2003.10.06Ken Dubuc, Chair, Pathway Patrol Steering Committee 1 Pathway Patrol 2004 Expansion.

2003.10.06 Ken Dubuc, Chair, Pathway Patrol Steering Committee

1

Pathway Patrol

2004 Expansion


2

Presentation Overview

• Where we are

• Where we want to be

• How to get there

• Next steps

• The time is now


3

Background

• Volunteer program

• Improve safety and security of all pathway users

• Encourage courtesy among user groups

• Promote active living


4

History — Origins

• 1995: Community initiative– Owls’ Nest asks Mayor for a volunteer patrol to

improve security on recreation pathway

• 1996: Steering committee planning– Councillor Ron Kolbus champions

• 1997: First Patrol– From Lakeside Gardens to Champlain bridge– Pilot project for Ontario


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History — Expanding Areas and Roles• 1998: Greenboro expansion

• 1998: Safety blitzes

• 1999: Hintonburg expansion

• 2000: Trans-Canada Trail marshals

• 2001: Expansion to Ottawa Locks

• 2003: Pinecrest Creek expansion

• 2004: City-wide?


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Why safer pathways and more active residents?• 17.5 million users of the recreational

pathways each year, 87% of which are NCR residents

• Recent public and media attention to safety concerns and city-wide coverage in light of Ardeth Wood murder

• Not enough coverage: only 4 of 21 wards represented by Pathway Patrol


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Why safer pathways and more active residents? …2• Promotion of physical activity and healthy weight

are mandatory Public Health programs• Social and economic costs of inactivity: child and

adult obesity epidemic• Increase of 1% in physical activity participation

rate among Ontarians would result in annual health care savings of $31million dollars

• Benefits: Healthier residents, less congestion, reduced pollution, and fewer crashes


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How the Pathway Patrol Increases Safety• Monitoring

– Patrollers observe and report hazards– Users know paths are monitored

• Intervention– First aid, minor repairs, debris clean-up, 911 calls

• Empowerment– Users become volunteers, take active measures to

improve own education and safety

• “Virtuous Circle”– More users safer paths more users…


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Pathway Patrol — 20/20 Smart Growth DirectionMandate within four of seven 20/20 Guiding Principles:

• Responsible and Responsive City

• Healthy and active city

• Green and Environmentally Sensitive City

• Caring and Inclusive City

Public expectation of:

- Personal safety and security

- Focus on walking, cycling and transit

- Community engagement and partnership


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Organization

• General direction set by Steering Committee– Policy, budgetting

• Paid co-ordinator during patrol season– City of Ottawa staff

• Day-to-day operation managed by volunteers at some bases


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Steering Committee Representation• City of Ottawa

– Recreation, Health, Transportation

• National Capital Commission

• Ottawa Heart Beat• Police and Emergency

Services

• Advocacy groups– Citizens for Safe

Cycling

– Women’s Initiatives for Safer Environments

• Local businesses• City Councillors’ and

Mayor’s offices• Volunteer patrollers


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2003 Budget

• Cash budget variable from year to year

• Generally declining trend

• City of Ottawa makes up any shortfall

• In-kind contributions used where possible

• 2003 in-kind contributions:– Uniforms

– Assistance kits

– Community centre facilities

– Training Lunches

– Safety blitz transportation

– Some training

– Kick-off attendance

– Computer equipment

– Cell phone


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2001 Cash Budget

Expenses

$12,896

$400

$1,488

$1,111

$1,632

Coordination Supplies PromotionTraining Recognition

Income

$5,000

$1,000

$8,827

$1,200

$1,500

Heart Beat Multicultural CoalitionCity of Ottawa Councillors' OfficesIndividuals

Total: $17,527


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2003 Cash Budget (projected)

Expenses

$7,000

$2,000

$1,000

$2,000

Coordination SuppliesTraining Recognition

Income

$5,000

$4,250

$750

$2,000

Heart Beat City of OttawaCouncillors' Offices Individuals

Total: $12,000


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2001 Patrol Outcome

• 42 fully-trained volunteer patrollers• 162 patrols conducted

– Each of two hours with two patrollers

• 5 first aid interventions• 3 emergency (911) calls• 2003 figures not finalized

– Patrollers and shifts expected to be similar to 2001


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Expansion

• Geographical

• Operating season

• Patroller density

• Volunteer scope


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Geographical Expansion

• Objective: To be ready to operate in all or most urban areas and high-density suburban or exurban areas by summer 2004

• Benefits:– Broader security– Volunteers more able to patrol their home areas

• Challenge: Organizational and financial


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Operating Season Expansion• Objective: Operate from mid-April to mid-

October. Planning and promotion/ recruitment continues off-season

• Benefits:– Longer security– Increased cost-effectiveness

• Challenge: Financial


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Patrol Density Expansion

• Objective: At least one shift per day on all patrolled pathways

• Benefits:– Deeper security– Increased visibility

• Challenge: Volunteers


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Volunteer Scope Expansion• Objective: To involve volunteers in more

of organizational, planning and ancillary (e.g. web site) roles

• Benefit:– Increased cost-effectiveness– Deeper volunteer commitment– Better use of volunteers’ talent

• Challenge: Directing volunteers’ efforts


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Expansion Challenges — Funding• Planning for effective city-wide expansion • Part-time coordinator year-round• Full time coordinators during operating season• Estimated cash requirement: $50,000 Estimated

cash requirement: $50,000 or reallocation of existing recreation staff for part-time coordinator/expansion planning role

