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me takeshorc optimise, have donated indoor play- ground equipment in the past I'm the pmgrnm. and were unu- again approached to make up for a funding shortfall. Hunk-ill. who also sits on Watcrloo's parks and "TH." anion advisory committee, said the city is employing it (Inllhlt' standard in its rt-nlul fu- ~Iructurv for Ht'rlit"s Hare, and thinks the rent mom-y would he ht-Itl-I spent on \upporl for the mm-profit program. He said ("her groups, including his own. nu- city facilities reut-frvv, M) he Despite gelling a grunt of SI.000 from the (in in 2001/2003. Ernie‘s Place paid 565302 of it hack to city hall in round fees. Service club questions city's choice to charge kids drop-in program rent Denim Hartleib, it mem- her at the Lukt'shurc ()pti- mists, said thc tuna-m (21an up after his group gm a funding rcqucsl from lh'rliv'x Mann " nun-pml'il program that's been run for preschoolers mu ot Albert McCormick Community (Ivnlmlur the lust Ir, wars. llc found mu the major expense of the group. run by two volunteers, was [hr yearly rent they paid to the City ofWaterltro. local whirv duh Autumn's why thc (in isn't giving it drunin pmgrum tor preschool kids ilu- s'aturs hn-aik on rriii il gises In otho gmups. By Bun Vumwu l llmmu h, VII/l Greg, Rumunick. the city's director of recreation and leisure services. said tlu. city is currcrtily undrrguing u review of its policy regard- ing gmups and what ”my are rhurgrd to use city facil, itics for things like office spare. htorage and pup gramming. ' lhe review will Inuk inm who's vligihle for what. and HI what cost. "Why is this?" asked llarllvih, "Why charge a group like this? "We don't pay." said Ilartlcib. "l also know they have hockey programs coming in there that use the space under the sears tor slnmgu and they don't pay-" slnmgu and they dun'l pay-" Hurllvil) said the I akes,hore optimists gel than consideration from the city because of all the things they fund and support in their mission to Nerve local wtuh. But doesn't lit-nick Place which hus the surm- mis- sion. deservc the xanw um sideration, he asked. "'lhc volunteers tell me they have to go to gnrugu sales to gel "rys for the pru- gram "I don't Ihink the city should charge them." llurtloih said the Lakeshore ()plimisls dun] mind doing their pan to suppnrl thc program, but wonders why the city does- tit do the same, "I thought they got this " free." said Hartlcih. "We “null! rather pay for some- lhing that the kids can play with than pay for their mm," Why should groups like tht. t )plimists. the t 1tippers, Waterloo Minor Im'russc. Wan-Hun Minor Girls fast- lmll and when gel storage and office spurt for free al Allrert McCormick arena. while a worthwhile pru- grunt " young families on the mrrth side of lawn lew Ifl get the unm- considera- tion. he questioned, doesn't understand why “unit-K Place is frozen nuL New Bedoom Suites "It's hard In cull." said Rumunirk. "Hertie's Place is " really great program, and wv acknowledge that. M) our discussions with them were In try to make a charge that givvs some tonlrilur lion in our operating responsibilities there, but with a large discotuu In rec- ognize the mmm- of the group and the value they serve to the community." Rmnunick said he under- stands some of the frustra» linn [mm the Ink-shore Optimists mum's from the fact city staff' can"! do any- lhing on this issue unless [hey gel council's upproval. (luuncil uppruvvd the lutvst ugl‘velm-nl with Berlin-K Place und would hau- to do so again. Rumnnick said there is always a balancing act at city-ron centres In get cost recovery for the facilities while acknowledging 'he work these groups do for the city. "'l he only policy we have album whsidizing groups is uur community-liaison pol- in: "No when a group becomes affiliated with the city, they are cligible when ihey"re using program 'tpare for a reduced rule. For a group like Bertie's Place. smile of these cunsidvrar tions might come to the furofrnnt when we move through thew policy reviews." _ [he policy review will involve community meet- ings with stakeholders over the "ext month. with a rcport coming to council sometime in the full. Ile said the city is a big 'iuPporter of Bonk-K Place and the work it docs ml the north side of the City. but added this situation is it lit, tle difTercnt that iusl having "ttice an“? in the building like \ume of the groups Hurtlvih mentioned. "The reality is we don't have u clear-cut policy regarding any of those roulms." said Romunick. Regional group launches campaign to enhance tttttttty ill the community TWe know that mnnecb ed communities are safer communities," said Irene 0' Itrole, chair of the Cour munity Safety and Crime Prevention Council. "Reach r I Nhe Community Suiciy and Crime Prevention Council ((ZSMZI’C) of theWaterloo Region is invit- ing people thrtrughout Watcrloo Region In "reach out" In each other in an effort In increase communir ty safety. . "Reich Out" is the next step to the popular "Say Hi" campaign of 2004. Out is ahout making our community safer by con- necting people In one another. When we care, understand and respect others. we create a safer community." A list of lol ways In reach out can he found on the website, www.reachsottt.ca which provides additional research and background information on the Ch8CPC and the Reach Out cam- paign. 7 This site will also be an interactive source for mem- hers of the community to “Building il strung. ' airing community is our of thc mnsl effective crime Prt" vention tools. When a nun munity is comtetited. it is more readily mobilized." mid Irvin Waller, chair of the Canadian Forum for Crime discover new ways to run nect with oihers. shure tltcir experiences. and will "ttcr tips and rcxmlru's to learn more ahout crime pron-tr tion. All campaign material is also available on the web- site.' Continued on page s