my interpretation they are vague and subject too broad interpretation and h m y opinion gross error. They don’t conform to standard committee Terms of Reference.

They were never arrived at in the standard manner in which Standing Committees reach guidelines and Terms of reference and put to a vote with all members present before they were put in place. Only two matters were ever put to a vote in the Kipps Lane Residents Working Group at the meeting which I attended and they were the election of the Co-Chair and Renaming of the Neighbourhood.

I consider the use of the London Police Services an over the top and absurd way of resolving any guideline breach. In my 8 years of covering Council for two respected community newspapers I have never seen this type of remedy for any standing, ad hoc or advisory committee or even during participatory meetings whlch often become raucous. I

P. 62 ePR-16-2063 89:58 ISM DaVE.DIMITRIE 5196630761

covered many of the Pesticide debate Committee meetings and many of them became bitter and nasty. Nobody wa8 ever ejected. The LONDON POLICE was never called. I suggest that the CPSC take a serious look at the rules on this document as to there use in a City of London Initiative.

The following document was taken directly from the minutes of a meeting of the Ki ps Lane Initiative. I believe the page is from the February 1 I( 2009 meeting of the KLI which met at 335 Balfield (Northbrae Hub)

I was too sick too attend this meeting. I only obtained these minutes later in March 2009.

This cover page should be included with the minutes page as it directly describes where the document comes from and the purpose of it.

David Dimitrie

Agenda Item # m

RPR--16-2009 09:58 FIM DeVE.DIMITRIE 9196638701 P. 03 .

CO~WiqUOn#S for Not Followlng tho ~uldolines for Worklng Togeth.r

1.

2.

8.

Each member of the group has the tight to follow the above Steps.

k t the lndivldual know that they 818 nOt following the guldelines and let them know that they wlll be ask& to IMW I they do not follow the guldellnss If the indlvldual Is stlll breachlno the guidellnes after belm warned, they will be asked to leave the meeting If the InUMdual doesn’t kava t?m meeting when asked, steps will be taken to remove the penon (le. Police)

Agenda Item f page # )--.----.,

5196638701

Dwld Dimltrie 752 Klpp h e Apt 706 London . _.

~

Web: w . n 0rtheastender.a

Clty of London clerks m m do ME. Barb Wertlake-Power 8" Floor 300 Dufferln Am. London Ontario

ME. Wartlake Power.

I would like to add them lwo aheeta to the agenda.

tha rhmt entlthd Communlty San4crs Dopartnnnt 20011 Burlneu Case IkMae Growth Report r#2 nportr tho 2008 allotment to the Klppr Lane inltlatlva as t100,ooo.

I checked wlth Ross Falr and the amount far 2009 was also tlB0,OW.

In the flrst year of the KLI there WBS na amount of money put adde In the 2007 Budget for the Program end the pmgram ran under the existing Community Sewlce Bud~et. I belleve a fafr estlmate for the funds used in 2007 would be $40,000 as that Is the same amount on the 2008 budget sheet for "Children and Youth Recnsational Pmgrammtng.

This clearty ahow that the cost ot the Klppr Lano Inltlatlve to the end of 200B la S400,OOO not including he sahrles of senior EM who led the project That amcunt Is entirely bome by the taxpawn of the Clly of London.

he KU survey alone cost $M,aoO which was budgeted for In the yearly allatment. a he Kipps kine bmmunky Asodatlon has never come to the City for operating funds In its five yeen of existence and It never will. Our accompllshments far exceed the KLI by takinq reaponslblllty for ounehrea.

It Is unknown t the City of London paid runt for use of the Pdnclally bullt and operationally funded Northbrae Hub for meeUng8. T'b KLCA uses Vs own unlts

pcationally nnb spa for msstlngs and at It pays for on its own. c f l . n f i

P. 01

Sincerely, Devld Dimltrie

A P R - l e - 2 0 0 9 11:25 P M D A V E . D I M I T R T E . . . 5196638781 P. 82