Crime Prevention, Safety and Long Term Planning Committee

Minutes – February 9, 2011

Present:  Sharon, Ben, Jack, Rob, Jeremy, Amber, Lorne, Cindy, Mike, Jayne, Bryan, Lorne, Larry.

Guests:  Michelle, Cindy, Kelly, from The John Howard Society.

1.        The  John Howard Society:

•   A very informative presentation about the services that The John Howard Society of Simcoe and Muskoka provides, and how they assist with the planning needs of inmates who are soon to be released (i.e. housing, Social Insurance, Social Assistance, etc.).  They help provide releases with information, education and direct them to other available services in the community which they may require.  While prisoners are incarcerated, Michelle pointed out that, those who are soon to be released are given little or no preparation to return to the outside world.  There is nothing in the form of counselling, re-integration assistance, or longer term housing available for men who come to Barrie.  There is however, some limited help available for women through the Elizabeth Fry Society.  The City of Barrie does not have a halfway house to help those released.

• The John Howard Society is under funded and under staffed to the degree that they can only help a relatively few of these individuals.  It was stated that the BDNA support and encourage their efforts.       

2.      Comments & Feedback on the Released Offenders Transfer from the CNCC to the City Of Barrie Bus Terminal:

Dispersing the releases more evenly throughout the City Of Barrie, instead of dropping them all off at the downtown bus station might be a better way to deal with this issue.  Moving the bus terminal away from the downtown area and to the Barrie Racetrack would help solve some of this problem.  The pros and cons of having a half way house was discussed as well as where it should be located.  Anyone can express their opinions on this or any other issue on the BDNA Blog.

3.        Minutes of Jan.25.11 -Not reported.

4.      BDNA Steering Committee Report - Not reported.

5.        Updates

i.  Downtown Bars – Noise and Closing time:

• Mike had a meeting with the Mayor and Lynn Strachan, and she has put forth a motion to council to increase cab lanes on Dunlop Street, as was a recommendation last fall.
• The possibility and cost of having all bars required to have paid police duty is being looked into.
• Planning department is looking at separation distances for bars.
• It is nearly impossible to convict on noise meter evidence in court.  Cindy will draw up a letter and follow this up with Lynn.
• Rob commented that it is discouraging that even though the establishments close their doors at 11 p.m the noise still comes through.  He also suggested for this committee to be effective, we have to know where to be effective and what is going to change things.
• Jeremy stated that the economics may have changed in downtown Barrie, but noise and disruption are the same as usual.
• The noise by-law issue was addressed last summer by this committee as an ongoing concern, which resulted in more law enforcement downtown, and it was found that by the end of the summer, the bars had become more compliant.  Bars closed their doors and turned the music down at 11 p.m which is a step in the right direction.
• There is zero tolerance for public drunkenness, according to police.
• The Liquor Inspector and the police try to visit every bar on Friday and Saturday nights looking for infractions, such as overcrowding, serving minors & drunken disorderly conduct.  It is inconvenient for management to get tickets for these infractions.
• Mike pointed out that bars focusing on late night business (i.e. opening their doors at 10 P.M) does nothing to enhance daytime traffic.
• After the bars close and people spill out into the streets, some vandalism occurs which affect the downtown businesses, such as the breaking of store front windows.
• Rob quoted Mr. Roger Brooks when he said that the problem in the downtown is not that there are too many bars, but rather that there is not enough of the other stuff.  We need to build larger buildings, such as banks, to generate more revenue and to have more people employed downtown.

The BIA Hospitality Com. meets in February.  Members of this Committee are invited to attend.    Rob to send date and time.

ii.                 Barrie Central Closing – deferred to March mtg.

iii.                Video Camera’s Downtown – deferred to March mtg.

iv.                Minimum Separation Distance  for tattoos parlours… – deferred to March mtg.  

6.   Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m

       Next Meeting Date:  Wed. March 16 at 7 p.m

                                      Barrie Community Health Center