• NCC committed to providing funding support to expansion


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Expansion Challenges — Organizational• Formalize relationship with City of Ottawa

• Better visibility at senior staff, council levels

• Clarify accounting of Pathway Patrol funds administered by City of Ottawa

• Restructure steering committee


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Expansion Challenges — Staffing• Pathway Patrol has historically suffered

from not having paid staff in off-season– Funding issue– Implications:

• Late start to patrolling season

• Loss of continuity


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Expansion Challenges — Year-Round Coordinator• Part-time in off-season• Off-season roles:

– Planning — strategic and operational– Recruiting– Funding applications (from public bodies) and

fundraising (from private bodies)– Outreach– Evaluation


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Expansion Challenges — Councillor Role• Expansion into new community is driven by

councillor, facilitated by Pathway Patrol

• Councillor needed to:– Highlight community issues to Patrol– Promote Pathway Patrol to community groups

and businesses• Awareness, recruiting, fund raising

– Base and route planning


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Expansion Challenges — Councillor Role• Pathway Patrol will develop and provide

interested councillors with “expansion kit”

• Pathway Patrol members may make presentations to councillor, ward stakeholders


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Expansion Challenges — Volunteer Recruiting• Volunteer motivation improved by

expanded patrol – Being able to patrol near home– Expanding social relationships– More recognition from better-known program– Higher diversity of volunteer roles

• Recruiting promotions can use city-wide media with higher penetration and visibility


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Next Steps

• Committee presentations

• Budget and funding commitment

• Hiring part-time planner for winter 2003/04

• Preparation of expansion kit

• Expansion execution


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Next Steps — Committee Presentations• Recreation Advisory

• Cycling Advisory

• Transportation Advisory

• Accessibility Advisory

• Police Services

• Emergency and Protective Services


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Next Steps — Funding

• NCC has committed to providing financial support to Pathway Patrol expansion– Can be provided on short notice

• Need funding/reallocation of staff commitment in principle from City of Ottawa

• Need separate item in City’s accounting system


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Next Steps — Hiring

• External sustainable funding to hire Program Coordinator or reallocation of resources within City of Ottawa Recreation to fill role part-time for 6 months or longer

• Develop job description for off-season coordinator

• Interviews, hiring to be conducted as soon as funds are available


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Next Steps — Develop Expansion Kit• Patrollers, planner to meet with one

councillor already with Patrol

• Create package of information most useful from a councillor’s perspective– Hope to create “turn-key” implementation

• Distribute to interested councillors

• Late 2003


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The Time is Now

• Window of opportunity created by public, political and media attention on pathway security

• Public support has always been strong for the Pathway Patrol; now it’s focused


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More information

• mailto://[email protected]

• http://ottawapathwaypatrol.ca

• Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre, 613-829-6629


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Additional Information

NEXT FEW PAGES PROVIDE:

• Patrol operational background

• Patrol current training requirements

• Need for added public exposure: blitzes and publicity


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Patrol Operation

• Uniformed volunteer patrollers

• Operate in (at least) pairs

• Bicycle, inline skate, walk

• Currently Victoria Day to Labour Day

• Currently three bases– Ron Kolbus Lakeside, Greenboro, Hintonburg


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Patrol Service to Public

• Carry assistance kits– One oriented to first aid, other oriented to

mechanical repair and pathway maintenance– Cell phones for major emergencies

• Monitor and report hazards

• Role models in safe, courteous use

• Positive, friendly approach to promote use


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Pathway Patrol is Not…

• Not bylaw enforcement or police– Patrollers have no legal authority

• Not armed in any way

• Not part of emergency response system

• Not currently set up for uncoordinated, ad hoc patrols


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Patroller Commitment

• Each patroller commits to at least one two–hour patrol shift per week

• Training and uniforms provided at no cost to patroller


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Patrol Management

• Patrollers must sign in and out at base before and after each shift– Base is usually community centre

• Patrollers receive pinney, kit, cell phone from staff at base

• Patrollers fill out report after each shift• Result: Pathway Patrol organization tracks

every shift


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Patroller Training Syllabus• Standard first aid• CPR level C• Pathway regulations• Safety equipment —

helmets and pads• Communication with

pathway users• Personal security

• Universal precautions• Bicycle, inline skate

repair• Disability awareness• Multicultural

awareness


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Patroller Training

• Training time:– 30 hours for new patrollers– 11 to 15 hours for returning patrollers


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Patroller Certification

• At least 18 years old

• Reference check

• Police criminal record check

• Patroller training completed

• Bicycling or inline skating competency test


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“Safety Blitzes”

• Community events– E.g. Folk Festival, Labatt 24-Hour Relay, Minto

Bayshore Fun Days

• Pathway Patrol provides booth, patrollers, literature and other hand-outs– Public education and publicity

– Recruiting

– Service — e.g.helmet fitting, minor bicycle tuning

– Supervision — e.g. parade marshals

2003.10.06Ken Dubuc, Chair, Pathway Patrol Steering Committee 1 Pathway Patrol 2004 Expansion.

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Transcript of 2003.10.06Ken Dubuc, Chair, Pathway Patrol Steering Committee 1 Pathway Patrol 2004 Expansion.