HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Development - 2003-11-26ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
November 26, 2003
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Bingemans, Kitchener
Attendance:
Staff:
Regrets:
Glenn Scheels
Jane Jantzi
Peter Benninger
Lawrence Bingeman
Henrik Noesgaard
Peter Cook
George Borovilos
Kathy Bissell
Mayor, Carl Zehr
Councillor, Berry Vrbanovic
Howie Budd
Paul Kuntz
Shawky Fahel
Hans Pottkamper
Ray Robinson
Councillor, Christina Weylie
Scott Baird
Carla Ladd
Councillor, John Smola
Joan Euler
Manfred Conrad
1. Approval of Minutes of October 22, 2003
Minutes of October 22nd, 2003 were approved as written.
Moved by Hans Pottkamper
Seconded by Scott Baird
Carried
2. EDAC Composition
a) Appointments
Appointments for Economic Development Advisory Committee were made on
November 21, 2003. On December 2nd, Council will ratify the appointments and
make them public. It was noted that all appointments to the current composition of
EDAC have been filled which includes 14 members of the community in various
sectors, 2 members of Council and the Mayor as ex-officio.
b) Composition
EDAC members then discussed the current composition and requested that the
new committee considers including health and education sectors.
c)
Terms of Reference
Borovilos provided Committee with the current terms of reference with suggested
changes indicated in bold print.
Action: Revise Terms of Reference as discussed and place on the January 2004
agenda for adoption and Recommendation to Council by new committee.
Further discussion on Item 3.0 (6) of the Terms of Reference, which reads to
advise on the effectiveness of business facilitation program. Committee
entered into a lengthy discussion on having business facilitation removed from
Economic Development mandate. It was the opinion of the majority of the current
members that Economic Development needs to be the contact point for businesses
looking at doing business in Kitchener in terms of advocacy, retention and
expansion. C. Ladd explained that this role has been moved to the Development &
Technical Services Department where a single source contact person is responsible
for leading inquiries through the development approval process from beginning to
the end. Economic Development staff would direct facilitation inquiries to this
individual. Economic Development's role is to focus on attracting new business and
investment. Concern was raised whether the contact person had the right
marketing skills - it was suggested that this practise has been monitored for the past
few months with positive feedback and that this customer service area will have
goals and measurements to monitor its success.
Action: Have the Facilitator at a future meeting to discuss process.
Action: Economic Development Roles & Responsibility (mandate) presentation
January 2004.
3. Airport Employment Lands
The Prosperity Council invited Glenn Scheels, to a round table discussion of the Airport
lands. This Council is made up of senior officials from Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge,
CTT, Communitech, Region of Waterloo and the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber
of Commerce.
Growth Management Strategy was adopted by Regional Council in June 2003 with
implementation targeted for February 2004, at which timelines of the various initiatives,
- one being the Airport lands - will be discussed.
Woolwich Township has no resources to develop the airport land; Cambridge has a
10+ year supply of employment land; Kitchener with no available land is willing to
partner on development of these lands; and Waterloo will need to look at the Region's
business plan before committing further.
Several members of EDAC noted that this issue has been ongoing for the past 6 years.
Committee further commented that the length of time it would take and the amount of
profit made would not justify a private developer to develop this land. It was agreed to
EDAC Minutes
November 26, 2003
continue taking the necessary action to expedite the lands. Councillor
welcomed the past and future efforts of EDAC on moving this issue forward.
Action: EDAC to keep the Airport Lands on the 2004 agenda.
Weylie
4. Joint Meeting - Waterloo Economic Development Committee
G. Scheels has been approached by the City of Waterloo's Economic Development
Advisory Committee to hold a joint session on February 24, 2004 to discuss mutual
items of concern. Committee agreed that this is feasible, however felt that the City of
Cambridge, Woolwich and the Region should also be included since the majority of
issues are Regional ie. LRT and Airport Lands
Action: Joint session, initially with Waterloo Economic Development Advisory
Committee, to be placed on January 2004 agenda.
5. Other Business
Lawrence Bingeman advised Committee that KW Oktoberfest will be approaching the
province for tourism dollars allotted for those businesses who suffered loss during the
SARS outbreak.
6. Closing Comments
Glenn Scheels thanked members of EDAC for the support over the past 6 years. Mr.
Scheels, as a member and current Chair of EDAC expressed his continued interest in
Economic Development issues and wishes the future Committee success in bringing
closure to those that are outstanding.
Meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m. for lunch hosted by Lawrence Bingeman.
Moved by: Shawky Fahel
Seconded by: Hans Pottkamper
Carried
Sandy Curzon, Recording Secretary
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Next Meeting: January 28, 2004
EDAC Minutes
November 26, 2003