HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Advisory 2013-03-28
DOWNTOWN ACTION & ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
March 28, 2013 City of Kitchener
The Downtown Action & Advisory Committee met this date, Chaired by Shannon Weber with
the following members in attendance: Craig Beattie, Tania Benninger, Andrea Cassidy, Cory
Crossman, Dawit Debssou, Amina Gilani, Eric Johnson, Lawrence McNaught, Stephanie
Noble, Lisa Polonoski and Don Zehr
City staff in attendance:
Hilary Abel, Cory Bluhm, Tracey Murray, Chris Farrell and
Monika Grau
1. New Business
1.1 Sharrows on King Street
Josh Joseph, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, provided the
committee with an overview of the proposed sharrows on King Street, from Francis to
Madison.
The committee supported the proposed sharrows through the following
recommendation.
On Motion by Cory Crossman
“That the Downtown Action Advisory Committee supports the installation of
sharrows along King Street from Francis Street to Madison Ave”
Seconded by Tania Benninger
Carried.
1.2
Downtown Programming / Marketing
Hilary Abel provided the committee with an update on the direction for the downtown
programming and marketing, including showcasing the new downtown website, an
overview of the downtown live programming and summer events as well as the
results from the recent survey.
The Committee provided the following questions:
Were university students focused on as part of this?
- We are able to connect with the older university students, we are currently looking
for ways to make that connection to the undergrad students at both Conestoga
College and the Universities
What have other communities done in the winter months?
- We are currently looking at other things we can offer, such as creating a winter art
festival
Downtown Action & Advisory Committee March 28, 2013
How will you connect with folks that are not on-line?
- We also did a post card drop this past winter that listed all upcoming events. We
are going to put a summer calendar and upcoming issue of Your Kitchener.
What about a downtown Kitchener app?
- We are currently working and researching possibilities Uptown is piloting an app.
How are we attracting on people outside Kitchener?
- We are currently going to focus on our core community then focus outside
Kitchener.
1.3 BIA Membership Survey Results
Shannon Weber, Executive Director, Downtown Kitchener BIA, presented the results of a
survey of members. She focused on the business aspect, noting that special events in
the downtown were most popular among the downtown business community.
Cory Bluhm noted that the city is going to be hiring new operational staff for the summer
months to assist in cleaning up the garbage, setting up for events and keeping
downtown looking great.
The committee suggested that the BIA also ask the downtown businesses to sweep their
sidewalks of garbage and cigarette butts at the end of the evenings to help keep
downtown clean.
2. Minutes & Committee Updates
2.1 Approval of Minutes
The Downtown Action & Advisory committee minutes of February 28, 2013:
Approved by:
Cory Crossman
Seconded by:
Shannon Weber
Carried
2.2 Economic Development Updates
The Committee was provided with a copy of the Economic Development Updates
On motion by Lisa Polonski
Seconded by Shannon Weber
The meeting adjourned at 5:30 pm.
Downtown Action & Advisory Committee March 28, 2013