ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: May 23, 1995
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Special Advisory Committee on Cultural Communities:
1995-1996 Goals, Objectives and Work Plan
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the recommendations shown highlighted in the attached
report of the Special Advisory Committee on Cultural
Communities: 1995-1996 Goals, Objectives and Work Plan, be
approved.
COUNCIL POLICY
Many of the actions recommended in the attached report are in
keeping with the City's communication policy and with the broad
diversity agenda of the City and the specific work plans of
various departments, specifically the Equal Employment
Opportunities Office and Social Planning.
DISCUSSION
The City Manager, in consultation with the City Clerk, the
Communications Advisor and staff of EEO and Social Planning,
reviewed the report and the actions recommended by the Committee
to carry out its Goals and Objectives which were approved by
Council on January 31, 1995. Approval of some is recommended.
Others are conceptual and do not contain sufficient detail for
adequate analysis by staff. The staff recommend these be
referred back to the Committee for further consideration and
report to Council, including resources required and funding for
same.
* * * * *
REPORT TO COUNCIL
SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL COMMUNITIES
APRIL 5, 1995
RECOMMENDATION
1. 1995-1996 Goals, Objectives and Work Plan
On January 31, 1995, City Council adopted the Special
Advisory Committee on Cultural Communities' Vision Statement,
Mission/ Mandate Statement and Goals for 1995-1996 as presented.
The Committee, in its report, also stated a detailed work plan
outlining objectives and plan of action for implementation in
1995-96 would be submitted to Council for approval in April.
The following objectives and plans of action for the
approved goals were developed by the Committee over the past
three months, and approved at its April 5, 1995 meeting. These
are presented to Council for approval.
GOAL 1
To promote and increase welcoming and inclusion of
cultural communities in the neighbourhoods and
communities of Vancouver.
Objectives
1. Improve communications with cultural communities.
Action
(a) Review and support the City Diversity
Communication Project (ongoing).
Staff Recommendation: Council approve the above
action.
2. Implement a third phase of Barriers to Bridges.
Action
(a) Recommend City Council incorporate a "Barriers to
Bridges" neighbourhood development stream in
Social Planning Community Services Grant program
which is focused on promoting inclusion of
cultural communities in neighbourhood activities
(1995).
Staff Recommendation: Council refer the above action
to the Director of Social Planning for review and
report back to Council.Report to Council
Special Advisory Committee on Cultural Communities
April 5, 1995 Page 2
Clause No. 1 Continued
3. Develop a media strategy to foster a better
understanding of cultural communities to counter
cultural stereotyping.
Action
(a) Explore the feasibility of sponsoring a media
conference to be held on March 21, 1996, Inter-
national Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination
(1995-96).
(b) Develop "Thumbs Up - Thumbs Down" program on media
coverage designed to identify fair and enlightened
coverage of cultural communities versus biased
reporting for use in the media conference (1995-
1996).
Staff Comment: In order to evaluate and comment on the
above actions, more detailed information is required.
We suggest Council refer them back to the Committee for
more detailed information.
Staff Recommendation: Council request the Committee,
with the advice of the Communications Advisor, to
report back with detailed plans, which identify the
objectives, needed resources and funding of both
actions.
(c) Recommend City Council instruct Hastings
Institute/ EEO staff to work with Staff
Development and Training Division to ensure all
staff who deal extensively with the public be
trained on how to handle racist/discriminatory
comments made in civic public forums and public
meetings.
Staff Recommendation: Council endorse this action and
refer to the appropriate staff for report back.
Report to Council
Special Advisory Committee on Cultural Communities
April 5, 1995 Page 3
Clause No. 1 Continued
4. Encourage and support community based activities to be
inclusive.
Action
(a) Where appropriate, invite staff who are involved
in community based activities to make
presentations to the committee and discuss how
they can ensure the activities are open and
inclusive to everyone, i.e. City's FEST Committee,
Office of Cultural Affairs, Park Board, etc.
