Burlington COVID-19 Task Force Meeting #5 — Action Items & Highlights

COVID-19 Task Force
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Burlington COVID-19 Task Force Meeting #5 – May 7, 2020Agenda & Action ItemsAgenda:

  1. Review & update to existing Action Items
  2. Roundtable on any potential needs or challenges as Province reopens next week
  3. Call for new action items and updates
  4. Next meeting: watch for invitation as date/time is changing.

Ongoing Action Items Update:

Subcommittee to address the issue of food security and actively identifying those at risk/in need and matching up with support.May 7 Update: Ad going into paper next Friday outlining some of the food networks and paper flyers are already helping with food uptake – Denise will forward electronic copy for us (Vic to distribute). School will distribute to families as well (Andrea Grebenc).Mayor mentioned Gift of Giving Back food drive May 30 from 11-4pm (rain date May 31) and looking for support and guidance especially around safety. CRV branch to assist/subcommittee – ensure proper protocols. Denise will take back to that group.

Denise Beard, City of Burlington
Promoting the Friday Night Porch Clap more effectively:May 7 Update: Colleen Mulholland has reached out to her contacts at Pattison Outdoor (billboards) and gotten some great pricing.City exploring bus ads with a discounted rate – still working through the details (Kwab/Colleen) per Carla Marshall. Great news from Robin Bailey – Pattison is doing 10 ads for the Food Bank!Reminder: next emergency vehicle procession past hospital is scheduled for June 5th – to protect emergency resources going forward, they are scheduled for the first Friday of each month. Carla Marshall, City of Burlington (buses)Colleen Mulholland, Burl. Foundation (outdoor signs)
Burlington Foundation: Phase 2 will begin on May 1st, doing intakes on an ongoing basis and reviewing vs. criteria and ensuring they spread things out where the money will make the most impact. They have received additional funding.Update: Work continues

Colleen Mulholland, Burlington Foundation

Completed Action Items:

Volunteer Bank – Many organizations are struggling to onboard and manage volunteers and they are also looking to hire because of grant money they are receiving.May 7: Volunteer Halton will take the lead going forward (per Denise)

Any Non-Profits in Need of Volunteers

Denise Beard, City of Burlington

New Action Items:

Create a directory of where residents can purchase consumer safety masks (not the same as medical grade PPEs procured by the federal and provincial governments and reserved for front line workers). Likely to live on the TEAM Burlington COVID resource landing page.Consumer safety masks with a charitable or non-business component (i.e. offered by local groups for costs) will continue to be featured on the city’s COVID-19 resource page.

Carla Nell

   

Denise Beard
Content for data hub continues, material being vetted. Content should be in place and reviewed for next week & protocols to launch will come from there. Anthony Campese
Will curbside pickups create issues on sidewalks and roads + consumer safety mask needs? At their meeting next Tuesday they’ll discuss. Victor Ljuljdjuraj
The subgroup of people with representation from the CRV branch, the food security subcommittee, and the Field Operations branch will liaise with Vito Tolone, and Justina in Legal Dept. to provide guidelines and support for the proposed May 30th Gift of Giving Back food drive. Tim Commisso to participate also. Will report back to the task force with recommendations. SubcommitteeTim Commisso
Explore how to support local businesses with curbside pickup for those with street-front locations will pose a traffic control challenge.The Field Level Operations Division will connect on curbside pickup strategies and bring their plans to the task force next week.

Tim Commisso

Amber Rushton

Other Notable Discussion Highlights:

  • Phased Reopening Discussion: challenges, needs, modifications you’re making?
  • Roundtable of additional issues:
    • Dave Lazenby: looking forward we need to think about what impact physical distancing will have on the ability to collect food donations we saw in the past through kids at grocery stores for example. We will need to be proactive in how these events unfold in the new normal. Creating safe ways to give will be warranted.
    • Shawn Saulnier: historically, periods of great need have shown more generosity and giving.
    • Denise Beard: what are the bigger social issues now.
    • Graham Hill: agreement. The power of many initiatives like Gift of Giving is the physical engagement of youth. We need to consider how to replace that and maintain the engagement level. Reframe: the Gift of Giving OUT? What’s a want vs. a need à education on that, especially for youth.
    • Lisa Kearns: Ramadan has strained the Good Neighbour volunteer base for the time being.
    • Lisa Lunski: Ensure the food drives are focused on what is truly needed and are they warranted yet. Have food security subcommittee work on that.
    • Robin Bailey: we are looking more at the 12-18-months out timelines for need. Tomorrow we are good.
    • Gerry Smallegange: caution about discouraging the kids from engaging.
    • Stuart Miller: the kids are energized and want to do something with that energy. We need to give them a place to positively direct it – especially with impact to school/sport we’re seeing. This also helps them embrace the culture of health. Also takes away the feeling of helplessness.
    • Anissa Hilborn: let’s consider the northern communities and other places outside of Burlington if we have the ability to extend our generosity.

Next Meeting: Watch for doodle poll and subsequent calendar invitation as date/time needs to change to accommodate city council meeting.RELATED LINKS:

—PLEASE NOTE: To stay updated on what the City of Burlington is doing regarding COVID-19, please visit the dedicated pages burlington.ca/coronavirus (and subscribe) and bit.ly/mayormeedwardCOVID19updates, and our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page — bit.ly/COVID19BurlingtonFAQ that are updated as new information becomes available.A Burlington COVID-19 Task Force has been created to help support our community through this unprecedented emergency — updates will be provided at burlington.ca/COVID19taskforce.To report an incident of non-compliance with provincial emergency orders, please contact the Halton Regional Police Service COVID-19 Hotline: 905-825-4722.We’ve also created a dedicated page to feature the local organizations and businesses that have inspired us during the COVID-19 pandemic by taking action to support our community in new and creative ways — head to bit.ly/covidwallofinspiration.HELPFUL RESOURCES & RELATED LINKS:

—*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor’s Media and Digital Communications Specialist.

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