Staff Recommendation: Council approve the above
action.
5. Sponsor public awareness campaign and improve cultural
harmony.
Action
(a) Sponsor a community writing contest about "living
in diversity" (1995-1996).
Staff Recommendation: Recommend the Committee report
back with a detailed plan, including resources required
and funding of same.
(b) Continue to encourage City Council to ensure that
equitable representation of cultural communities
are on all City Boards, Commissions and Committees
(ongoing).
Staff Recommendation: Council approve the above
action.
Report to Council
Special Advisory Committee on Cultural Communities
April 5, 1995 Page 4
Clause No. 1 Continued
(c) Recommend Council establish a special City award
recognizing individual(s)/groups for their special
contribution or achievement in promoting cultural
harmony in the City (1996).
Staff Comment: Based on a recommendation from the
Special Council Committee on Peace, Council, on July
10, 1990, initiated an annual Citizen Peace Award. At
that time, Council also approved Terms of Reference and
Criteria for the award (Appendix A attached). Staff
consider the proposed award as a similar endeavour and
worthy of support.
The costs related to the Peace Award were $500 (1990
dollars) for creation of the award. Each recipient
retains the award for a year after it is granted. In
addition, each recipient receives a personalized
certificate which they retain (cost approximately
$200). If Council were to approve this award, it is
suggested it be presented during a regular Council
meeting, which would be followed by a small reception
during the regular Council coffee break (additional
cost approximately $100). The total estimated cost
would be a one-time cost of $500.00 to create the
award, and an annual cost of $300.
Staff Recommendation: Council approve, in principle,
an annual Cultural Harmony Award, subject to the
Committee developing Terms of Reference and Criteria,
based on the format used for the Peace Award, for
Council's approval.
GOAL 2
To facilitate the communication between, and the influence
of cultural communities on the business of the City of
Vancouver.
Objectives
1. Develop an information brochure for the Committee that
outlines its functions and the process for
communicating with the committee.
Report to Council
Special Advisory Committee on Cultural Communities
April 5, 1995 Page 5
Clause No. 1 Continued
Action
(a) Explore cost and feasibility of producing a
committee brochure (1995).
Staff Comments: Our suggestion is a more informative
and cost-effective mechanism to request the
Communications Division to prepare Information Fact
Sheets for all Special Advisory Committees of Council.
Staff Recommendation:
(i) The Communications Division prepare Information
Fact Sheets, similar to that attached as Appendix
B, for all Special Advisory Committees of Council.
(ii) Should the Cultural Communities Committee wish to
have its Fact Sheet translated, it explore
community partnerships.
2. Provide input and support to the City Integrated
Service Delivery Model where needed (ongoing).
GOAL 3
To promote sensitivity, fairness and effectiveness of
City policy, action plans, strategies, services,
programs and systems that impact cultural communities.
Objectives
1. Encourage staff to seek the Committee's input when
developing relevant reports, new policies, action
plans, etc., before forwarding the report to
Council.Report to Council
Special Advisory Committee on Cultural Communities
April 5, 1995 Page 6
Clause No. 1 Continued
2. Discuss with civic unions their vision and influence in
regard to the mission of the Committee.
Action
(a) Invite civic unions to attend Cultural Communities
Committee meetings and discuss mandate and
relationships (1995-1996).
Staff Recommendation: Council approve the above
action.
3. Review EEO program and evaluate its effectiveness.
Action
(a) Discuss EEO program goals and evaluation approach
with staff (1996).
Staff Recommendation: Council approve the above
action.
Implementation of the above work plan will be carried out by
Committee members with some assistance from staff when necessary.
Project(s) requiring financial resources will be submitted to
Council for consideration with a detailed budget at the
appropriate time.
RECOMMENDED
THAT the 1995-96 objectives and work plan for the
Special Advisory Committee on Cultural Communities be
approved.
"Eleanor Atienza"
Eleanor Atienza, Chair